Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 154, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1911 — The American Home WILLIAM A. RADFORD Editor [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The American Home WILLIAM A. RADFORD Editor

Mr. •William A. Radford will answer questions and give advice FREE OF COST on all subjects pertaining to the subject of building, for the readers of this 'piper. On account'of his wide experience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he la, without doubt, the highest authority on all these subjects. Address all inquiries to William A. Radford. Wo. 178 West Jackson boulevard,'Chicago, HL, and only enclose two-cant stamp for reply. To anyone who is interested in home building and who goes about with eyes open to what is going on in the building world, it'is very plainly evident that we are building very much better today ln-America than at any former time; Not only In our designs is better taste being used, but we are building more substantially and are equipping our homes with all modern conveniences to-'make them comiortable, sanitary and labor-sav-to* - W 4 V-M • ‘ ; - It used to be said that there was no such thing as an American style of architecture, and looking at soipe of our residence sections which were built up, say 30 years ago, we are Inclined to agree that at that time there was no American domestic architecture worthy of the name. The styles of our houses were borrowed from every quarter of the globe; very often the same structure containing borrowings from a dozen different lands and foreign climes. Over our land has been scattered a great conglomeration of Queen Anne cottages, Swiss chalets, Italian villas, Indian bungaldws, and more recently art nouveau creations. A few of these have been at peace with their environment and look to be in their natural, appropriate setting; but most of them seem very much otA of place.•However, in the houses that we see going up today there Is a directness of design and a sincerity of treatment that is very satisfying. One of our

philosophers has said, “There is'a settled relation existing between home architecture and the human heart and the expression of that relation should be the ideal of domestic architecture." Today we may be said to be approaching that ideal, for we are insisting first of all that our homes express simple beauty and hospitable comfort and liyeableness. In this; architectural development cement plaster exteriors, stucco work, has played a great and Important part. The use of cement plaster has freed the architect to a certain extent from certain of the old time fixed rules, and has allowed a greater freedom in composition than with either wood, stone or brick. New styles

hare been evolved and new rules formulated which are in accord with the Ideals of today. Stucco has been used In connection with exterior work for hundreds of years, but only as applied over brick and rough stone buildings, and was ustfSlly ruled off into neat oblongs to t Is hardly surprising that 4s an ImlMm In ronnnf ..... cess, in recent years stucco or cemi »_ t| a |. « waav y v*w» IVI Us wUIIvVuUU WlUg frame buildings has made its snoear- *“* «***•? * wonderful pop- »■

metal lath In a durable cost from onehalf to three-quarters of an inch in thickness, this material produces a very neat and at the same time durable, attractive appearance. It stands on its own merits, It does not Imitate anything. If omafhentatlon is desired, the broad flat surfaces are divided op Into panels in any way to suit the fancy of the architect. Small and irregular spaces, corners, etc., are handled just as easily as the straight, flat work. % It is scarcely to he wondered at that this type of construction has received such favorable attention. The coat is just about the same as fop clapboards or shingles, and It has the advantage of being more Are resisting. One of the problems in connection with this type of construction in the past has been that of waterproofing. Especially where metal lath has been used, this has been a matter for eerfous consideration. Unless particular pains were taken to make the very outer surface thoroughly waterproof moisture was bound to penetrate the thin layer of plaster and get to. the metal, causing rusting and serious weakening of the walls. To solve this problem has been the task of the paint men; and evidences are that they have now solved it* satisfactorily. Numerous paints, Btains, waterproofing compounds, etc., '"trA now on the market to meet every need along these lines. The design Illustrated herewith is a very good example of what can be done with cement plaster In the design and construction of a small-sized house or cottage. This is a four-room cottage which has been built for 12,000, and from that up to $2,500. It is 34 feet 4 inches wide by 35 feet 6 inches long, exclusive of the porch. The exterior Is extremely attractive,

being of the type that Is so popular at the present time—neat, home-ilke, substantial looking, finished with cement plaster. The floor plan shows a very large sized living room, 14 feet 6 inches by 20 feet long. This is to the left of the central.hall, while to the right are two large-sized bedrooms, each with a clothes closet; A large kitchen is in the back of the house and is intended to be used as a dining room also, if desired. The bathroom-, pantry, etc., are very conveniently located. This is a design that works out very well in practical use and prospective home builders cannot do better than to follow it.

Fl oor Plan.