October, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



399 



Even the Chimney-stacks Contribute Their Quota to the Result 



and the laying out of 

 parks. 



In 1878 the stan- 

 dard type of cottage 

 cost one thousand 

 dollars each to build, 

 but in 1 90 1 the same 

 cottage cost one thou- 

 sand six hundred and 

 fifty dollars to build, 

 which price has been 

 steadily increasing, 

 owing to the increase 

 in the cost of ma- 

 t e r i a 1 s. The first 

 parlor houses cost to 

 build one thousand six 

 hundred and fifty dol- 

 lars each, but in 1901 

 they cost two thou- 

 sand seven hundred 

 and fifty dollars, and 

 they have been in- 

 creasing at the same 

 rate. The rents of 

 the cottages have 

 been fixed at such an 



amount as to pay for roads, taxes, repairs 

 and maintenance. The standard cottages 

 rent for eighty-seven cents a week, while 

 the Parlor Cottage rents for one dollar and 

 thirty-seven cents. The maximum limit 

 possible for the maintenance of a healthy 

 life has been decided as ten cottages to the 

 acre, or four hundred and eighty yards per 

 cottage. The village contains upward of 

 six hundred houses and four miles of road- 

 ways, widening out at each junction into 

 open spaces. 



At Port Sunlight no monotonous and de- 

 pressing rows of brick and mortar can be 

 found, but only dainty looking cottages, in 

 early English style of architecture. The 

 cottages are built mostly in blocks, ranging 

 from two to seven cottages in a block, and 

 no two blocks are alike. In many cases 

 they are almost entirely covered with ivy, 

 clematis or climbing roses, and each vil- 

 lager tries to outdo the other in the im- 



FlRST FLOOR 



provement of his property. The interiors 

 are remarkable for their comfort. The 

 pretty latticed windows add to the attractive 

 qualities of the rooms, and growing plants 

 are found on the window sills and are placed 

 on tables about the room. Every cottage has 

 a bath. 



The wives and children of the employees 

 share in the general good, while the fact that 

 in 1904 the birth rate was fifty-six and the 

 death rate only eight speaks volumes for the 

 general health of the villagers. 



An evidence of the thoroughness of the 

 whole scheme Is the provision made for the 

 safety of the employees in the soap factory. 

 The most complete arrangements for guard- 

 ing machinery are provided, but as accidents 

 can not always be avoided, a room Is fitted 

 up as a surgery, and an ambulance carriage, 

 replete with every comfort, is always on 

 hand; an ambulance 

 corps has also been 

 established, furnished 

 with every facility 

 calculated to mini- 

 mize suffering and to 

 prevent the ill effects 

 which too often result 

 for want of prompt 

 and efficient attention. 



Every provision Is 

 made against fire 

 risks. In addition to 

 small manual engines 

 and fire buckets In 

 each department, 

 there is also a well 

 equipped fire brigade 

 station on the prem- 

 ises. The brigade is 

 In charge of an ex- 

 perienced captain, 

 and Is composed of 

 workmen In the fac- 

 tory, who are drilled 

 periodically. A fur- 

 ther protection Is pro- 



Second Floor 



Allotment Gardens 



V 



