The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-10-28

have a real share in the community
life, the opportunity to enjoy lake
sports and free range of several
thousand beautiful acres of town
land.
The houses are white with en-
semble grouping and harmonizing
architecture. The drive and walks
are fianked with trees, most of them
still young. There are as few traffic
hazards as possible, with every i'm
aginable precaution for safety hav-
ing been taken. All highways are
crossed by means of underpasses,
so that the children who attend the
two schools will not find it neees-
sary to watch out for automobiles.
Queer at first do Greenbelt's
houses appear to the uninitiated, for
the front doors are at the back, if
that is not taxing the readers logic.
In other words, they face on the
open space at the rear, rather than
on the street. They are durable and
attractive, but not ornate.
Kitchens Are Sensibly Modern.
Foundations are of concrete and
roofs of tinted slate. Broad case
ment windows assure plenty of sum
light, and plenty of air. In this eli
mate the summers are likely to be
hot, but ceilings of poured concrete,
reinforced with steel rods, keep the
rooms cool. Brass-capped door stills
combine with copper weather
sheathing to Danish drafts. Founda-
tons and walls have been built to
last hundred years, but they
have not been foolishly planned to
outlast the Coliseum in Rome. Clos
cts are of knotty pine, and oak is
used on stairways only where they
are most likely to be trod upon.
Kitchens are modern, compact,
economical-but not faddish. There
are metal cupboards with deep
shelves and smooth, easy-dusting
doors. Sinks are of enamel and
bathroom walls are covered with
inexpensive waterproof paint. All
fixtures are sturdy and in good
taste.
Greenbelt's business and commu-
nifty center at the head of the resi-
Dental crescent, includes a mer-
camille building, municipal ga
rage, a fire-house, town inn, a res
taurant and school. The latter is
perhaps the most remarkable build
ing. Gray concrete pilasters flank
its sides like inverted flying but
tresses. There is a chiseled frieze
of cubist characters. Interiors are
the ultimate in scientific design. The
buttresses support the walls of
spacious gymnasium. Light brown
walls and great expanses of white
plaster help to diffuse the plentiful
sunlight which enters corridors and
school rooms through windows and
glass brick panels built into the
walls. Students keep their belong
ings in individual lockers. The out
er wall of each classroom is of
transparent glass, stretching al
most the entire height of the room.
Conditions such as these are about
all teacher could ask for.
All commercial operations are
conducted by the consumers cor
poration. Two per cent of the gross
revenue will be turned over to the
federal government as rent; any re-
naming profits will be returned to
the customers as dividends. Operat-
ed on this plan will be general
merchandise store, drug store,
food and meat market, motion pic
ture theater, barber shop, a beau
ty parlor and garage and service
station. When and if the community
decides it does rot like this system,
it may adopt new one.
There are no churches in Green
belt but free land is available for
them if community groups desire to
build them. Greenbelters are given
plenty of opportunity to contribute
their share toward the identifying
of the town. Anyone may secure
the head gardeners advice at any
time free of charge. Trees or bushes
for landscaping may be obtained