The Monte Vista journal., 1908-12-26

In an attempt to solve a great do
nestle problem the board of city trusts
IN Philadelphia has undertaken the
erection of a model town within two
miles OF the geographical center OF
Philadelphia. This community is to
be supplied with heat and light and
hot water from common center, and
the item OF rent is to cover total cos,
OF these conveniences. Briefly, the
plan is TO give every family interested
In the enterprise a separate and dis
tinct home OF the very highest charac
ter at the very lowest rental, and to
apply the greater economic principle
OF concentrated power with n view 10
reducing the cost Of heat and light and
hot water to the minimum.
The chief purpose Of this novel ex.
pertinent is to earn increased rev.
enues for the Girard estate. Stephen
Girard. In his will, stipulated that not
an inch OF land owned by him at the
time OF his death should ever be sold.
and the board Of city trusts. which rep.
resents the city Of Philadelphia. the
Girard estate and eight or ten other
estates OF Quasi.public character. is
forced TO utilize to the best possible
advantage miles OF land In undesir.
able situations In and about Philadel.
phia and other miles of land in the an.
thrncite region. The capitalized value
OF the Girard estate IL now In excess
OF $25.OOO.O0O. and the income Is far
greater than the demands made upon
the estate. Looking far into the fu.
ture. the managers OF the board OF city
trusts are anticipating the time when
the coal properties owned by the es.
tate will no longer yield fabulous roy.
alties. and when the barren acres of
ground In South Philadelphia must be
made to yield more than farm rentals.
and It is 10 provide revenues with
which to maintain Girard college at Its
present standard that this model com.
munity IL to be established.
The general plan proposes I.aOJ
houses. like those common to Phila.
d-lphIa, all Of which are built with q
view to housing five people to house.
These houses will rent for from 1913
to 50 q month. including heat. cleo.
trir light and hot water. The tenant
will have to pay for gas. and. for the
present. will have TO use gas for cook.
Ing.
The board OF city trusts cannot go
Into the gas business because Of the
fact that the city OF Philadelphia con.
trolls the exclusive right to own and
lease gas plants within tho boundaries
OF the county. Were II not for this
the houses would be furnished with
gas free. ms well US electric light. heat
and hot water.
Thir,y.six OF these houses have al.
ready been completed at Seventeenth
and Porter streets. and 81 are In tho
course OF construction. Tho CONNER.
cial problem TO be solved by these 81
houses Is whether or not u thoroughly
desirable class OF tenants can be In.
duccd to move into the neiKhborhood
Of Seventeenth and Porter streets.
near which II . large foreign settle.
mcnt. and the location IL not favored
With strictly nrst.tlass transportation
facilities. Tho present thought ID that
tho homes will be 80 attractive In
construction and equipment that re-.
spectacle families now living In more
desirable parts Of tho town will take
up with the new idea Of community
measurement. and thus change the
complexion Of the whole nsighborhood
Prof Robert Ellis Thompsou Of tho
boys high school has made study Of
cooperative housekeeping and com.
munity living In al parts Of the world.
and his idea II that oil the problems Of
domestic economy will ultimately ~
solved BY Just such plan - this now
proposed BY the board q city trusts,
extended 10 inclvds al u the secss.
sariss Of . domestic household.
my ides." said Prof. TAoapeoa. 10
that women sAouid - snaseipatsd.
list they shoul1 ~ - bB1sse1 viGb
Auties that intsrfsss wttA thsls haGAee
eniAsg. ] eoaAasf honDoWogt -