Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 193, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1911 — THE AMERICAN HOME W[?]A.RADFORD EDITOR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE AMERICAN HOME W[?]A.RADFORD EDITOR

Mr.' William A. Radford will answer qL-stlons and give advice FREE OF COST qn all subjects pertaining to the subject of building, for the readers of this paper. On account of his wide experience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he is, without doubt, the highest authority on all these subjects. Address- all inquiries to William A. Radford. No. 178 West Jackson, boulevard, Chicago, 111., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply.

The joy of home building for a great many, especially for those, living in our larger cities, is to get far out into the country, in Borne of the numerous pretty little suburbs that are within easy commuting distance. Most American cities are fortunate in their suburbs. If the home builder wants a wooded homesite, a marine view, a beautiful river cottage, picturesque scenery where nature has scooped out ravines and built hills, or if the tastes run more to agriculture and poultry raising, a suburban community can usually be found that pretty exactly meets the requirements. There are two kinds of suburbs, those that “just grew” and those that are the outgrowth of plans laid out by men of foresight. “Give me good transportation, electric cars every ten minutes, and let me have a hundred acre farm fifteen miles from the business section of the city, and I will show you a thriving suburb in five •years,” recently said a veteran in the art of promoting suburban development

This gives a valuable tip to the man who wants to build himself a- home and at the . same time realize a good profit on his investment in the event of sale. Pick out a likely looking suburb where the land values have not gone up too high, and pioneer it for awhile. It will be worth doing without some of the extreme conveniences of city life for a time, if by so doing you can sell your place in ten years’

time for two or three times as much as you paid for it. Invest in acre property and enjoy the pleasure of a nice garden, green lawns, shrubs, trees and flowers with plenty of Bunehine and open air all around, and all your own. -Then after a time when the suburb has developed, you can sell off a lot or two and be practically independent for life. It is natural for the prospective home builder to aßk, “What is the best kind of a house to build? What ma<terial should I use?” The best advice in answer to this is, “Place your case in the hands of architects who have made a specialty of home planning, and get their expert advice as to just the kind of residence that will best meet your needs; and next, more important still, “build well.” There

is no wisdom or economy In putting your savings into a structure that will be tumbled down around your ears by the time you have it paid (or. Substantial, construction, using good grade, permanent building materials, costs but little-more than the temporary sort. \ It Is well to have an eye to the flreresistlng character of the house, especially when built in the suburbs or smaller communities where there Is very little Are protection. The Unresisting materials, brick veneer, co-

.ment, etc., with slate or tile roofs are exceedingly popular and help to make the best sort of building investment Tixe design illustrated herewith is a cement plaster house, the cement applied over expanded metal lath. This is a method of construction that has attained great popularity the last five or six years for suburban buildings. At a cost of very little in excess of ordinary clapboards or shingle siding this cement plaster is put on, making a house that has all the advantages.

so far os substantial appearance goes, of a brick masonry structure. , The cement plaster is applied in three coats, completely imbedding the expanded metal lath and building up a covering about three-quarters of an inch in thickness. This is thoroughly waterproofed with special waterproof*

ing paint that has been developed for this purpose, so all difficulty from this source is removed. It is said that houses built ih this way are just as warm in the winter time as houses of brick or stone, and at the same time are much dryer, being in this respect equal to a substantial frame house. As to artistic appearance, nothing is finer. Prom the Illustration it will be seen that ornamental pahel strips of wood are used in connection with the cement plaster siding to break up the large surfaces and produce an attractive “English half-timber” effect The interior of this house is arranged both conveniently and to get the greatest amount possible of desirable living space. The living room is a very large apartment, extending clear across the front of the house, and is well lighted. The reception hall is so placed as to be an attractive addition to the living room. The dining room and kitchen are well situated. On the second floor there are four large bedrooms, with clothes closet space. The bathroom Is on this floor. The total width of this house is 34 feet, ltß length, 48 feet 8 inches. It Is stated that this design can be carried out complete for 84,000', using a good substantial grade of material throughout. For a substantial suburban home it has many points in its favor.