Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-01-01
ANDREW CARNEGIE.
HE Is THINKING or PROVIDING
HOMES FOR POOR OF LONDON
The Question of Homes and That of
Public Librarles--He Asks for Plans
for Spending Five to Ten Million
Dollars-How the Housing Council
OF the City is Made Up.

(Curtls Browns London letter In
st. Louis Globe-Democrat Andrew
Carnegie, a bit bored, perhaps, by the
criticism aroused by his gifts for free
libraries, has new outlet for his
millions that is a secret so far, but
the work is now So well along that
there can be no harm in publishing
the facts.
Last year his attention was called
to series Of articles that had appear-
ed In the New York Press showing
how much good he might have done
with his wealth by building decent
houses that could be rented by the
poor at the same price that they now
pay for novels in the slums-how
much more than free libraries such
improvements would count for human
welfare.
Mr.. Carnegie declined to be drawn
In the subject at the time, but it
seems that he went to work in char
acteristlc fashion to see for himself
what there was in the idea.
The result Of his investigation has
been an unsolicited invitation from
him to London body known as the
Workmens national housing council to
show him how they would lay out for
him from $5,000,00O to $10,G00OO0 III
building model dwellings for the poor
He said he wanted it understood that
he wasn't definitely promising a penny
to the council, but he made it plain
that If they could provide him with a
plan that would be an improvement
on existing attempts at housing re-
form the cash would be forthcoming.
Although the housing council con-
tains good many prominent men,
such, for instance, as Sir John Nc
Dougall, Chairman of the county coun-
Gil; the great body that governs Lon
) don, it is made up largely of radicals
WIN nave no great love for capitalists
like Mr.. Carnegie, and who think that
the state ought to look after the hous-
ing of the poor. They were consider.
ably as,onished by Mr.. Carnegie's
brief and casual way of offering a
million pounds or SOL am told that
The weighty communication wasn't
more than $50 words long-but they
promptly tolu him that an outlet for
his wealth should be provided forth
with, and now plans are about com
plete for wiping out practically every
slum IN London with American dollars
me housing council, at Mr.. Carne
gie's suggestion, has been disposed t.
reveal nothing of these big plans OF
which 1t has been working so busily
but | can now give the general outline
of the scheme. II will be of as mucl
value In America as here, for there II
reason to suppose that Mr.. Carnegie
has designs on the slums on both sid,
OF the Atlantic.
The laird of Sldbo said nothing II
his letter to the council about wanting
to get any interest on his money
There were no conditions except tina
his schemes should be more etfectiv
than anything of the sort now in opel
alton. But the sturdy radicals VIII
run the counclI are strongly oppose
to anything that savors Of pauperiza
ton, and they have prepared a plal
that Is to give the would-be philan
thropist / per cent on his money ant
further profit Of ~ per cent to bt
used in improvements. Even with al
idea Of charity eliminated, they say
the scheme will cause the dawn OF
new era for workingmen.
The first feature Of the plan Is Il
take the workers from the heart o
the city, where they now swarm, ant
transport them some ten miles out
Railway facilities were lacking hitheI
to. but now that London and tn
suburbs are going to be connected b,
a network OF tubes and electric tram
mostly American in one way o
another-this difficulty Is practically
removed. The council recommend
that four suburban estates should b.
bought, two at Harrow and Edmonton
for the north of the Thames anu twt
at Surblton and Lewlsnam for tn
south-all within ten miles from tn
heart OF the city. The council ar
agreed that the most lavish philan
thropy. in face OF the enormously hlgl
price OF land within the metropolitan
area. could never succeed in securing
clean and cheap homes there for tn
working classes, and they point I,
Peabody's and other trusts as a proc
OF their contention.
They will ask their American goot
fairy to start with five millions or less
divided into four Items, as the circum
stances would require. The Ian,
bought must be absolutely free from
incumbrance, with a stipulation that 1
is never to be affected by any fluctua
lions in land values except for thu
benefit OF the trustees. who will. from
time to time, be appointed to admins
ter the fund, such trustees to consis
OF certain number Of men and won
en- belonging to public bodies who en-
Joy the confidence OF the working
classes. and majority must be sucl
persons as have sprung from thu
working classes themselves.
The council will show that prlmarll!
the failure OF the existing trusts Il
carry out the spirit Of the founders Il
due to the fact that persons having M
interest in common with the working
classes have been selected to admin
lister the funds. Builders, lawyers ant
any person who could have a pecuni
airy interest in the management o
working OF the Carnegie estate, Woult
DO rigidly excluded from any contro
or participation in the administration
OF It's finances.
No man whose income is more thai
se . -,oot. ILL ~ admitted al iona M