St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-09-26
4 SUMMER HOME ON WHEELS.


10 40O AO00G0oDA
Nearly every family plans trip to
the mountains or to some watering re-
sort for few weeks during each sum-
mer. Kansas people generally think Of
the Rocky mountains. Sometimes they
manage to 60. but more often they fail.
However, it is . pleasure to plan.
whether tie trip Is made or not. But
when the whole family wish to go, and
the family purse must be squeezed to
extract change 10 buy steak. then trip
to the mountains or to the seashore is
not often 20 be thought of. much less
carried into effect. With an invalid
wife, three healthy children and the
emphatic statement Of the family ply.
sician that the wife must go to the
mountains for few weeks, II she ex-
poets to regain her health, what can
q man do upon y limited income
This was the question one Kansas
man asked himself, and his solution of
the difficulty was novel. With a good
team Of horses, Of which he had several,
he believed he could drive from the
eastern borders Of Kansas to the foot
hills in three or four weeks. On arrival
the horses could be turned out to Craze
and the family could enjoy . months
outing in the mountains as cheaply as
at home.
After having talked the matter over
with his wife the man. who was skill
full at handling tools. began the con-
structl0n Of what he termed - sum-
mer house ON wheels" When COM
pleted it was = model Of neatness, stout
and yet light. Instead of following the
lines Of the ordinary ''prairie schoon-
err" he constructed his conveyance
after the fashion of . river houseboat.
The body extended over the wheels;
semi-circular places were left for the
rear wheels. and small sections were
cut away on the forward corners to
allow the front wheels plenty Of room.
The wagon was coupled long and the
lower part of the framework was board
ed up with light pine lumber. The
canvas top curved inst enough to shed
the rain. Heavy canvas curtains were
fastened at the edge Of the roof and
arranged so they could be buttoncd
down tightly in case Of storm. or raised
in fair weather. Within the wagon
and on either side was placed . seat,
reaching half the length of the box,
after the style of cab0ose. Upon this
the occupants could sit or recline at
will.
Directly over the rear wheels was .
folding bunk, and just forward Of this
. curtain hung from the top, dividing
the ''house" into two sleeping rooms.
Heavy canvas formed the door at the
rear of the wagon and portable steps
reached to the ground. A small oil
stove furnished sufficient heat to warm
the ''house," while q camp stove was
used to cook on.
As this odd vehicle, drawn by three
horses, passed through the little Kan
sas towns on its way westward it was
regarded with surprise, interest and
amusement. The occupants enjoyed
the attention which their strange
''house" attracted. When . .'kodaker'
approached the "house" the family all
smiled. even to the three-year-old baby.
''They take q shot at US in nearly
every town." said the owner.
Against the side Of the. "house" and
within easy reach Of the driver, was .
Winchester rife.
afraid Of robbers?'' laughed the
traveller. mo. but expect to kill somo
game on the way, and more of it when
1 reach the mountains. We expect to
60 into . section where there In plenty
Of deer. some bear and other game"
''How much did your outfit cost?"
"Oh, the wagon cost me about $40,
and the rest Of the fitting up about
$50, and the horses had, 20 altogether
I guess it cost me probably . little over
500. But il will last several summers.
tell you. stranger, it makes a pretty
nice summer house, and it 10 easy to
move. We didn't feel like we could
afford trip unless We did something of
this kind. But I've SGT to drive ten
miles yet tonight. Good-by.-Kansas
City Star.