Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-01-30
KITCHEN IS MOST
IMPORTANT ROOM
IN A FARM HOUSE
Government S Farm Architect Dis
cusses Features of Com
Portable Home.
ECONOMY FIRST ESSENTIAL.
Points Out That Farmers Aver
age Net Income is Only
$400 a Year.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 30.-The
Importance to the farmer of having an
economical farm house is being empna-
sized by the farm architect of the fed
eral department of agriculture, who
states that the mental and physical fit
ness of the laborers both within the
house and in the fields are vitally at
fected by the building that affords the
family shelter.
The average American farm home
has failed to share in the improvements
that are every day being made in agri-
cultural conditions, he says, and is q
rebuke to the country's boasted civili-
cation. Relatively, he says, the house
wife of century ago with her fireplace
cooking and log cabin was better pro-
vided for than is the housewife Of to-
day.
"The most important building on Z
farm" he insists, lis the home The
health, comfort and happiness Of the
family are dependent upon its con-
struction and equipment, and unless
these matters are looked after, the san
itary dairy barn or the economically
constructed 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, lifetime in her work
shop'-the kitchen and the family
rooms-she is not, as a rule. capable
of planning q house in the highest
degree serviceable and comfortable
without assistance. Her help, how
ever is essential to the farm architect,
as the result of his plans most vitality
concerns her."
In 1910 Western farm paper, at
the suggestion of the department of ag-
riculture, conducted competition for
farm house plans About $50 plans
were submitted, not one of which was
AuiIy 00tA0I0CtOAys nC l0l &c AuuUCI
insisted on some particular pet notion
and emphasized single feature to the
neglect of other important ones. The
men and women who familiarize them
selves with the work to be done and
then apply themselves to the single
task of devising means, are the ones
who, with the cooperation of the far
mers and their wives, can best handle
the farm house problem.
Zone of the most important details
regarding the average American farm
house." he continued, lis that it must
be inexpensive. The average annual
net income of farmer today, after de-
Quoting per cent interest on his in
vestment, is less than $400. This does
not mean that the houses may not be
attractive. They may, If intelligently
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
houses.
"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 $4,000
during the last decade. Today little
more than half the farms in this c0un-
try are operated by the owners.
"The possible economy in household
labor and the conservation Of the
strength of the housewife are two i'm
portant factors to be considered in the
construction of farm house Pleas
ant and comfortable farm homes tend
to hold families together; but the
cheerless, unlovable and insanitary
houses drive boys and girls to the
cities. Investigation Of prisons. in
sane 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 unhappy farm homes.
So this social aspect Of the problem =
considerable.
'The public is awakening to the fact
that better farm houses are needed
he concludes, "and the special feature
which many farm papers now issue N
a House Building Number proves its
interest to thousands of readers"
The Office Of farm management of
-