The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-10-27
THE REBUILDING
OF POL AN D
RECONSTRUCTION WORK is
NOW IN PROGRESS IN
DEVASTATED LAND

DEVASTATED LAND
Devastated Poland is being re-
built. Because OF close German Su-
pervision and the German practice
of selling all materials for German
use, the work has had to be carried
on almost surreptitiouSly. But 1t IS
already under way. 1t is naturally OF
temporary nature first, because OF
the lack OF supplies and money, and,
again. because the need OF shelters
is so pressing and immediate. But
various Polish groups are working,
trying to direct even this work in
such a manner that the labor now
being employed will be used for at
least LAYING the foundation for a
new Poland to be created.
The actual rebuilding will OF ne
cessitv have to be an after-the-war
problem. because the devastation IN
Poland has been so widespread and
complete. Hundreds OF villages have
been actually reduced to heaps OF
cinders and ashes roads have been
ohliterated the fields have been
made sterile. and even the trees, not
only along the highway, but in larger
forest tracts, have been cut to the
,tumps,
Public buildings bridges, and rail
way, have been destroyed, and IN
that portion OF the kingdom, adj
Joining German Poland, the raI-
roads have been remade to link with
the German governmental system
while the rolling stock has been
either couiScated or worn to Such
a condition as to be useless as an
economic instrument in the iuture'
Houses Built OF Wood.
II must be confessed that the
completeness OF the destruction OF
Polish villages and towns was made
easier bv the character Of the houses
and general buildings. The eXtraor,,
dinary wooded areas in Poland ana
the natural cheapness OF wood has
resulted in large wooden house
areas. Some OF them had thatched
roofs. and in other cases shingles
were used. Many houses that were
not DESTROYED by shell IRE were
caught by the torches of the adyanc-
inc and retreating armies, and even
those which escaped the fire brands
were consumed in general coniIagrta-
t;ous The practice Of covering the
wood construction with plaster
served in some cases to save the
buildings from incendiary shells but
this form of protective
was employed chiefly IN the
rnral districts, and not in the more
thickly settled communities where II
might have been OF value as a Iire
stopping agent. e..
Fortunately there are today IN
Poland men who out OF the mlstor-
tunes OF the war hope to build new
Poland. which will be a safer ana
1appier country, than the Poland Oh
.he past. Even before the war the
universal employment OF wood Tor
housing purposes subjected 'he
own, and villages to frequent tires
which often laid waste entire tracts.
The economic loss OF these fires mas
ona been subject OF serious DIS
,ussion. and the Warsaw Architects I
,;rcle had started an agitation nor
he employment OF a better nre-re- '
listing material. The activities oi I
his organization attracted attention. [
mt unfortunately the members were
- situated that they were only al
owed 10 act where repairs or new
,nildinq operations were under way
Polish Architects Are Busy
The complete scariiying OF m'Iea
i housing territory and the aDSo-
ME- necessity of rebuilding has
.nened a clear course. Late advlceN
rom Poland are to the effect that
hev are fully aroused as to their I
noortunitie,. Their aims, as recent
/; set forth by Arthur +. Gurney' an
rchitect who has pracuced ms pro
p .siou for some time in Warsaw
nd who is a member OF various
.oli,h professional organizations
an for the rebuilding OF these towns
nd villages in a more substan''a'
tanner. They call Tor the ehmiha-
on of the matched roof even IN
.rm building construction. not onIy
ecause OF the fire danger, though
lat is naturally more remote Dul ..
sanitary move. They also want
extend the use OF tile and brick
instruction in city and town dwell
70 those OF us in the United
ates who are struggling with a
,vernmental housing problem, 1t Is
teresting to note that in the latter
rt of 1915. when governmental
using was here regarded as 2
,ionarv dream, the architects III
,land were already planning a gen
Al system OF rebuilding by the new
,lsh state. and under strict regu-
ion. True. their leading towards
IS method OF manifestation was
.de almost obligatory by reason OF
. size OF the task in hand. and the
neral loss OF property. but their
ion was original. Those who have
1 an opportunity to review the
ms as outlined. have been struck
h the soundness OF the scheme
| the careful balance which has
N established by which state aid