The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-03
AN ECONOMICAL FARM HOUSE
OF IMPORTANCE TO FARMERS
Emphasized By Farm Architect of Department of Agri-
culture-Mental and Physical Ability of Workers Is
Involved In the Problem

Washington, Jan. 31.-The i'm
portance to the farmer Of having an
economical farm house has been en-
phasized by the farm architect of
the Department of Agriculture, who
states that the mental and physical
fitness of the laboreEs both within
the house and in the fields are vitally
affected by the building that affords
the family shelter. The average
American farm house has failed to
share In the Improvements that are
every day being made in agricultural
conditions and, according to the
architect, is a rebuke to our boaSted
civilization. Relatively, he says, the
housewife Of a century ago with her
fireplace Cooking and log cabin was
better provided for than is the house
wife today.
The most important building on a
farm is the home. The health. COM
fort and happiness Of the family are
dependent upon it's construction and
equipment. and unless these matters
are looked after the SANITARY dairy
barn or the economically construct
ed buildings for stock are Of little
value. Happiness and contentment
| in the family are as essential to
efficient service as imported 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 a house in the highest
| degree serviceable and comfortable
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 a western farm paper, al
| the suggestion Of the Department OF
Agriculture, conducted a competition
| for farm house plans. About $50
plans of farm houses were submitted
not one of which particular pet notion
and emphasized single feature tC
the neglect OF other important ones
The men and women who familiari::e
themselves with the work to be done
and then apply themselves to the sio
gle task Of devising means, are tile
ones who, with the cooperation 81
the farmers, and their wives, can best
handle the farm house problem.
One Of the most important details
regarding the average American farm
house is that it must be inexpensive
The average annual net income Of
farmer today after deducting ffve PEI
cent interest on his investment, : 1
less than $400. This does not mea
that the houses may not be attra,
tive. They may, if intelligent!
planned with the help Of vines
| shrubs and trees, become the pret
tiest spots in the landscape, and NOR
beautiful and inexpensive than t's'
crowded city houses.
The tenant house problem is grow
ing in Importance as can be Seel
from the fact that the number q
rented farms increased by more tha
$4,000 during the last decade. Tt.
d0g little more than half the farna
n Nv "
owners.
, TO EcOnomize the Housewives
Strength.
4 The possible economy III house hot
a labor and the conservation Of I'll.
: strength Of the housewife are tNs
important factors to be considered I
4 the construction Of a, farm houss
, Pleasant and comfortable farm home
tend to hold families together; bll
+, the cheerless. unlovable and unsani
tary houses drive boys and girls :
!. the cities. Investigation of prison
f | insane asylums and houses of coz
$ rection, seem to prove the fact TIL;
: the sins which account for the c.
4 istence Of these institutions are Ofte,
4 bred in inadequate and unhappy far
q homes. So this social aspect Of IT,
o | problem is considerable.
The public is awakening TO the fa
/ that better farm houses are neede,
Y and the special feature which mar
y farm papers now issue as "Hou.
: Building Number" proves its intere
f to thousands of readers.
# The office of farm management .
r the Department Of Agriculture h:
@ now undertaken to investigate tn
problem systematically and to eyolv
O if possible, practical improvement
# for the benefit of the farmers honc
e Certain features are often owe
2 looked in providing economical a
rangements for the household whe