The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1910-12-31

first fireproof village in the United
States. 1t is the model village being
constructed by the Russell Sage
Foundation Homes Company tan off
shoot OF the Russell Sage Founda-
tom for the comfort Of the clerk and
the mechanic who has difficulty in
finding within his means desirable
quarters in the city
The traveller along the line of the
Long Island railway may already see
beginnings of this remarkable COM
munity. Below him, roads stretch
across the small plain that flows be-
tween the track and the deep green
forest in the middle distance. They
are a little ragged in outline now.
but promise to be lines of beauty
when the borders are sodded and
clipped. Young trees rise from the
irregular shaped spots of green which
are destined some day to be park
spaces. Close by Italians are busily
engaged In excavating cellars and lay
ing concrete walls If ones magma
ton is keen enough he can picture the
village, with it's attractively designed
brick and stucco walls and red tile
roofs, glowing against the fresh green
of the parking and the forest and the
shimmering smooth surfaced high
ways.
There has been a great deal of mys-
terry regarding the village. Those
who have had charge of the details Of
the plan have been willing to say only
a little until their plans were fully ma
tured, owing to the unique character
Of the undertaking. The problem in
volved not only the laying out of the
/ tract in such way as to provide at
! once surroundings that would appeal
! to and educate the eye and furnish a
maximum of light and air to living
I rooms, but also the study of methods
4 of combining the distribution OF
! space, the design of external walls
and of building materials in such a
way as to provide ample, conveniently
located and we'll lighted rooms. sur
rounded by artistically pleasing walls
in fireproof materials. This was to be
done in such way as to provide the
maximum Of quality with the mini
mum of cost. 1t was essential that
they should do more than meet the
competition of the ordinary tenement
house. The accommodations should
he illustrations of what could be done
commercially for the wage Garner III
the groups above the laborer, an IN
contive to others to go and do like
wise.
The work Of the projectors has no"
been carried forward to a point where
rlans for several Of the different types
of buildings have been filed with the
New York City Department OF Build
mos While some of these may De
amended in details, they give an llil-
nression of what the development VIII
he like These plans include rail-
road station, hotel, two and tnree
family apartment houses. one FANNY
houses and ow-priced homes ioi
workingmen.
The main street of the village Is the
only thoroughfare connecting the pres
ont village of Forest Hills on lne
north side of the railroad emoanK
ment with the model village on .he
south side. Just east OF the Dfidse
carrying the tracks over the suee'
viii no the railroad station and 'he
station square. This square, "hose
westerly boundary will be the avenue
.nnarently is to be civic center.
10 to have unusual treatment.
The hotel will front on the squart
and face the station. 1t Will De IL
forr narts. the central section OF tnt
main group being an octagonal toweI
eight stories in height and topped VIII
ti,ed dame. The entire bulldl>s
vii, he irregular in shape, the man
roof line being an obtuse angie u
oonform TO the angle Of the squar'
ord street leading from II to"al'
the southeast The tower VIII stah'
n the angle. The wing extendln'
o,onp the station square Will De liV
foot long and five stories h1gh' WIN
the other wing will be 700 1eet ion'
ora three stories in height. Along III
80 u;,, he an arcade with fattene'
and elliptical arches, harmonious :.
curve with those carrying the passase
| or.r the streets. Fronting on IN
oroades behind the arches are 20 y
s,ores The ground floors OF all IN
buildings surrounding the square a.
| narentlv will be designed Tor use d
business places. With these ORR.
mental arches in front OF them
would appear that there will be ntt u.
onnortunity for display signs. a VI :.
LACE square, without obtrusive ana II
| artistic signs will be novelty.
| Tho northerly wing, fronting on In
| will contain four stores, 5