The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-02-06

Washington. Feb. s.--The import
ance 10 tho farmer of having an &C.
ononical farm house has been en-
phasized by the farm architect Of
the department of agriculture. whc
states that the mental and physical
fitness Of the iaborers both within
the house and In the fields are vi
tally affected by the building that
affords the family shelter. The
average American farm home has
failed to share in the improvements
hat are every day being made In
agricultural conditions and, accord
ing TO The architect, Is a rebuke 10
Ola beasted civilization. Relatively.
he say the housewife OF a century
ago with her fireplace cooking and
log cabin was better provided for
than b ne housewife today
The mos, important building on "a
farm IL the home. The health. com
fort and happiness OF the family are
dependent upon IL construction and
equipment. and unless these matters
are looked after the sanitary dairy
barn or the economically construct
ID buildings for stock are "4 little
value. Happiness and contentment
IN the family are as essential 20 ef-
ficient service as improved tools and
outbuildings
Although the housewife spends, In
many cases. a lifetime IN her work
hhop the kitchen and the family
tooms, she IL not. as a RUE, capable
81 planning q house In the highest
degree ~aorviceable and comfortable
without assistance. Her help, how
ever Is essential to the farm archi-
tect. az the result Of his plans most
vitality concerns her.
In 1910 q western farm paper. at
the suggestion OF the department Of
agriculture. conducted a competition
for farm house plans. About SEQ
plans 81 farm houses were submit
ted. not one % which was fully sat
is%factory The larger number in
sisted on some particular pet notion
and emphasized a single feature 20
the neglect OF other important ones.
The men and women who familiar
lac themselves with the work TO he
done and then apply themselves to
the single task az devisinR means,
are the ones who, with the coopera-
ton 81 the faTmcrs. and their wives
ran hest handle the farm house
problem
one OF the most important details
regarding the average american
farm house Is hat Il must be mex
pensive. The average annual net
income % 4 farmer today. after de.
Quoting five per cent interest on his
investment Is less than sf0o. This
does not NEAR thai the houses may
diligently planned with the help of
vines. shrubs ana trees, become the
pfettiest spots In the landscape. and
more beautiful and Inexpensive than
the crowded city houses.
The tenant house problem Is grow
Ing in Importance as ne seen
from the fact that the number Of
rented farms Increased BY more than
32t, 600 during tho last decade. To-
day little more than half the farms
IN this country are opersted by the
owners.
To Econoinlxc the Housewives
rtat.blEttA
The possible IA house
hold labor and the conservation OF
the strength Of the housewife are
two important factors Go be consld-
cred In the construction of . farm
house. Pleasant and comfortable
farm homes tend 10 h0iS families to-
gether; hut the cheerleas. unlovable
and unnaniiary rouse drive hoys
and girls 10 4. . cities. lnveASIgaii0n
Of prisons, Insane asylsms and
houses ~ correction. seem 90 prove
the fact that the sins which account
for the existence 81 these Institutions
are often bred in inadequate and un-
happy farm homes. So this social
aspect 81 the problem Is consider
able.
The public Is awakening 10 tho
fact that better farm houses are
needed, aud tho special feature
which many farm papeFa now Issue