Gilpin observer., 1908-12-24

IA Oil dltculpl W SOlVe great uO-
mestic 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 cost
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 a view to
reducing the cost of heat and Dsht 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 a 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
thracite region. The capitalized value
of the Girard estate is now in excess
of $25 100000, 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 to provide revenues with
which to maintain Girard college at its
present standard that this model com
munity is to be established.
The general nlan proposes 1000
houses, like those common to Phila.
delphia, all of which are built with a
view to housing five people to house
These houses will rent for from s33
to s44 month, including heat. cleo
trio 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 the boundaries
of the county. Were it not for this
Al
gas free, as well as electric light, heat
and hot water.
Thirty-six of these houses have al.
ready been completed at Seventeenth
aud Porter streets, and 81 are in the
course of construction. The conner
cial pre- blem to be solved by these 81
houses Is whether or not thoroughly
desirable class of tenants can be in
duced to move into the neighborhood
of Seventeenth and Porter streets,
near which is a large foreign settle.
ment, and the location is not favored
with strictly first-class transportation
facilities. The present thought is that
the homes will be so attractive in
construction and equipment that re-
spectacle families now living in more
desirable parts of the town will take
up with the new idea of community
management. and thus change the
complexion of the whols neighborhood
Prof. Robert Ellis shompson of the
boys high school has made study of
cooperative housekeeping and com.
munity living in all kt,rts of the world.
and his idea is that kil the problems of
domestic economy will ultimately be
solved by just suei u plan as this now
proposed by the Doard of city trusts,
extended to include all OF the neces.
sares of domestic household.
MY idea," said Prof. Thompson. SIS
that women sn,uld be emancipated.
that they sho.ai not be burdened with
duties that interfere with their higher
calling. ccasider. housework and
cooking as Hsiences. and woman has
not scientific brain. Besides this, she
is too often apt to give us what we like,
and not what we ought to have. All
labor shoald be skilled. and 1t is the
lack Of skilled labor that is at the bot.
tom OF our domestic difiiculties. So you
can see at once my idea: A central
kitchen for every certain number of
houses, where the most skilled chefs
will be employed. All food will be
bought at wholesale prices. and there
will not be the individual waste that
now makes living 80 high. with our
present elegant home service. All the