The Washington times., 1901-07-21
CAR TOWNS IN SUBURBS.
Picturesque Effects Produced by
Using Discarded Vehicles NJ Homes.

Various attempts have been made here
abouts to utilize the large number of
horsecars which went out of commission
when electricity was introduced as a mo-
tive power in street railway traffic. Scores
of them are scattered through the sub
urbs, where they do duty as cheap res
taurants. especially of the night lunch
order or as henhouses or summer kitch-
ems, woodsheds, etc. Some years ago the
owner of the vacant lot of land adjoining
the sales stables on Portland Street had
several of them placed side by side, and
after putting on suitable fronts let them
for various purposes. They are all occu-
pied now. one being used for flower
store and another as a cafe, while bar
ber. bootblack. and a fruiter carry on
business in Others
According to the Scientific American"
more elaborate system has been inaugu-
rated in San Francisco for making use OF
these discarded conveyances. 1t appears
that there is little settlement Just out
side the city where the large majority of
the structures were once street cars. 1t
is located at the ocean beach on the shore
end of Golden Gate Park. What commun-
ity of interest prompted the beginning of
this unique settlement is not known. The
fact that the lands are of small value and
are not likely to be acquired for public
uses in many years probably had its in
fluence, though the situation, close to the
resounding ocean and bordering upon a
largely frequently boulevard, had attrac-
tions for many. There are perhaps fifty
of these car dwellings in the little settle
ment, many of them fitted out with con-
siderable elegance and numerous conven-
iences They are arranged upon gen.
eral plan affording their occupants the
widest views. all fronting the sea- Streets
intersect at right angles. and plank walks
are laid SO as to give pedestrians access
to their homes without wading through
the deep sands. Few of these cars have
been adorned with a coat of paint The
exteriors are generally intact, and the
conspicuous signs denoting the route over
which the cars once perambulated are not
obliterated.
Some methods are used In the adorn-
ment of these curious resorts. Many OF
them are covered with vines. most have
galleries extending around the front and
Sides The roofs of some are arranged as
Iookouts, and awnings drop over the win
dows. There is considerable space for stor-
age below the cars. while other cars ac
quire additional room by little extensions.
In some instances one car is raised above
another, and sometimes the cars are laid
upon other buildings, thus giving an ex-
ira story. The platforms OF the cars are
often transformed into balconies and bay
windows with the aid of the carpenter
and glass filter, and afford points of OBJ
servation protected from the cold winds.
besides giving extended views of sea and
land.
The arrangement of the interiors of
these dwellings is highly ingenious. the
necessities of the case requiring the ut
most economy of space. the average sleep
ing car suggesting model. Half dozen
persons have been at night accommodate
ed with lodgings in one of them. Ventila-
ton is always assured.
While there are many families perma-
nent residents OF "Cartown," the larger
number occupy the vehicles as others
do the houseboat, giving opportunities for
original methods of entertainment and di-
version for themselves and friends. Con-
fined and restricted as these dwellings
are, there is compensation in the fresh
ocean breeZes which here blow right from
the sea, besides the enjoyment OF a
h-giving environment. History and
romance have been ranSacked in provid-
ing names for these car villas suitable
to the facetious idiosyncrasies OF their
various owners. In "CartOwn'' the villa
Miramar' and Chateau Navarro" adjoin
the modest restaurant and more conspic-
uous bar
There are many kinds of trades pursued
in this cdd settlement, restaurants and
bars being most numerous. "Cartown'' is
an interesting spot for the visitor not
only on account of its Individual attrac-
tions. but as a demonstration of the
problem of what can be done with street
cars that have outlived their usefulness
Boston Transcript.