The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-22

Copyright, 1925, NEA Service, 1ncD
Washington. Sept. eff you are
planning on building a nome, your
Uncle Sam can tell you a lot about it
Under Secretary Hoover's direction
the Department of Commerce has
made an intensive study of home
building problems, and here's what
Dr.. John Nj. Cries, Hoover's expert
has to say to those who aspire To
build home:
Don't count on building a home for
much less than $1,000 room.
Don't economic on the main struc.
ture-it's apt to prove expensive.
Additions and improvements can be
added later.
Don't worry too much about what
material to use--any material is good
If the house is we'll built
Need Six Rooms
"fhe average family of four o,
hVe needs at least a six room house
says DR.. Cries. There must be a
living room, dining room, kitchen
parents bedroom and two childre MS
bedrooms.
These are the necess ities-and
you'll have a hard time building a
home including them for less than
$4,000. Chances are you'll pay more
One thousand dollars room is a
very conservative estimate.
Besides the necessities, many
prospective home builders demand
certain luxuries-6replaces, shower
baths, porches, sleeping porches
downstairs Washrooms, partitioned
easements
"For those who want them, these
Injuries may be actual necessities. as
the prospective builders would never
be satisfied without them.
But don't forget these cost money.
1t resolves itself into question of
what you can afford to spend, and
over and above that, what you are
willing to give up.
1T is foolish to economic on the
basic structure. For example, the
sides OF a house may be made of
sheating, nailed right to the studs
but the money saved in this way will
De more than burned up by the coal
bill.
after house is built, it is re]a
lively easy to add a porch or put in
a shower bath, but it is an expensive
proposition to rip out walls for wiz
ing and plumbing or repair an inse-
cure foundation.
"As to material, the most practical
system is to use the mater ial easiest
to get, and thus save expense. For
if | were building a home
in Portland, Ore, l would probably
build it of lumber: in Reading, Pa,
I'd most likely build it of brick.
Comfortable Living Room
"As to the interior
"The living room should be the
most used room in the house. That
means it should be large enough to
De perfectly cOmfortable--and it
should LOOK comfortable When YOU
walk into it, you should have the
feeling that you want to stay there.
1.-THE other rooms are just as i'm
'ortant in their way, but they are
not occupied as much. They should
De laid out. therefore, more with a
,iew to efficiency than anything else.
"A very popular system now is to
build combination living and din
ing room, one end Of which can be
partially screened off during meal
lines and thrown open during the
rest of the day.
"The kitchen need not be large, but
t should be most carefully planned.
It is the woman's workshop, and it
should lack nothing to make it light,
cheerful and convenient
"A dining alcove is most desirable
and will save many steps.
"The bedrooms can be fairly small.
That won't interfere with their COM
fort. The main thing is to have them
we'll ventilated-and plenty Of closet
ROOM"