The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-05-03

slaves, three or four feet long, split out
of free rift timber, generally white oak,
held in place on the roof by weight poles.
Although they make a rough looking
roof, it is good one to shed water. II
is not quite SO good for keeping out a
fine, drifting snow, and we have seen the
beds of morning with an extra sheet OF
indisputable whiteness.
In laying up the walls of log cabin,
Experienced hands should be employed,
if possible, as corner-men If that is
not practicable, observe the following
rules: Firstly, cut saddles" upon each
end of the sills; that is, bring space
into the form of a peaked roof, and then
roll on the end logs and spot one side and
let it rest on the saddle. Now man
stands upon each end and cuts a notch
about half through. as though he was
going to cut off the end. and then the log
is turned down. and these notches fitted
firmly on the saddles, and then the up
per side of that log is saddled for the next
side-log. and so on. taking care not to
cut so deep that the logs will touch, nor
so shallow that the cracks will be too
wide, as it will then be difficult to fill
them up in the orthodox manner with
"chinking and daubipg." Be careful to
carry up the corners plumb. and that
your building is square and level, and
that it fronts something or somewhere
You need not pay any attention while
raising it to places for doors and win
ldOws, as you can cut out the upper log
with an axe and the others with cross
cut saw whenever you wish, after the
roof is on. So you can saw down the
corners ship-shape, or you may butt of
the logs as you lay them up. We would
never build cabin over eighteen feet
square, and never but one story high.
Unless in unusually dry soil, never dig a
cellar under your cabin. Let that useful
room be made above ground, or under
some other building.
Making a fireplace without brick,
mortar or stone is what puzzles emigrants
most. 1t is, however. a very easy oper-
alton. 1t is done in two ways-by pack
ing moist earth in form made of boards
the shape of the intended fire place, upon
which is laid wooden mantle, and sticks
like coarse lath, cob fashion, which
are plastered with clay mortar or else
by mixing a stiff mortar and forming
that into ''cats"-that is, Jumps about
the size and shape of cats body,
which are piled up with sticks from the
ground to the top, and suffered to dry
into one great adobe. forming the fire.
place and chimney. Built either way,
such chimney lasts good number Of
years. Though little unsightly, it is
best to build it on the outside of the
house, as it saves room, and is more safe
from fire. If badly built, or the clay
suffered to drop off of the sticks, the
chimney sometimes takes fire, without
danger to the house.
The inside of log cabin is otter
hewed down so as to make tolerably
straight wall. This can be done by one
days work after the building is raised
If peeled logs. such as hickory, poplar
or Eastwood can be obtained, they make
much the neatest house, outside and in
The chinking is done by driving split
stuff. like fat rails, into the cracks. Then
ion the outside, take well-mixed clay NOR
tar, handful at time, and throw it for
chilly into the cracks, so as to fill out the
cavity nearly flush, when it should be
smooihed off with a trowel. Go over
this when you bank up for winter, and
fill up all the cracks, and you will have 6
warm house, unless your windows and
door are out of order.
One of the most common faults among
all new country settlers is neglect te
lprovide comfortable winter shelter fol
the poor dumb beasts confided to theil
care. Stables can be made warm and
very comfortable in the same way as the
house, and excellent winter shelter car
be provided in prairie country for large
herds for trifiing expense,in in the follow.
ing manner: Take common fence rails
and lay them up about a foot apart, by
using eross-ties, until you get a wal
six feet high, and as long as you desire,
by extending course after course In the
same way. Then fill this wall with
sods, manure. or fine brush or weeds
anything that cattle will not eatout-and
lay rails from the top to a pole resting
upon posts at a proper distance.
Next cover these rails with brush, OR,
if that is not convenient, with straw O,
very course grass, and slack the hay on
top for winteruse. This is not an exnen
sive mode of fencing acks, sad if the
sheds are made to face the south and n
some well protected spot, the cattle vii
De very we'll sheltered from many cold
winter storm. As the hay is fed off, the
waste OF the yard may be pitched ut
daily. SO as still to form tolerable shell
| ter after the stacks are consumed. By
Iadopting this course, immense herds o
bullocks and large tlocks of sheep NAV
be taken charge of at once by kaasa.
settlers. and that they will find by expe
rieEce the most profitable business they
lean enter upon. 1t is business, TOO
THAT can be commenced with mode rate
capital, and what is more important, witt
lew hired lahorers. In good location:
for stock. If the emigrant makes early ar.
rangements this summer, be may winter
"a goodiy herd, and be in fair way C
make money next year. much faster and
easier than the man who deyotes his en-.
iarUiaS Il, r<aiSin,s urs,iu-V y Ts-;b..n.