The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-09-12

and study. The next best way is to
study plan drawings from books and
Ia: ines. 1t is we'll Jr tt e student
to secure book OF ny llings and
blans and study tive an's that ar;
n"st pleasing to t1e sye. Try to
learn from the plans v,a, dwellings
r ut special require rer,' in the best
way, cost considered. Flu, ones that
g. ,e this most room, ,o'a.s IT and co !
nlence with the las: amount If
material. Learn the lines of beauty
and harmony in dwellings, for some
which are costly and SNOWY" are
not really beautiful.
Simplicity of exterior lines and
surfaces is one of the first things to
master. The odd-shaped dwelling,
built with all kinds of "frills and gin.
ger-bread work." the f1ashy and
snowy kind when the building is new
is not the really beautiful structure
and one that will remain substantial
and attractive for many years. Simple
lines in dwelling construction look
best and last longest The rather
plain but substantial and harmonious
structure is always in style in all
places. The house that gives the
greatest protection, room, comfort
and convenience, with the smallest
amount of roof and foundation, is
best
The building nearest the form of
a square, or cube, with the fewest
possible angles and projections of
roof, contains the moost room for the
amount of roof and walls. The long
and narrow building requires the
most material for the amount of
room it gives. Of course, the per-
fectly square dwelling is not attrac-
tive. yet it can be made slightly long
er than it is wide, and its apparent
length or width can be modified by
the addition of porches to the first
story. The most pleasing effect in
square dwelling, or one nearly
square, is secured by constructing
to give broad and massive effect to
the foundation. A substantial porch
or low lean-to, with heavy founda-
ton walls all arounl, will bring out
this effect. The heavy and substan-
tial foundation gives any dwelling an
air of solidity and repose, a mark of
architectural beauty. The tall and
narrow house on light foundation,
or simply posts in the ground, looks
top-heavy and un-restful, hence is
ugly. With good material in the con-
struction, the more quiet and restful
dwelling can be made, the more
beautiful it will be when completed
and the longer it will be in style. The
good dwellings should be built to
stand for generations.
You know there is an old saying
that the house built upon a founda-
ton of sand cannot stand. The say
ing is very true. Many build their
houses with poor foundations, or
practically no foundation at all.
One of the most important things
about a dwelling, or farm building
of any kind is the foundation. This
should be of the hardest, strongest
and most durable material. 1t
must be wholly impervious to
dampness, hence no wood can be used
it it, as in the roof. The roof may
easily be replaced when it decays
and leaks. but dwelling foundation
is difficult and expensive to repair.
If it decays or falls away in any part
the building is weakened and settles
out of shape, making the structure
ugly and unsafe.
The only structural materials that
should be considered in the dwelling
foundation are hard burned bricks,
laid in the best of lime or cement
mortar, and hard natural stone, laid
in the same kind of mortar, or con-
crete. The best and most economic
al kind to use in any particular case
will depend upon the supply in the
particular neighborhood. In some