La Junta tribune., 1917-02-17
INDUSTRIAL TOWN
FIT TO LIVE IN
Midland, Pa, Is a Rival For
the German Essen.
FOUNDED BY STEEL COMPANY

Midland H-s Modern Filtration Plan,
In Connection With It's Water Supply
System. Miles Of Paved Streets and
Comfortable Homes For Workinsmen.
Essen, Germany. home OF the krupp
guns, has often been held up rs the
height OF practical idcalism Ia the con
structioB OF Industrial towns. II has
been regarded as the acme OF all that
N artistic and beautiful for town
whose population il made up OF work,
men In manufacturing plant The
United States. on the other hand, has
never been noted for the beauty and
cleanliness OF It's Industrial towns. and
Pennsylvania has frequently been crit.
tcised for negligence Of housing condi-
tons among the laborlng classes. says
J. 4. Wright In the American City.
Az one OF the exceptions, however.
To this rule Of poor conditions In indus
trial towns and IN some respects as
rival FOR the German Essen. Midland
stands out prominently This town
was founded In 1906 by the Midland
Steel company and Is located on the
Ohio river thirty seven miles southwest
Of Pittsburgh. The original plant was
taken bver In 1911 by the Pittsburgh
Crucible Steel company, subsidiary
of the Crucible Steel Company OF
America. and the unsold portion OF the
town, which included about go acres.
was later acquired by the Midland I'm,
prorement company. also a subsidiary
OF the Cruclble Steel company.
When the town came into the hands
of this new concern decided and rap
Id change began 10 take place I'm
provements were at once instituted.
and municipal conditions Immediately
underwent n change. The usunl check.
erbonrd fashion In which the old town
had been laid out was done away
with In It's place was substituted a
system OF curved and winding streets
and number OF small parks. which
gave to the little town new appear.
snce OF beauty and grace.
Ever since then the company has
don. much 70 Improve conditions aud
10 give to the inhabitants town Of
which they might well be proud Mid
land Is one Of the few Industrial towns
of its sire that hnv. filtration plants IN
connection with their water supply sys
tens. No charge has been made to
the borough up 10 this time for water
furnished the fire hydrRnts and the
other water consumed by the borough.
including that used In the schools
The water 4" the people II furnished
at low rate. An elaborate system
OF sanitary and storm sewers has been
Installed, which lusurcs proper drain.
age and improved hygicnir condition.,
When the CruClblc Steel company
came into possession of the town IN
1911 II found hut one paved street
Now the town has miles Of paved
streets. which are broad and well kept
one ~ the chief factors In IN. np-
pearance ~ the town Is the style and
appearance Of IN. houses built there
There ARE several types In Midland
the most interesting ~ which are those
In the unique group which has been
designated "roylpnd These houses
have been designed after those In r.,
sen. Germany. This group comprises
several hundred houses constructed
during the last year. They are ~ sin
Fic. double md triple type and are
modern and M 30 date Ia all their
features They arr built of hollow
tile. plastcrcd cement and pebble
dash or stuero coat
The rents vary from S2i to 81 per
month Each house has I'VE or six
rooms. bath. pantry, electric lights,
4ns. inside closet running water and
warm air furnaces
Another type Of house Ia Midland.
interesting chiefly because OF Its pc
culiaF method Of construction. l. the
group OF 50 called poured concrete
houses In the building of the house,
an experiment was made with Mr I'd.
ison's new Invention. The concrete l.
poured Into frames. and practically no
wood Is used In the cutlrc construc.
fion. This Invention OF Mr., Edlson's.
while still In mn experimental stage ~
regards practical use. has met with
success Ia Midland and " attracting
numerous visitors from all parts OF
the Industrial district These nr-t
buildings. while not beautiful. are
clean cut. solid structures. which ar.
In pcrfert harmony with the rest Of
artistic Midland. The houses rent for
3it per month.
Taken ~ whole. Midland l. demon.
strsting tho fact that large corpora.
tion. by doin. Its best townrd Its em.