Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-24
EDISON 6 DREAM
To Be REALIZED
House to be Poured Near
Alexandria in a Single
Day.
NJ o r RILL'S PLAN S.
Novel Method of Construction to be
Tested at Virginia Highlands on
Labor Day.

Some two years ago, Mr.. Thomas
A. Edison predicted that the home of
tomorrow would be Of reinforced con-
crete poured in steel forms and COM
pleted in a single day. The proph-
ecy at that time was hardly accepted
within the realm of possibility, as the
means for such rapid construction
were not then at hand. Progress,
however, in the home building and es-
pecially in construction of reinforced
concrete has been rapid, and through
the invention of steel mould equip
ment developed by Alexandria
architect, Milton Dana Morrill,, this
phenou::al speed is now possible.
On Labor Day, September End, the
public will have an opportunity to
witness in one day what short
time ago it would have taken months
to accomplish.
In this new type of construction,
steam cinders, lime and sand are the
materials employed, using what has
heretofore been a waste product in
the construction Of permanent, sani-
tary and fire-proof homes. The
building to be poured at Virginia
Highlands, suburb located between
Washington and Alexandria, will con-
tain four rooms and bath, of the bun
galow type, and while it is a modest
home, with its unique space saving
appliances it could comfortable house
a family of several persons. The
large living-room is so arranged that
instantly it can be transferred into
dining-room through the use of an in
genious disappearing table, and at
night is as easily and quickly changed
into bed chamber by the opening of
wall pannels, behind which is the dis
appearing bed. In this way the
space is made to serve for various
needs of household life.
The kitchen is equipped with modern
electrical cooking apparatus and fire.
less cookers, so that the house-work
is reduced to a minimum. Every
thing is arranged on one floor, as is
the case with the modern apartment,
and all has been arranged to minimize
the necessary steps for house-work.
This type of residence should do much
to bring the home ownership within
the reach of the man of extremely
moderate income, and should, at the
same time, assist in curtailing the
cost of living.
Last, but not least, this convenient
coy home together with its garden
sufficient to supply the family needs,
will cost less than S1,500.00, and in
houses of this sort, the up-keep, re-
pairs, etc. are reduced to minimum.
While these poured houses as they
are called have now been successfully
built in the suburbs of our many cit
les, the majority of these houses are
of larger and more expensive type.
These unique homes are striking in
appearance with their white walls,
red roofs, with trellises and flower
boxes used for decoration, and are in
line with our modern and steady ac-
hievement towards the conservation
of effort and labor, as well as elimina-
ting to a large extent the destruc-
ton of our forest for home building.
Through the use Of cement, lime,
and cinders, an extensively dense con-
struction is made, effectively pre-
venting any dampness, and forming a
light strong construction when rein
forced with steel bars