Florida Builders Convert Sand and Swamp Into Nucleus For New TownFLORIDA BULDERS CONVERT SAND AND SWAMP
INTO NUCLEUS FOR NEW TOWN
Florida County sees 1,000,000 within 18 years
Special to the Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Friday, May 24, 1957
There seems to be no end to Florida's building boom. The latest area to feel the
construction splurge is Palm Beach County which now has a population of 187,394 as compared
with 114,700 only five years ago.
In 1975, a special census committee appointed by Florida's Gov. LeRoy Collins estimates
that Palm Beach County `s population will pass 1,000,000.
Pratt & Whitney's decision to build a $42,000,000 jet engine plant northwest of West Palm
Beach triggered the current rush of industry into this area. Air Products, Inc., followed suit and is
now erecting a plant in the same location.
Establishment of an 1,800 -acre Palm Beach County Industrial District near the Pratt &
Whitney venture is the latest move in this county.
KEY COMMUNITYFACILITIES COMPLETED BEFORE HOMES
By Sue P. Burkhardt
Special to the Christian Science Monitor
West Palm Beach, Florida
This is the story of a town which started with a $125,000 village hall, a city manager, mayor,
town council, police and fire protection, before it had a single resident.
The village of North Palm Beach is a planned community, built by two brothers, Richard E.
and Herbert A. Ross. They turned four square miles of sand and swamp into a subdivision
conforming to strict codes of beauty and sanitation. It was ready for action before a home or
building plot was offered to the public.
Residents now moving into the village find paved streets, five-foot concrete sidewalks,
sewage connections, fire hydrants, and soft water already provided and free of assessments.
The land lies along US Highway No. 1, north of the town of Lake Park and about 12 miles
north of West Palm Beach. To the east of the highway, it borders Lake Worth. Some of the land
was so low that proper drainage had to be provided.
RIVER WIDENED
The Earman River, flowing through the property, is being widened to 180 feet and given a
16 -foot depth. An exceptionally low spot is being dredged to form tow artificial lakes and a
communication canal flows into the intra coastal waterway bounding the property on the north.
These steps alone would have provided drainage from heavy rainfall, but the builders added
a system of 42 -inch culverts which preclude any standing water.
Modern water and sewage disposal plants are automatic. Water is pumped from a 19 -acre
area into a treatment plant from four wells, each 55 feet deep. The plan takes care of color, odor,
and hardness of water. The area is bulk -headed against salt -water intrusion and additional wells
will be sunk as needed.
Furthermore, these buildings are picturesque so that the surrounding area is a recreation
park which will include a small boat launching area providing residents, whether or not living on a
waterway, with access to Lake Worth and the fishing grounds of the Atlantic.
Immediately after the town was chartered by a special session of the Florida Legislature in
1956, the brothers began construction of the water and sewage systems. Their next step was to
donate 10 acres for a public school site. County school architects are drawing plans for a 14
classroom building estimated to cost $294,000 and to become a part of the Palm Beach County