The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-14
MAY HELP EDISON
MILLIONAIRE INTERESTED
IN CHEAP HOUSE.
Henry Phipps, Who Has Done Much for
New York Poor, Visits Wizard
About Latter's Scheme.

Henry Phipps, a New York millionaire,
has become interested in the plans OF
Thomas A. Edison for a concrete $1,00
home for workingmen, and visited the in
ventor at his laboratory in West Orange
yesterday and went over the plans for the
new house that the wizard plans can be
built in a day.
Working together. Mr.. Edison and Mr..
Phipps believe they can solve the tene-
ment-house problem. They plan to do this
by erecting an entire city of concrete
houses, MIR. Edison having perfected plans
recently whereby, he says, he can build
within twelve hours and at a cost of from
81, 600 to 81, 200 a beautiful nine-room house,
suitable for two families. Each apartment
of these double houses can be rented
profitably at $3.50 a month, according to
Mr.. Edison, thus saving the worhngman
now paying $40 a month for a two-roon
home in the tenements, enough money
each month to cover his carfare expenses
to and from his work.
Mr.. Phipps, who in 1905 gave 81. 900, 900
for the erection of model tenements in
New York. Is deeply Interested in the
cement or concrete house. The steel manu-
factprer yesterday was accompanied by a
corps of architects, builders and concrete
experts, who made a careful investigation
of the Edison plans. When they left they
we're enthusiastic over Its possibilities. Mr..
Edison purposes to build these houses by
forcing a concrete mixture into cast iron
molds, which are to be set up after the
excavation for the basement Is complete.
He has a model of such a house now In
his laboratory which he made of concrete
and be is working on plans for the mould
in which the full sized double residences
will be created. The mould will be cast
this winter and as soon as the frost is
out of the ground next spring Mr.. Edison
will build one of the houses near his lab
Gratory. If it proves satisfactory Mr..
Phipps and other wealthy men expect to
take hold of the project and erect a large
number of these houses near New York
city.
Mr.. Edison spoke freely of the meeting
yves. Mr.. Phlpps and his experts have
been here all afternoon investigating my
seeking; as l am, to help the man who
works in the ditch and who can only af-
ford to pay 50 or $40 a month rent for a
two-room apartment in some Stun tene-
ment for himself and his family.
Mr.. Phipps thinks as | do, that my
house win solve this problem. 1t Is for
me to build one of these houses, to create
the unit. some one else must build the
proper man to put It up. .
NJ Phipps depends upon me to make it
possible 10 do what L say can be done;
that is. to build a nine-room house, com
plete, within twelve hours, entirely out of
cement and ut n cost of $1,000 to $1,000.
When I have done this then | believe he
will do his share. Whether his plans are
to form a corpora ton or to handle 1t him
self L don't know. He is just gathering
data.
From an architectural viewpoint it is a
beautiful home which Mr.. Edison purposes
to build. 1t is three stories high, with
plenty OF windows. broad verandas, and
even flower urns at the entrance.
There isn't a man in the country who
for less than s5O.0o0.' Mr.. Edison said,
"The use of cement is thoroughly practi-
cal. Look about you; nearly all these fac
tory buildings are of concrete.
"Of course, we plan to build these
houses in places where the soil is sandy,
like New Jersey and Staten Island. Then
I'll the sand needed can be taken right out
Of the excavation made for the basepent
and all the building material q man has to
buy is the cement to mix with the sand tC
make the concrete"