Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-27
CURIOUS SETTLEMENTS.
Towns and Villages That Have Beer
EuiIt Of Grange Substances.


sorts at this season Of the year is tbs
railway carriage village near Shore
ham, in Sussex, Eng. Some TIME ago q
railway company put up Tot of lOC
old railway -eaFfiages.-efors. auction
which wete knocked down to build
cer-, who cbnceived the novel idea OF
founding b village on the foreshore
with them. During the summer
months the demand for these strange
dwelling places is enormous, and they
not infrequently let at from two Ia
three guineas q week furnished, while
in winter they have been found TO be
proof against the toughest weather.
Nor is this village unique for not a
single brick has been used to build the
town of Nidah in Georgia, which
boasts 1000 inhabitants, all Of whom
live in disused tramcars. The mayor
ane corporation transact their bust
ness in the town hail, consisting of two
cars knocked into one, and Ihere are
also two tramcar churches, q theatre,
and nine public houses. Another pc
cuIiar town is CarTacross, on the west
coast of Ireland, which Was Quilt in
l750 entirely OF fishing boats. There
are large stone quarries in the neigh
borhooG. but the inhabitants stoutIy
decline to have a proper house III the
town on the ground that an inverted
boat is far more comfortable.
There is probably only one town
built Of glass in the world, and that
may be found near Yellowstone park.
Wyo. The glass is not artificial, but
obsidian, naturally formed by ages Of
volcanic action. though in every re-
spect it resembles plate glass. save
THAI it is either darS green or black in
hue 1t is cut in slabs, and, being
practically inpervious 10 the weather,
is excellent material fc> building
There are over 100 houses and shops.
and alarge church supported by pris-
matte pillars which have. been exca-
avted intact. "A great number of peo-
PIE visit the town every year on pur-
pose to watch the effects Of the sunsets
on the glittsring houses.
Bareira. in Portuguese East Africa,
has the reputation of being the only
zinc city in existence Although but
six months We're required for its cree
tion. il has a population OF some thou-
sands Of people, the reason that zinc
was chosen being tilat it is the only
material capable Of withstanLing the
peculiar climate The hospital,
churches. arsenal ana every residence
is zinc; zinc utensils are in the
houses, and when man dies he is
buried in n zinc coffin. while even the
railway with its carriages and trucks
are zinc throughout.
Those who have 4 pradilectioa for art
cannot Go better than reside in the il
lustrated village of ST. Legier, near
Vevey, in Switzerland. Some years
ago an artist Of considerable repute,
who is well known in the Paris salon,
NJ. Alfred Begun. began 10 paint all
the exteriors Of the houses both with
water colors and oils. Every shop has
a series Of pictures representing its
trade sllilfullY painted upon its pias-
Ter walls, and private houses are
adorned with landscapes and carica-
lures of local celebrities, etc NJ.
E4aguin has now extended his work to
the neighboring hamlets, and hopes be-
tore he, dies to adorn all the larger viii
lagos in the canton.
One of the most remarkable cities in
the NSrld is Kelberg, near Cracow. for,
besides being situated underground, it.
il. excavated entirely in rock salt The
inhabitants, TO the nGmher Of over S000,
are. of course. workers III the famous
salt mines, and all the streets and
house ar. Of the pure.st white inlagin-
able.
one Of the most famous features Of
the city is the cathedral, carved in salt
and lit with electric light, and when
the late Car Alexander visited it IL
years ago ne was so fascinated with
the magnificent effect Of the light upon
the crystal walls tina ne presented the
cathedral with a jeweied altar cross.
such athing as infectious disease is
rilzuown in Kelberg; in fact the ma
ioritv OF the inhabitants die. Of old age.
Finally, we may conclude with brief
Nv mentioning CoolIfown, the seaweed
settlement of Alaska. The town was
originally built of clay bricks, but the
action Of the sea salt with which the
:tir IS redotent caused the bricks TO
crumblc away. and in their place slabs
OF seaweed mixed with salt, COM
dressed and baked. were substituted.
Cool1stown IL now built almost entire
IVY w seaweed, and beside being proof
AGAINST the tagaries OF the atmos-
sphere. the houses are found to be
much warmer during the Ions spell OF
Arctic wirter.-rTit Bits.