Catoctin clarion., 1921-01-27
HOW BRITAIN
HOUSES PEOPLE
Problem Being Worked Out in
Village Only Five Miles
From London.
PLAN FOR 100000 HOUSES
Colossal Task Involves Expenditure Of
More Than $1oO,oOo,000 Every
Year for a Period of More
Than Sixty Years

New York-"It's all jolly well to
look to the government to solve your
particular housing problem, but at the
same time public-spirited men and
the right Ideas, can do much toward
aiding the government in reducing
this problem to a minimum
That in substance Is what Mrs.
Henrietta Barnett had in mind when,
with others Interested in community
welfare, she established the Hamp-
stead Garden Suburb, five miles from
London.
"Our village now Is most attrac-
tive place." said Mrs. Barnett, at the
Cosmopolitan club, New York, where
she is staying for few days before
returning to England. Hampstead
Garden Suburb now has population
of about 10000. The ground was brOk-
en- for it in 1907 and the present posi-
tion Of this pioneer experiment OF
town extension, in spite of suspension
of building more than six years, Is
most satisfactory"
Many desperate homeseekers in
New York no doubt would heartily in.
dorse q similar scheme, says the writ.
er Of an article published in the Bos.
ton Globe.
Project for 100000 Houses.
That the housing problem in Eng
land has been more serious than that
in New York is indicated by the state
ment that England is engaged in the
colossal task of building 100000
homes for her people ut the tremend-
Gus cost Of more than $100O00,0OO
every year for period Of more than
sixty years. The necessity of shelter
Ing homeless people became so
acute that the government adopted
this plan. In 1927 it will be consid-
cred again by the government. II it
proves practicable, 1t may be contin-
ued If not, some improved scheme may
be substituted for 1t.
Under this plan the various munich
palities issue bonds to carry out their
particular schemes. Houses thus built
are rented at the lowest possible rate
and any deficiency beyond certain
figure Is guaranteed by the national
government.
This plan Is helping to meet the
present great and urgent housing
emergency Of England.
After long years passed in Universe
~ settlement work, with her husband,
the noted Canon Barnett, vicar Of ST.
Jude's Whitechapel, for which they
were the inspiration In England, Mrs.
Barnett evolved her ideas for cOun-
try community in which every family
could have its own bath and its own
garden.
part Of this village" Mrs. Barnett
explained, was built around an open
space Of eighty acres. In addition to
the woods there are public gardens,
Fairgrounds and sheltered seats which
may be enjoyed by all the tenants,
whatever rents they pay.
1.-The village represents true com
munity spirit and has been the means
of promoting better understanding
between various classes by arranging
that people with different sizes Of in
come may live on the estate. 1t Is
not a charity enterprise. 1t is self sup
porting and has made for the happi-
ness and improved health Of the fam-
lies who have taken cottages at
Hampstead Garden Suburb.
Health Side Important.
"As women are the home makers
and home dwellers, and as the house is
the shell Of the home. women should
have q voice in housing plans. The
Queen Anne style in the front with
the Mary Ann style at the back to
quote Sir Edwin Lutyens, must not
continue when 1t means all the beauty
and comfort for the rich and ugliness
and discomfort for the domestic work
er."
Speaking of the health side of the
housing plan known throughout Great
Britain as the model village" Mrs.
Barnett told how the district medical
officer weighed and measured the vii
lage children and found them taller,
heavier and broader than those of the
same age in the city.
"That report was most gratifying to
me-" Mrs. Barnett commented, be
cause the pale faces Of the little chill
dren of the Whitechapel district with
which my husband and myself were so
familiar, keep haunting me and urging
me on to do something Of this kind.
II believe that the solution of many
Of our national differences and diff
culties lies in a more neighborly atti-
tude, not separation or isolation. Archi-
tects too often study how to get as
many people as possible housed in
small space. 1t Is hoped that those
concerned with town planning will
consider the natural intermixing Of
all social classes and the communion
Of the handicapped with the happy"