Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-04-01
Ready-made Cities.
sv &c. A. Clancy.

->HAT own and cities are the result Il a natural process I orU
IN ton is generally looked upon q a onnnon scnNi ttrusn. ~ =.
grave expounders. of the methods OF Vlnzahon a Nse9pa-t
k9-l us to belevethat population, the gathering on people o1 pM'
IGWSIfMI is tho cause owl or cw, with its improvements convenience,
HNSGSy ad natterday comforts the effect. It would SEEM o"eyeA, .IM 49,
the process about to be reversed, 7 anoonerv enenaDas oi n =
left high and dry. Modern humanity has formed me se u np I'll y ,oWa and
10. Toanv things upside down in calm defiance Of supposedly rgd W a ~
IN nntodate realestate boomers are lot backward In ADDING tnen 4W0
a general opsyturvy in combination Of the sages. 49,, ~ rorsev
glance It some recent real estate doings in lsand New 90 n ne
and. possibly, IN many other parts of the country IeseaaS d ia rrooros.
nomenon characteristic of the curious achievements OF a 1eVensMy a prIgt1
sie age. It is the sight of brandnew- towns Ind immature immature, Gns sd 1acMng
nothing except-inhabtants. There they are-sreets accurately ha o o ~. dd fin
beautifully paved and severed; gas and electric lights n elepnoonnes sim most
walks, freplugs, cars every ninute-an facilities, IN act ~ "a .e not.
feel the presence of the crowds that should be hurYng apoM D.. ao ane
One will look in vain for a glimpse OF a single FELLOW DeIhg. uness - go -
homeless soul who Us fallen a victim to the seductions OF te gogSoas s %d
verisement describing the wonders Of the nw city. The moae n Ma e1oaan1
stores, gistening in their bright paint stand vacant oeseieeo q" ~
avenues they grace .cs;os nj
Of course, while the conditions are actually as stated, these Cities ol
esting in themselves they are chiefly remarkable for the changed 1 1aeas n cut
represent and the possibilities they suggest to the imagination. Ihey p mma
the way of future colonization. Build city first; then gel peo pt ~ ~ low uaw
and live in it. Cities have been founded in this way in the past btt te )"
method is not one of mere establishment. 1t is to build towns m cues hS e~a
pete in every detail of convenience and luxury as a speculation on Tie ps
pct of people taking a liking to them and being invedgled tnIner. ~ 20 aa
" the complaints of the homeseeker revolved around the absence OF g MS
water, pavement, ETC.. In future, having hardened % tn siren song " u he
real estate nan and gone forh to the Promised Land, we will doubtless 70
saying, EYES, it's perfect But look here. doesn't anybody live IN this paee.
New Workers and other bona fe urban jewellers, with a emI w sn inta
inclination towards committing, will in time take their Iaresa Penates nv
these uncanny stH-born towns, but in the meanwhile the Daniel Boone. comes W. w n
built them should take a hint from the meDdrama stage, and hnre a so r ~
property population to make things look cheerful and create a HmosppnMunIs,
One car laugh and feel at lease IN a struggling village, n It !, ern paA nn
TO look quite citifed an have a clear onscenc in an Isolated queen AA m
cottage; but a residence in a "slentc city" will cause most nen to read %
with unhealthy satisfaction and cogitate o n cobwebs, plaques n snnlc uc
This idea Of building whole cities OF speculation is new and conM nu a. On
stance. groups Of miionaires might combine NJ bud cities the size OF New
York in the vast waste sections of the country. then hold them in reserve r
future population. There the splendid piles might stand for years; aese ere
windSwept. and, perhaps. grassgrown, waiting for the market price OF clues
to rise to the proftgdving point