The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-25

design be such as to adapt it to an aver
age family
Few persons other than those who
have made a special study of the sub
iect are competent to select or evolve
suitable design for such building.
sOne builds a home, as a rule. brt once
in a lifetime" 1t is highly important.
therefore, in conserving the resources Of
the individual that the very best value
be obtained for every dollar invested; !;
in other words, that no mistake be made
in the design.
The object of this volume, "A Model
Fireproof Farmhouse or Country Home
by A. L. Hummelwright is to furnish
such full, practical and correct lnforma-
tion on every phase of this subject Tin
cluding general and detailed plans ana
complete specifications as will enable
anyone with ordinary intelligence to
proceed with the construction of the
building, or to let the whole or parts
of the work by contract, The plans are
sufficiently detailed and comprehensive
to serve as regular working drawings,
and the paper building is exceptionally
strong and durable so as to be service
able for this purpose. The general plans
are reduced to a Is scale and the de-
tails to a $40 scale. They show com
plete information for the construction
of foundations. walls. steel work. floors,
roof, freplaces, partitions, heating
plumbing, stair construction, dressers
trim. windows, doors. shelving. etc, etc.
BY utilizing local material such as stonr,
tricl. sand and gravel, which are widely
distributed in large sections of the United
States, it is entirely possible and practic-
able to build durable and fireproof houses
at no greater outlay of money than q
substantial frame building of the same
size would cost at the present time.
Many farmers and mechanics residing
in the country are more or less skilled IN
mason work, carpentry. mixing concrete,
etc, and while living in their temporary
quarters could construct, at little cost, 4
model freproof home. In many cases
they could execute portions of the con
struction work themselves, and could a.
ways furnish or perform all the comm ~
labor. The actual outlay in money would
of course be reduced by the value of the
work so performed.
Such subjects as location, local water
supply, drainage. sizes of pipes, simpl ,
tests of sand and gravel to determn..
their quality, ETC. are treated in a prac-
teal manner from the special standpoint
of country and suburban conditions ard
requirements.
Much time and thought has been spent
in evolving a plan that will be adapted
to the requirements of persons of differ
chanic TO the business man. physician, or
artist residing in the country. By slight
notifications, transpositons. etc, the
plan can be made adaptable to almost
any building site.
Nothing similar to this work has ever
been published. 1t is wholly original, ano
is based upon the authors practical ex-
perience of Is years in the construction
of buildings. Unlike other books that
have appeared in the past which give
sketchy outlines of numerous designs and
approximate costs generally much less
than the actual cost when good materials
and workmanship are desired). the author
supervised the construction of one of the
model buildings near New York city, ard
kept careful record of the cost of each
item These records are the basis of th''
schedule of costs in this worA. The model
tuilding was finished in 1909 and fulhlls
every expectation as to wholesomeness.