The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-07-04

Local contractors, architects and
home dwellers- each and every one OF
them-are interested in the Edison
poured cement house which has just
been perfected by Americas most
wonderful inventive genius. In the
current issue Of the Cement World,
the first authoritative statement, de-
scriptive Of this invention appears. In
part 1t Is as follows:
Those fellows wanted to make d
plain panel for the house without or
namentation, but told them l would
give the workingman and his family
ornamental work in their house. They
deserve 1t, and besides it costs no more
after the pattern is made to give decor
alive effects than 1t would to make ev-
erything plain
Thomas A. Edison said this as he
was standing in a little pattern shop
in the laboratory at Orange, N. j., the
afternoon Of May %. exhibiting to the
writer the many patterns that are to
be used in the production OF his poured
cement house.
His words revealed the motive and
lAICICSt IA CnC WCiIdlC VI IAC WOIhAhis
man that lie behind the creation OF
this structure. Motives are often re-
vealed unintentionally and uncon-
sciously.
1t was SO in this case. Mr.. Edison 5
one thought through all the eight
years he has been studying this prob
lem has been to evolve something to
make the struggle for existence easier
for tn wage Garner.
The Edison poured cement house is
about to become a factor in twentieth
century building construction.
For two years 1t has been discussed
pro and con and much speculation has
been INDUCED in concerning 1t. In a
few weeks it will be fact, if the gen.
ius OF Edison can make 1t SO.
The Cement World has been given
the privilege Of telling the public all
that has been done to date on this
epoch making invention.
It's editor has seen all the molds that
have been completed and which will be
used in producing the first house, has
seen the patterns for many others,
and the designs for those that remain
to be fashioned. In a word the entire
problem now rests with the pattern
makers and the foundry.
Because of his sympathy with earn
est men who are trying to solve the
problems presented by the use OF &C.
ment and cement concrete the invent
or was rady to lay open every nook
and corner of his laboratory to put be-
fore the readers of the Cement World
what he and his engineers have accom-
plished toward the solution Of the
poured house problem.
For the Tenement Dwelier.
After spending that afternoon in the
laboratory listening to the instructive
talk of the inventor, inspecting the
parts of the molds completed, the pat
terms and the pans of others and speci-
mems of ornamental. work that have
been cast for this house, the writer
asked himself what the significance Of
a S1.2o0 water proof and vermin
proof house was.
1t had been mentioned in a general
way that the purpose was to help the
poor man to have a home of his own
That sounded well.
But later. when the scribe left Or
ange. arrived at Hoboken and took the
Manhattan and walked up Christopher
street. he saw few things that may
have Influenced Mr.. Edison himself as
he followed often the same route to
the city from his laboratory.
It was early in the evening. The at
mosphere was sultry and warm. The
tenements on each side of the narrow
street had been emptied of their hordes
of children Of all ages and these were
out in the gutter and crowding the
walks. Childrens' games of all sorts
were going on and shouts filled the air.
The stairways reeked with the accumu-
lated filth. Tired mothers and fathers
who exc out daily wretched exist
ence for themselves and children
could be seen at the windows, their
wan faces showing ON trace of hope.
Day by day they struggle on and their
children, in whom the JOY of life Is
abloom. shout on in the streets with