Evening star., 1909-05-26
INSPECT MODEL PLANS
Members of District Com
mittees See City Exhibit.
WILL CONSIDER MATTER
Public May View Systems Every
Day This Week.
BOURNVILLE VILLAGE TRUST
Garden City Movement Abroad Also
Has Improved-Cottages and
Land Are Leased.


made acquainted with every detail of the
work that Is being done by the confer
ence Mr.. Marsh showed them the ex-
hibit and explained in detail the schemes
that had been successfully carried out in
various American and European cities.
The visitors showed the keenest inter-
est in the questions brought to their at
tention by Mr.. Marsh, and promised to
give careful consideration to the matter.
The exhibit on city planning which will
be open in the banquet hall Of the Ra-
leigh from 10 am. to 10 pm. every day
this week furnishes a most instructive
suggestion of how people In the city
may live better for less money. This has
planning abroad. and this feature will
make the exhibit of especial interest to
citizens OF Washington who recognize the
need for letting workingmen in the city
have homes at reasonable rates.
Modern Village Exhibit.
Among the characteristic exhibits is one
which has been prepared by Mcclure &
Spahr of Pittsburg Of the American
Aluminium Company works, and at Mes
sina, N. Y. There are in all eleven large
drawings and plans Of this village. which
is laid out on modern lines. and a number
Of individual sketches Of buildings in the
village.
The Garden City movement abroad has
also improved, and the Bournville Village
Trust. near Birmingham, presents another
striking solution Of the housing problem
for workingmen. The Bournville Village
Trust owes its existence to George Cadl-
bury Of the Manor House, Mortified. His
object has been clearly set forth as the
desire to alleviate the evils which arise
from the insanitary accommodations sup
piled to the large number of working
classes and to secure to working classes In
factories some of the advantages of out
door village life with opportunities for the
natural and healthful occupation OF cult
waiting the soil. The object is declared
further to be- the ameliOration OF the con-
dition Of the working class and laboring
population in and around Birmingham.
and elsewhere in Great Britain, by the
provision of improved dwellings. with gar
dens and open spaces to be enjoyed there
with. Some Of the houses were built In
1879, but the bulk of the village dates
from 1895.
Some of his principles were that there
must be no overcrowding. either of cot
tages on the land or OF people IN the cot
tages. Each house must have a good
sized garden. No building must occupy
on which 1t is erected. The roads must
be wide and tree-bordered. and about
one-tenth Of the land. in addition to roads
and gardens. must be reserved for parks
the village Of Bournville was rapidly
| brought into existence. nearly 2OO houses
being built in one year.
Property Is Leased.
At first Mr.. Cadbury thought Of selling
land and cottages outright and 50 Great
ing classes Of small freeholders. but he
found that this would be open to many
objections, particularly that people might
be admitted to the community who would
not be in harmony with the wishes and
motives. SO that plan was abandoned
and houses and land were sold on leases
Of 800 years. Every effort is made to as
sist those who want to acquire property.
Mortgages are granted and 3 per cent
charged to those who pay less than hall
the cost of the house. and 21k per cent
rh1 sold or io h.
They have now decided to lease building
sites for % years.
The average garden space allotted to
each house is 1900 square feet. and these
istic of Bournville. The gardens are
laid out by the estate gardeners when the
houses are built, SO that when the tenant
takes a cottage he finds the garden al
ready prepared, instead of having to be-
gin by breaking up uncultivated land.
Lines Of fruit trees-pear apple. plum
are planted, and those, besides yielding a
good supply OF fruit. form pleasant
screen between the gardens. The ten
ants usually take keen interest in their
gardens and cultivate them with success.
The allotments are eagerly sought after
not only by the Bournville inhabitants,
but by various villages There are two
gardening classes for boys and young
men. the pupils taking perpetual inter-
est in their work.
Most Of the roads are forty-two feet
wide. and the houses are set back at
| least twenty feet from the roads. so that
there is space of eighty-twO feet from
house front to house front In addition
to numerous gardens. there are ample
open spaces and Fairgrounds for children.
about sixteen acres having been set out
as Fairgrounds for children out Of the
11S acres laid out for building purposes.
Bathhouses, gymnasiums, recreation and
civic centers are started. and every pos
gible want of the people has been ap-
preciated by the founder. The demand
FOR the homes is great and tenants rarely
leave while new houses are usually let
tong before they are completed.
Some City Plans.
City planning is a complete and com
prehensive scheme for the laying out OF
cities, and the citizens of Washington
will have an exceptional opportunity to
see the plans which have cost tens of
| thousands OF dollars to prepare and the
carrying out of which will involve an
expenditure in other cities of hundreds of
millions Of dollars Among the most strik-
| ing illustrations is a large drawing-the
| original-which was loaned by the city OF
Cleveland especially for the New York
| and Washington exhibits. This shows
the plans prepared by Messrs. Drummer,
| Carrere & Hastings for the grouping Of
public buildings In Cleveland. At present
these public Offices are housed in most
dilapidated buildings but the plans shown
| in this scheme contemplate an expendi-
ture Of about twenty-five million dollars
| by the city. of which the county will pay
! from twelve to fifteen millions. On the
| other hand. the Chamber Of Commerce OF
| Cleveland has also prepared a series OF
| exhibits showing the housing conditions
in the city, which make a marked con-
| trast TO the magnificent proportions of the
/ group-planning scheme.
map and photographs show the pro-
posed parkway for Philadelphia which
have received the hearty approval of May
or Reyburn. which they are trying to car.
ry out as rapidly as the finances Of ths
city will permit. Kansas City. also. IL
| represented by an exhibit of maps an6
shows the most remarka BILE boulevard II
the world A choice assortment has alss
been prepared of photographs showing tht
/ splendid achievements of other cities
| Vienna, Berlin. Frankfort Paris, Buda
pest. etc. in planning public buildings
| boulevards and drives.
Saturday for Locals.
All officials and other employees of tn,
District government have been invited te
| noon at o'clock. Commissioner Macfar
will bring the invitation to the attention
| Of the Districts employees
i Miss Margey Knowles was married Il