Douglas Island news., 1906-10-03

manufacturing interests there and consequently greater need for solving the problem of securing adequate labor facilities.
 For the information and encourage ment of companies interested in the idea of model town, we give herewith some of the details of the work recent
 ly done by John A. Roebling's Sons Company. In an effort to solve in a practical way the problem of industri- al expansion, the company found itself facing the problem of expanding it's business and erecting new works in a location convenient to it's main plant at Trenton, New Jersey.
 Except at prohibitive prices no more land could be bought at Trenton ad- joining the mills. The volume of busi, ness necessitated expansion and a site was selected below KinkOra on the Delaware. The erection of rolling mills there was, however, the least of the problem which confronted the Roeb- lings. Having determined upon the site for their mills they were forced to build houses for the men to live in. Inasmuch as this was necessary, 1t was decided to build as we'll as possible, ineidently providing some other things for the benefit of its employees. The rentals are expected to pay the interest on the investment and the company asks no other returns.
 Here the worhmen will not only have homes in which all of the comforts are provided, but they will have care fully laid out park at their doors. The streets will be paved, but instead of being narrow, they will have width of loo feet, with a parkway running through the center and bordered with shade trees. The hoas ss are set fifteen feet back from the street, and the lawns in front will be cared for by the company. Water, filtered by the most improved process, will be free. 4 single man can live for S2.50 week in one of the company's hotels, a room sx12, lighted by electricity and heated by steam. A man with a family need not pay more than $500 to Sl4.00 a month for a seperate house,
 To the west of 3be hotels and houses is the site of the park from which there is a view of the river for several miles in either direction. Security from fire will be provided by high pressure water system and in the fact that all of tAe constructions are of brick. Although mors expensive than in the first instance, permaneuey is thus gained, and the cost of mainten- ancs will be considerably lessened.
 4 hotel conducted on plan of a private clab and department store are other features of the project. An assembly building, school house and church are included in the general scheme. The company wilE clean and light the streets and provide g public laundry. Being in absolute possession and ownership of the houses end hotels the company will be in position to dispense with the services of any man who abuses his privileges,
 The department store will noc be conducted as "company store" in the sense which that name csuaNy implies. | In other words the Roe6ling-s employ ees will not have the grievance which has been experienced by many miners who have been paid olT in script, re, deemable only at the Gompany's store, in goods sold at high prices, No script will be issued by Che BoeblmgTs. Their men will be paid 5u cash and must pay in cash for mh@s they hag, The only requisite will Se for pau to do his work we'll end conduct h5msels proper. fly, otherwise Ae REl be ss free as if he
 were living at his ovn house. on his
 own land. As faT se possible the com
 pany will not sntg7fsrs with his abso
 lute freedom end nothing will be more
 thoroughly impressed ppon bim thar this fact.
 Whatever agsg 2be project may be i
 does noS attempt 3o plaCate the labor unions, " S3eh D w53l Bopslly be founG are not p02a1a5 wj,b men living under the con@19o1g descEibed. Constan
 but ware efforts bavg been made by or , eanfzsry So w51 3bgr men over to thei
 WAT oa rSfrk3ng, bae shey receive Ettl