Edwardsville Spectator

From the Pittsburgh Gazette.

ECONOMY.

The return to our neighborhood of that industrious and persevering society of Germans, generally known as the Harmonites, under the direction of Mr. Rapp, has excited considerable speculation.

Their first settlement in Butler county, a poor but honest people—their extraordinary labor and improvement there—their village—their subsequent disposal of all to Mr. Zeigler, and their migration to Indiana—the location of Harmony there—its increase of prosperity—its beauty—its vineyards—the sale of all these to Mr. Owen, and the return of the Society back almost from whence they started—and above all, their manners—their simple and unostentatious demeanor—their peaceful and unoffending dispositions, blended with their useful mechanical genius, and the apparent beauty of their internal government, have acquired for them a place in the public mind highly interesting as well as creditable.

Under the simple but expressive name of Economy, these people, fourteen months since, commenced their third establishment. The site of their present village is on the bank of the Ohio, about 18 miles from Pittsburgh, and as to local advantages, it is probable a better situation in this neighborhood could not have been found. The distance from the city will prevent too great an influx of visitors, whose unceasing inquiries and ungovernable curiosity are not altogether apposite to the dispositions of the inhabitants. Possessed of upwards of 3000 acres of the best land in the country, nearly all arable, they will be enabled to raise an immense deal of produce, which, together with their manufactures, can at all times find their way to a market on the Ohio. The Beaver road, by making a turn of half a mile, will pass directly through the town. This may be also of some advantage, owing to the considerable business that is carried on between Pittsburgh and those parts of Ohio adjacent to Pennsylvania.

The streets of Economy intersect each at right angles: those which are built on, run from east to west, and are rather spacious. The houses, to the number of about seventy-five, (all frame) are erected immediately on the edges of them. The majority of the houses are two stories high, and for the sake of variety some are painted white, some red, others blue, and yellow.—They will continue erecting, and it is probable as many more houses may be put up. It is calculated, however, I believe, to supplant the present buildings at some future period. The society consists, at this time, of about seven hundred. They have their own physicians and teachers, all live pretty much upon the same diet, which they draw from their store-house. They have an immense number of live stock, particularly of the cow kind, of fine appearance, and a large flock of merino sheep—all under the care of a cow-herd and shepherd. Owing to their late settlement, the society have been unable to raise much produce; consequently they are obliged to purchase.—They are supplied with bread stuffs, &c. by Mr. Zeigler, the present proprietor of Harmony, their old residence. It is probable the society is now worth half a million of dollars.