The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-24

NeniCnce or living therein and with re-
spect 10 the saving OF steps. Happily the
two considerations do not conflict. A house
which Is so arranged as TO be easily cared
Tor is almost always comfortable.
CONVENIENT KITCHEN.
The thought of a convenient kitchen Is
comparatively so new. after all. that many
architects have not grasped ii in any large
measure. Yet it is here, and with the
thought of labor saving there came from
abroad the idea of the small kitchens
room only so large as 10 admit OF the nee
essary work being done there. The large
kitchen is about all that remains TO us OF
pioneer times. Ii Is reminder of the
time when the family spent all their wax
ing hours there. Now only the cooking
ana dishwaShing are done therein. and
the family life goes on elsewhere. Even the
washing no longer makes life burden on
The flrst floor for at least one day I'm the
week. IL is impossible TO do this work in
a small kitchen and furthermore IL is uni
versally recognized that under any circum-
stances il is better and more easily done
In room set apart for this purpose. The
added cost of providing such a room is not
great. A simple laundry may be provided
at a cost too small for serious consider
alton, and, after ALL the difference in labor
saving between a laundry OF low cost and
one in which every possible convenience
has been placed is not so great as seems
at first glance.
A laundry on the first floor is rarely
built even in houses where cost is not con-
sidered. The first laundries were placed
on this floor, but most such now given
10 other uses and the laundry work is done
in the basement or cellar II one prefers
this term. The difference between a base
ment and cellar is not so great as IL was
few years ago. The cellar was originally
hole in the ground, the door a trap in the
floor and the stairs steep and uncertain.
Within there was a barrel Of apples a pile
OF potatoes, gloom and a strong suspicion
OF rats. On high hanging shelf. seen dis
tinctly only by candle light, was a store
of canned fruit. The floor was of dirt damp
and foul smelling because the only air adj
mitted was through one or two small win
dows on one side. Ventilation was as i'm
possible adequate lighting.
In considering what may be done to
ligtten the burdens o: the housekeeper the
cellar has received far less attention than
II is worthy of. IL should facilitate the OPP
erations of housekeeping and help assure
the health of the family. First OF al IL
should be made light and airy. The foun-
dalton need not be very high I'm order 10 do
this The air admitted through windows
of moderate height should be supplemented
by that admitted through a generous out
side door leading TO the outside steps. Rib
bed glass should be used in both door and
windows. This is little, IL any, more ex-
pensive than ordinary double strength glass
across the cellar rather than almost YER
tically TO the floor near the windows Thus
the room may be thoroughly and inexpen-
sively lighted. Cellar windows should be
hingd at the top and held firmly against
the ceiling when open.
NO REASONABLE EXCUSE.
There is no reasonable excuse for the old
time dirt floor even in the very low-cost
house. A cement floor of good grade is not
expensive and insures dryness and clean
illness. If il slants to the center in which
is placed a small drain IL may be flushed
and swept with a minimum OF labor and a
maximum of cleanliness. The wall OF the
cellar should be OF vitrified brick where
stone or concrete are not used. This brick
is as nonabsorbent as glass and is always
dry and never foul. The added cost of its
use is but trifie. III laying the brick care
should be taken that the joints are smooth
and parallel with the brieks-.-smooth-
webs when the brick itself is clean. II the
question Of cost Is not considered the cej'-
ing should be covered with hard plastic.
In cellars so built the air is as dry and pure
as In the upper stories. The rapdity with
which air will pass from a lower to an up
per story through floor. plaster and carpets
makes Il strictly necessary that In a cell
lar no foul air be found.
a cellar should be so planned as TO pro-
vide for four things: Storage. laundry
storage plants in cities OF any size have
decreased the amount Of storage room nec-
essary in the cellar. yet some Is always ad-
be in a separate room, one where only so
much heat. reaches as is necessary TO keep
room the bins should be so constructed as
10 be readily and easily cleaned when
empty
The furnace and coal bin should be adj
jacent. This may seem an unnecessary
statement. but investigation of a hun
dred cellars would convince the skeptical
that very little thought is given 10 conven-
fence of firing the family furnace. There
is wide difference between firing a fur
mace on the floor level with the coal across
ed tie furnace l Should be plaeed below the
floor level at least eighteen inches. In
front of il will then be a pit reached by
two steps. The coal bin should be so To-
Gated that when standing In this pit the
coal is Immediately at hand on the floor
level and also on the level OF the furnace
door. mere turn OF the wrist transfers
the coal from pit to furnace door and even
a child" could do the firing. This is more
especially true II the coal bin be hoppered
or sloped gently from the top 10 the outlet
at the furnace door. Thus for every shovel
full removed another automatically takes
its place. Such bin is easily and cheaply
built and gives more JOY than any other
simple device about a house.
KIND OF LAUNDRY
AS suggested a laundry may be simple or
elaborate as may be able or willing to
provide. The simplest form is a well-light-
ed room in which is an iron sink over
which are placed pitcher pump connecting
with the cisteTn and a cock for cold city
water. small two-hoIed stove, a wash
bench with tubs and wringer and hooks on
the walls to hold the lines completes an
outfit not 10 be despised. In a city where
soft coal is used IL Is absolutely necessary
10 dry clothes in the house in winter In
tine simple laundry mentioned IL Is possible
10 have clothes as white and sweet as with
the more expensive patent dryer. IL Is not
20 be denied that set tubs are more con-
venient than the old-time movable ones,
but they may be added at any time IL tho
family purse becomes better flied
Where a servant is kept ~ Is necessary TO
have a water closet In the cellar. In the
plan given this could best be placed under
the inside stairway. Here both light and
ventilation would be at hand Closets for
storage OF articles not desired on first or
second floor could easily be provided in
either vegetable cellar, furnace room OF
laundry. or a separate room could be pro-
Vided for this PURPOSE.