The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-02-05
THE KITCHEN THE MOST IMPOR-
TANT ROOM IN THE FARM
HOUSE.
Governments Farm Architect Points
Out Importance of an EcOnOmi-
cally Constructed and Com
Portable Home to the
Farmer.

Washington, D. c. Jan. 3O.-The |
Importance to the farmer of having |
an economical farm house has been |
emphasized by the farm architect of
the Department of Agriculture, who |
states that the mental and physical
fitness of the laborers both within
the house and in the fields arc vital
ly affected by the building that af-
fords the family shelter. The aver
age American farm home has failed
to share in the improvements that
are every day being made in agricul-
tural conditions, and, according to
the architect, is rebuke to our
boasted civilization. Relatively, he
says, the housewife of century ago
with her fireplace cooking and log
cabin was better provided for than is
the housewife today.
The most important building on
the farm is the home. The health,
com fort and happiness of the family
are dependent upon its construction
and equipment, and unless these
matters are looked after the sanitary
dairy barn or the economically con-
structed buildings for stock are of
little value. Happiness and content
ment in the family are as essential
to efficient service as improved tools
and outbuildings.
Although the housewife spends, in
many cases, a life time in her work
shop, the kitchen, and the family
rooms, she is not, as rule, capable
of planning a house in the highest
degree serviceable and com Portable
without assistance. Her help, how
ever is essential to the farm archi-
tect, as the result of his plans most
vitality concerns her.
In 1910 western farm paper, at
the suggestion of the Department OF
Agriculture, conducted competi-
ton for% farm house plans. About
$50 plans of farm houses were sub
mited, not one of which was fully
satisfactory. The larger number in
sisted on some particular pet notion
and emphasized single feature to
the neglect of other important ones.
the men Ond women who familiar
ize themselves with the work to be
done and then apply themselves to
the single task of devising means,
are the ones who with the Corpora
ton of the farmers, and their wives,
can best handle the farm house prob
lens.
One of the most important details
regarding the average American
farm house is that it must be mex
pensive. The average annual net
income of a farmer today, after de-
Quoting five per cent interest on his
investment, is less than $500. This
does not mean that the houses may
not be attractive. They may, if in
telligently planned with the help of
vines, Shrubs and trees, become the
prettiest spots in the landscape, and
more beautiful and inexpensive than
the crowded city house.
The tenant house problem is grow
ing in Importance. as can be seen
from the fact that the number of
rented farms increased by more than
1924, 900 during the last decade. To-
day little more than half the farms
in this country are operated by the
owners.
To Economic the Wife's Strength.
The possible economy in household
labor and the conservation of the
strength of the housewife are two
important factors to be considered
in the construction of farm house.
Pleasant and comfortable farm
homes tend to hold families togeth-
er; but the cheerless; ENJOYABLE and
insanitary houses drive boys and
girls to the cities. Investigation of
prisons. insane asylums and houses
of correction, seem to prove the fact
that the sins which account for the
existence of these institutions are
often bred in inadequate and unhap-
ply farm homes. So this social aspect
of the problem is considerable.
The public is awakening to the
fact that better farm homes and
houses are needed, and the special
feature which many farm papers
now issue as a ''House Building
Number" proves it's interest to thou
sands of readers.
The Office of Farm Management
of the Department of Agriculture has
now undertaken to investigate this
problem Systematically and to evolve
if possible, practical improvements
for the benefit of the farmers home.
Certain features are often over
looked in providing economical ar
rangements for the household when
they might be easily provided for.
One of the specialists of the office of
farm management learned from a
woman in Pennsylvania, who had
broken down from oyerwork, that
she had been carrying coal from the
barn for years. When the husband
was asked If there was any reason
why q coal bunker could not have
been provided near the cookstoye
and filled directly from the wagon,
he answered that there was none,
but that no one had ever thought of
it. This one detail has been found
neglected in other cases where it
could have been easily remedied, If
only someone had thought of it.
After economy in the construction /
of the building and in the house
work has been attained. attention |
will be given to developing beauty.
Simplicity in line and good proper
tions are meant by the use Of this
word beauty. and not so-called APP
FLIED ornaments. This simplicity is |
entirely in keeping with general
plan of economy.
Economy, however, is not syno-
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