The Washington herald., 1909-08-15

An example has been set in the town OF
ClarlSsdale, Miss. which might be fol-
lowed with good effect I'm Washington.
The facts are given by way Of special
! suggestion 70 real estate firms, con-
tractors. and builders in this city.
Clarksdale is near the center Of the
Mississippi delta. II is a growing town
OF $500 population. II has forty-seven real
estate stores, with a business capital OF
approximately 100000 invested. 1t has
most Of the conveniences Of the modern
city. maintains a daily newspaper. and
the real estate men are doing well selling
ground and buildings. They are pro-
ceeding on the theory that there is room
enough in the county 10 build a town
OF stately buildings. and with some at
tention 20 architectural beauty, with lots
big enough to allow OF a little ground
around the houses, not covered by the
roof
Takes Interest I'm Roads.
Among other things Clarkesdale has
contributed 10 the bu--ing OF 200 miles
Of improved roads out of the town and
its citizens have been instrumental In
getting appropriations from the state and
Federal authorities for 100000 worth OF
levees 70 protect the town from floods IN
the Mississippi. The county Of which
Clarksdale is one OF the important towns
has $4,000 acres under cultivation. or
about one-half Of the available land OF
the area, when other levees shall have
been built and the ground shall have
been reclaimed by proper drainage. In
passing Il may be said that the chief
thoroughfare OF Clarksdale Is called Sun
flower avenue. but IL takes It's name from
the river which flows near the town
Mrs. Ellerton g. Dorr has lived the
greater part Of her life upon a planta-
ton OF several hundred acres adjacent 20
the town. AS Clarkesdale spread outward
1t soon began 20 encroaCh upon the acres
OF this plantation Recently Mrs. Dorr
became interested IN the advancement OF
the city and has subdiylded 100 acres lying
nearest The town into lots. Streets have
been laid out. water mains, gas, and
other Improvements made. and a portion
Of the ground has been purchased and
built upon.
single Houses on the Lots.
The significant thing about this subdl-
vision IS that no provision has been made
for the building Of houses in rows. The
lots are nearly square. 100 by 80 feet,
and II is intended that each lot shall
contain a single house detached.
One Of the accompanying pictures
shows a street where the building has
been finished and the houses are occupied.
They are large. roomy affairs. built with
some regard 20 the comfort cf the occl-
Ia
about il 20 allow OF lawn. flowers. a
vegetable garden and chickens. II the
owner desires all these accessories OF
life.
Mrs. Dorr donated one OF the largest
lots in the subdivision for a public school
which has been erected and occupied for
one year. In the laying out of streets,
also, provision was made for one or two
small. open spaces, which viii be main
tained as parks by the municipal author
tiles
The sales agent in making announce
ment OF an offer 20 sen lots in this sub
division says the lots may be purchased
upon easy terms. and assistance will be
given those who desire 10 erect their
houses in the near future.
It's Application 10 Washington.
Now with the principal exceptions OF
Chevy Chase. Cleveland Park. SauTs Ad-
dition. Takoma Park. and portions OF
Brightwood Park and Petworth. nothing
Ike this residence park exists IN Wash
ington. The suburban subdivision has run
to the same fatuous crowding Of the
greatest possible number Of houses into
the smallest area that the wit az man
could devise. The result is that the sub
urbs OF Washington are being filled with
blocks OF houses. where the Clarkesdale
Plan would have been vastly more SEN
slble, resulting In better homes for those
who buy
Hundreds OF towns down South. and
many OF the cities, notably Atlanta, have
not found II at all necessary 10 crowd
their population Ike sardines into con-
tracted boxes and Il is ridiculous TO
argue that any necessity for IL exists
in Washington. II is probably true thar
people can be found 70 buy the little
houses with which the suburbs Of Wash
ington are being filed, but it Is Just as
true that a different plan Of building
would sell just as many houses OF g
better type
The Clarkesdale example Is one that
ought 10 be studied and initiated several
times over In the suburban subdivisions
around Washington.