LAVISH EXPENDITURE 69 



buildings were erected on each holding and 

 water laid on. Where the land was found to 

 be inaccessible roads were made. To facilitate 

 carting, a light railway was constructed round 

 the property, the track passing in front of 

 every holding. A lavish expenditure was 

 incurred in the founding of a school and 

 swimming-baths. Cottages, a post-office, and 

 shops were also established. INIr. Fels spared 

 no expense to create a model village, but 

 entirely overlooked the all-important fact of 

 the quality of the land, and that his efforts 

 were entirely useless unless a living was 

 assured to the future inhabitants. 



When these works were complete a selection 

 was made from the inquiries received. News- 

 papers had found the progress of the scheme 

 interesting " copy," and over eleven hundred 

 applicants had signified their desire to take a 

 holding, although no money had been spent 

 in advertisement. After consideration it was 

 decided to accept no one who had not £100 

 capital at his disposal. Although there were 

 only about thirty holdings to be filled at the 

 time, it was found that out of all the applica- 

 tions there were not more than twenty with 



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