Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-23
The Building OF Homes.

A farmer writes in the Amefioan Aori.
cuAluid. Double doors-folding or
sliding-are great social "institution. "
by them two rooms may be thrown
into one. A good broad hall becomes
III summer an extra room. The AIR
circulates There is freedom, an
openness about the house, which gives
an air of superiority to even very
humble dwellings. The superiority is
real, too. II we invite few friends
for the evening, it is not necessary TO
contine them t. the "parlor," but the
doors are thrown wide open, our guests
will fill parlor and hall, and sitting
room and kitchen, perhaps, and yet all
are one company, for the broad doors
being open the whole house is thrown
together. Music sounds through such a
house delightfully."-, and people have y
good time and love to come, because it
so cheerful and social. Another point
in our home building which we too
often overlook is the exposure of the
principal living and sleeping rooms to
the direct influence of the sun. The
effect of the sunlight is best gained
when the house stands with its corners
toward the cardinal points, for thus the
sun shines with considerable power on
all sides of the house every clear day
IN summer, and yet his power is
broken, because at MONDAY the rays
strike two sides obliquely, and very
soon leave the southeastern side
in the shade. We should no,
forget that the sunshine is
healthgiving; dampness and shade, il
slightly in excess, injure the health OF
both men and animals.
One thing more is the importance OF
having some provision foy fire in the
chambers. We builds for health and
not for sickness, and do not hest
tate to say that many n family mourn
the loss of n member simply becaus,
the sleeping room could not be easily
heated.
The best mode of heating no doubt
is by an open fire of some kind. Ii il
very easy in building to make open fire.
places in at least three cham bers
through which the chimney passes.
OF course open treplaces are no,
economical of fuel. but in chambers
fire is seldom wanted, and stoves may
be used if preferred. As to economy
of fuel, builders rs we'll as architects
and proprietors, either frequently over,
look one important fact, or they do moi
look AT it, that is, that the warmes
part of any room is farthest from the
floor so if we make our rooms ten OF
eleven feet high, we must heat tn,
air in all that upper part before q
person sitting at table begins TO fee
at all warm, unless he is where he get,
radiation from the stove or open fire
Low ceilings effect the greatest ecou
omy of fuel, and even make open fire
economical as compared with stove
and high ceilings. Nine feet is, think
an extreme height for the ceiling o
an ordinary country house, say one
in which the largest room is not more
than twenty feet square, or Of equiva.
lent area.
Besides, there are other numerous
considerations which tend to the saving
of fuel and at the same time increase,
the healthfulness and, comfort Of {
home. Some Of these are the materia
of the walls, their impcnetrability to
air and moisture. "deafening" OF tn,
floor, which adds greatly to theil
warmth, good joiner work about win
dows and doors, etc.