Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-10-10
m CEZzR ar TIE I0Aly

At normal rentals, the revenues of such a COM
nunity viii be far greater than ordinary taxes For
while houses depreciate, land neither nor
wears and such a town will be in effect owner of
all its underlying land The Utopia of the single
takers is achieved by virtue of the fact that the
town caught young and started right with no
land boom allowed The town will be in the posi-
ton of having bought itself cost without let
ting anybody pocket profits the rising values
Perhaps the most remarkable example of Uncle
Sans ability as town builder is Yorkship, near
Camden. N J.. designed to serve employees of the
New York Shipbuilding corporation. This town.
where 10000 of Uncle Sans shpworkers will 1--we
while they making ships with which to beat
Germany might almost be said to have been built
overnight Starting work early in the summer,
1000 houses will be ready for occupancy in Octo-
Der. and another thousand will follow within a
few months. Some idea of the speed employed in
the work is indicated by the fact that group
of five workmen's houses put up from fOunda-
ton to roof in SO hours.
While putting up thousand houses in few
months is amazing feat in itself, it becomes
when it is understood that the buildings
Of Yorkship are to be things of beauty. embodying
all that is attractive in old Colonial style of
architecture and at the same time up to date in
everything. In short, it will be town that will
give the workers zeSt for the morrow's work
when they troop home of an evening
Speed practically and simplicity, but the best
of everything. the gst of the governments in
structions, and these instructions are being fol-
lowed to the letter At the same time there isn't
81 trace of paternalism in the governments att-
tude toward the workmen. Uncle Sam simply
wanted to show them that he fully appreciates
what they doing for him.
The town of Yorkship will occupy site of 40
acres. 100 of which now being developed. The
main feature of the town plan is central square.
about 800 feet each side. from which the major
streets radiate. Around the central square three
story buildings have been erected, with stores
The first floor and apartments above. The west
side of the square opens upon broad green.
common, 125 feet wide and $50 feet long. which is
ilanked at its farther end by church sites ard
terminated by site for school library
axis. From the north side of the central square Il
broad boulevard leads out toward New creek. con-
Meeting with bridge and main connecting road to
the shipyards. Parks and Fairgrounds also
literally provided for. Streets laid out, for
the most part, with width of so feet. with road
ways Is feet wide, grass strips feet inches
wide. and sidewalks feet wide A few streets of
greater width where there will be a concentration
% traffic have been provided, while alleys of
1O-foot width provided on the interior of all
blocks
The plan for Yorkship is perhaps the most COM
plete town plan ever made. Every house is COM
plete; 1t has hot and cold water systems, modern
plumbing. up-to-date plumbing fixtures. gas range.
hot-water heater. electric light and cellar furnace
Most of the houses are Of brick with a few stone
stucco or frame. The majority have slate roofs
The order for brick for Yorkship Is said to have
been the largest single order of its kind given
The brick used came from seven different manu-
fxcturers and Is varied as to color. ETC.. that
aspect of the village will not be all monot-
onous.
In fact, the architect has consistently aimed at
avoiding monotony. Starting he did virgin
land-the site of Yorkship before he went to work
it looked like an ideal golf course-it WINS out
of the question to run up houses in unsightly
rows as If In a city, On the other hand individual
houses would have been too expensive. The prob
lem thar confronted him. therefore. pro-
duce dwellings MT minimum cost and yet make
handed