Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-16

The department OF agriculture has
made public the first OF series OF
plans for farm houses to be prepared
by its specialists with view to en-
ablinR farmers to construct inexpen-
sive and better homes. The basis OF
the inquiry is the belief that the farm
house is the most important building
on the farm and money judioiously ex-
pended in its planning ard construc-
ton is we'll invested. The objects
sought in the plans are to provide
structures reasonable In cost and OF
good material, and so arranged as to
give the maximum in health, comfort
and happiness to the family and added
convenience to the housewife in her
domestic operations.
The plans made public are for the
construction of an inexpensive farm
tenant house, although the house as
| planned contains many valuable sug-
| gestions for owners with small fami-
lies. The provision of proper tenant
houses on farms it is believed is of
increasing importance to farm man.
|
number of rented farms, the growing
demand of tenants for modern houses
and a better understanding of the in
fuences of the home upon farm labor
and field efficiency. The census re-
port of 1910 shows an Increase dur
ing the previous ten years of more
than $4,000 rented farms. Many Of
the new tenants moved into good
houses vacated by the owners, but
many others are living in buildings
wholly unsuited to their needs. The
cost OF these houses commonly is In
consistent with the value of the farms,
and the lack OF improvements In them
too often is in striking contrast with
, the outbuildings, farming machinery
and field equipment.
The important principles of plan
ming, applicable to all buildings, which
q effect saving in construction and Il
D the performance of indoor work have
been carefully considered in thesC
plans. Endeavor has been made t
provide good lines and pleasing pro
portions which are essentials to gen
uine beauty in all structures and are
the production of skillful designing
rather than Of addit--nal material and
labor.
II Special emphasis has been put upon
providing a little home that will be
conducive to the health of the fam
lily, provide for its social and domes-
tic needs and save unnecessary steps
and operations on the part of the
housekeeper.
The architects studies seem to
make 1t clear that many homes in
towns as we'll as in the country could
have been greatly improved and at
the same time built at less expense if
they had been studiously planned to
meet the family needs, skillfully de-
signed and carefully constructed.
The Tenant House.
The tenant house, plans OF which
are shown, is a simple, four-corneI
structure, without bay windows, ga
bles and dormers, or any projection
save the cornice, which overhangs and
protects the walls and window open
ings. The house is planned for the
most inexpensive arrangement con
) sistent with the needs and the conve
nience OF a small family. 1t has but
one chimney and but one outside ~
trance.
The Single Door.
The home has but one entrance
which would be insufficient In town
house, and 1t may be in this one; bu
another door can be gotten into th'
l plan only by a sacrifice of wall anC
e floor space, which cannot be spared
e or by increasing the size and cos
o Of the house, which in connection Will
this problem cannot be done. II
. door is substituted for one OF tn
three windows in the south end OF tn
living room the best part Of the room
will be ruined. Moving the entranc
door to the south side of tAe pore
y would not only restrict the uses
IS the porch. but necessitate an outsid
} door IN the kitchen, which, In turn
would neceseitate a corresponding IN
= crease In the floor and wall space o
:. the kitchen. II the door that open
|. from living room to porch were move
farther from the fireplace valuabl
floor and wall space in both room an
= porch would be sacrificed.
These little details affect the siz
9 OF rooms and OF the building anc
. therefore. the cost. They are some
s times, and Of necessity. influence
y more by economy than by CONVEX
Il fence; but by careful study they ma
: often be made consistent with bott
4 It Is economical. for instance, to hav
: but one outside entrance TO this house
= With this entrance nearest the barn
z and the entrance from the highwa
| and treatad as II ia with the simpl