The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-06-09
Our Dwellings.

HAVING found a healthy site for .
we wish to know how to con-
struct ID that we may secure health and
comfort, what materials should we use,
wood, brick or stone. A frame house or
q house of wood permits cold air rs well
as hot to penetrate its walls and will not
protect US from the cold blasts of winter
as well as brick or stone. In our recent
war it was found that the sick and
wounded in barracks recovered less rap
idly than those in tents. In civil life,
those who are Injured to an airy dwell
ing are more vigorous and hale than
those who live in houses tightly built Of
we prefer a wooden house, having stone
having its cellar floors made impervious
to gas and water. Brick is very porous,
and permits water to be absorbed and
pass through its limits, unless the outer
part is covered with impervious paint.
Observers have often noticed that sand
stone and brick allow gases to pass free
ly through them, while granite and
limestone and other building stones
nearly exclude gas and moisture that
may be deposited upon its surface. Un-
der ordinary circumstances this is
surely true, but under extraordina-
~ circumstances it may not be.
Gas and moisture can be forced
through brick, stone and iron. Wall
papers are Objectionable on the ground
that they absorb moisture and organic
matters. This objection nearly disap-
pears in well-ventilated houses, unless it
be those in which persons having infec-
tious maladies may live. And still
painted, calcimined, or white-washed
rooms are more salubrious than those
whose walls are covered by any kind of
absorbing paper. Covering the walls Of
dwellings repeatedly, layer upon layer,
with paper, presents large and deep
absorbing surface.
The first thing to be done in con-
structing q healthy dwelling Is to pro-
tect its foundation from dampness. Un-
dsrdraining and an underlayer Of con-
crete, consisting Of broken stone COW
cred with cement, secures this valuable
result. Many other means have been
used to secure this result more perfectly.
Double walls protect better than thick
walls against changes of heat and cold.
Air is q good non-conductor, so we have
double doors and windows. And so the
body of air between the inner and outer
walls is q poorer conductor than solid
wall would be. The space between the
two walls should be three inches; a long
stone should cross this interval every
foot or two, to give the wall strength
and firmness.
The ceiling of the cellar should be
lathed and plastered. The cellar should
be divided into several rooms for various
purposes-one for milk, one for vegeta-
bles, one for fruit. Each room should
be well ventilated, having an inlet OF
pure air and an outlet of impure. In
the rooms above the cellar the same
general principles should be regarded.
Each room should have at least one win
dow on each of two sides. Every room
of any size should have an open fire
place as an outlet of vitiated air. The in
let of pure air should be near the ceiling
so as to drive the impure down and force
it up the chimney. Every sleeping and
keeping room should have an open fire.
place. The kitchen chimney should
have a double hue-one for the smoke
and the adjacent one, having only the
thickness of a brick between, for ventila
ton.
A very important point is proper roof
ing. The slope is often not enough t.
prevent leakage, especially in winter
when snow and ice accumulate upon it,
surface, near the CATERS, and stop tn,
free flowing of water into the conduct
ors. Very often the cutters are too
level, so that the water remains in then
until it evaporates. Slate well laid o.
tin well painted form the best roofing
when rain water is collected for domes
tic purposes, slate laid at an angle o
thirty-fve degrees makes the best roof
If the house be properly ventilated, al
inlet of air near the top of each room
and an open fireplace obviates the neet
of high ceilings and windows. Ever,
sleeping room should be well ventilated
The nursery and sick room should hav
an open fireplace to warm and ventilat
the room. The comfort conferred by
wood fire upon the hearth is very great
especially in spring and autumn, whe
only moderate fire Is needed. The ba
air, close, dry and offensive, is usual
very obvious in rooms warmed by
close stove or furnace. Such nurser
is very harmful and diminishes in som
cases the chances of recovery. If n
better ventilation can be had, be sure t
have hole into the chimney. Even thi
; will do much in changing the air of
room, especially II the lower sash b
raised three inches and an inch boar
be neatly fitted to the space below. I
> this way the outer air will rush In an
|, up to the ceiling. The present custol
, OF having near the center of the house
q water-closet is q very bad one. It q
ways renders the air very impure and
very filthy. Water-closets should be o
the OUTSIDE and have windows openin
Q to the air. 1t should be in q wing sepa
b. ated from the house by double doors.
this can not be done, have the waite
closet 80 near chimney that the air
: the closet may be drawn freely int
q 1t. The best position for this col
4 venience is so near the chimney ,
y the kitchen that the vitiated air may
!. constantly drawn up and burnt.
These items that promote the health
:, ness of dwelling may increase som
d what its cost, but then it is wiser, If ne
r essary, to diminish the cost in oth'
!. things than in those that have an inf
ence upon health.
The bathroom, that every dwellir
ought to have, should be near the kite
> en-above it if possible, SO as to preve
> the freezing of pipes in the coolest Sc
70 son of the year. Waste pipes openir
a into q sleeping room are always harr
:, full.
!. What is needed in every dwelling
ID dryness, pure air, light, and warmt
l. The sunny light has chemical actit
70 upon plants and animals, of such chs
!. acter as to greatly promote life al
growth.-Prdirie Farmer.
= A Terrapin Farm.
l. HAVE just heard of an instance, sa
A. n Washin0tOn cOrrespOndent where