Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-10-05
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

time IN The Star.
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
At Elm Park, Essex-'it isn't far
from London"-an exceedingly inter-
esting experiment in real estate de-
velopment has been initiated. The
formal opening, May IS last, brought
out no less dignitary than Sir Hilton
Young, minister of health, to grace the
occasion and to certify to the national
governments Endorsement of the prof.
ect.
In effect the plan calls for model
city, built to order. Five hundred
houses already have been constructed
and sold and eventually population
of $4,000 will be accommodated. Each
residence, it has been stipulated, must
be owner occupied. Thus it is hoped
to maintain the original civic spirit
and neighborliness which has inspired
the entire plan from its inception.
Women, as it happens. have been
especially active in the matter. Their
wishes were consulted before single
drawing had been made, and their ad-
vice has been sought as the work has
expanded. To illustrate the contribu-
ton which they have made. 1t may be
cited that the half thousand residences
now completed have large kitchens
the ladies desired room to turn
round" in their practice of the Gull
nary art.
New Rail Station.
The cooperation of the London,
Midland e. Scottish Railway also was
sought, with the result that fine new
station has been built at Elm Park as
an arrival and departure point OF the
systems London, Tilbury and South
end section.
Tradesmen were enlisted to provide
five convenient shopping centers IN the
town, and the ecclesiastical authorl-
ties accepted an invitation to estab-
lish two churches. Meanwhile, eight
schools have been scheduled for con-
struction. Other features include an
inn. a cinema playhouse seating 5000
and a children's recreation ground for
the use Of all the youngsters OF the
neighborhood.
LIE SJOllSOlS Va tIAS EAoAA otS S@-S
Eornchurch Urban District Council,
the Halifax Building Society, the rail-
way and Richard Costain, Ltd, build
erS.
Sir Hilton, taking full advantage OF
the opportunity afforded by the open
ing ceremonies, stressed the values OF
q correlated program for the gradual
rehousing of the whole population OF
the British Isles. a dream which has
engaged the enthusiasm Of leaders OF
all parties since the period of the
World War and toward the realization
of which substantial gains have been
made in recent years Elm Park. he
said, had been conceived as a CO.
operative undertaking and had been
carried on in that spirit and to that
end.
Government Funds for Sums.
1T is the policy of the government"
he argued. "to obtain the greatest
possible degree of help for housing
needs from private capital and to
concentrate public money and the
efforts Of the crown housing admin
istration on slums and overcroWding
problems. In both respects success
has been attained. The boom in house
building by private enterprise. already
extraordinarily active, will show fresh
records. On the other hand, the gov
ernment's effort for the abolition of
slums is going from strength to
strength. The rate at which the
jewellers in the old slums are now
actually moving into good. new houses,
mostly provided by private capital, is
increasing in way that exceeds all
expectations.
The passage Of the overcrowding
bill, Sir Hilton explained. would give
the government and the local authori-
ties the right to proceed Immediately
with their new task of redeveloping
the out-of-date and overcrowded areas
of wage earners' dwellings in towns
both great and small we mean to
put into good condition the DID," the
minister asserted. "as we'll as to pro-
vide the new"
Movement Large.
Sir Enoch Hill. president of the Hal
FAX society, was the second speaker
OF the inaugural meeting. Il doubt"
he said. IF either the local authori-
ties or the ministry of health realizes
the extent to which the migration of
the working class population from
rented houses in overcrowded areas
to healthful, modern, small houses in
the outer suburbs is likely to be slim
ulated by the operation of the various
housing reform schemes of the gov
eminent. Now that it is possible to
offer, at weekly purchase price that
is in some instances lower than the
rent OF rooms in the crowded areas,
mooern family houses equipped with
the latest convenienceS, foresee in
the near future great outward surge
10 the new suburbs Of outer London"
Loro ClWyd, director Of the Co.'S
tain firm, and w. v. Wood, vice presi-
dent of the L. NJ S., shared the views
OF Sir Hilton and Sir Enoch. The
minister unlocked the new station
gates with q silver key and cut a
ribbon barrier across the entrance to
park grounds.
Middle Class Houses.
Most of the houses thus far con-
structed in the development are
frankly middle class" in design and
decoration. They obviously have been
intended to meet an existing psychol-
ogy of modest means and reasonable
comfort. Cottage models of two or
three centuries ago have been adapted
by the architects for the principal
lines, but the interiors manifest the
latter day tastes of the people. Brick,
tile, stucco, timber, slate, glass, cop
per, bronze, brass, enamel-all have
been used in consonance with present
ideals of construction. Room sizes
are more capacious than would have
been likely decade back. The build
ers have taken note of a trend in
the direction Of spaciousness. People,
they believe, are tired Of being cramped