The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-09
Better Farm and Village Homes
Ky MAURICE IRWIN FLAsG Director Minnesota state Art commIs-
 eiau

Exclusive Service the Survey Press
 Bureau.)
 Farmers and village dwelIers In the state of Minnesota are now being sun. piled with designs for modern artistic houses by the state government. This is the result of competitions held to secure plans for model farmhonses. model village houses and model land seape designs. People who dwell in houses of the "shoe box sort may now have the service of the most skilled architects placed at their dis posal practically free.
 It is reasonable that state should render such service to it's people Most states disseminate information about alfalfa. hog cholera and agriculturai pursuits. Our farmers are making three blades of alfalfa grow where one grew before they are building big and expensive barns: they are buying the latest farm machinery; they are bend ing every effort Co conserve natutal re- sources, of the country, and they are learning how to take from the soil the greatest possible return. But their houses have been neglected
 For Rural Contentment
 gAott tOi11tof estbit anu convenient sarmhouscs will make better contented farmers. farmers wives, farmers ehh- dren. will lessen the assertions of old and young to the city. will make the life of the farmers family more eff cient and beautiful. This Is the req soning that led the Minnesota state art commission to develop real pro gramme relating art and agriculture
 Many people seem to think of an art ,ix~{ {Ap Ia orr promote such a programm The artist has long been looked upon as q dreamer and not an eminently prae- tical sort of person, and for some un- known reason the word art has been interpreted by people as dealing with ideals and not with practical prob lems. The Minnesota state art com mission is demonstrating to the con- trarv.
 This commission is department of the state government. It was ere ated by an act of the legislature 1a years ago It believes in stimulating appreciation of pictures, sculpture and the so-called fine arts. But the com mission also believes that if art Is to be of real service to all the people and if an art appreciatio is to be de . veloped son the part of the people in general. it should then be the duty of the state art commission, first to reach out in the most tangible way and touch the life of the largest possible number of people. It must first serve ,hcir most immediate needs.
 Model House and Yard Designs
 One such need was clearly for bet ter homes. To meet it the commission instituted three competitions-for u model farmhouse.ss a model village house." and model farmyard"
 The Interesting part of the farm house competition Is that it was mol proposed by city folk; It came as an actual demand by farmers. Practical farmers stated their needs and il re mained for the architects of the state to solve the problem Of $500 10-rooln model farmhouse. The state art com mission offered prizes.
 1t brought together a jury composed of a practical farmer, Senator l.. E. Potter of Springfield. specialist in the department of domestic science and home manage ment of the University of Minnesota. Mrs. Margaret L.. Blair; the executive head of the agricultural college of the University of Minnesota. Dean A. F. Woods, and an architect of Minneapolis, MT. George Chapman.
 Thirty excellent and practical farm house designs resulted from this competi-