Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 276, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1911 — The American Home [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The American Home

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 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. In the winter months, when the ground is covered with snow and the fire burns in the stove, is the season when the family dreams of the new house. Nor is there any more laudaable ambition than to own a home. The curse of modern life is the necessity that compels millions to live in rented apartments or houses. And every normal man who pays rent hopes some time to own a home of his own. His children, he feels, have a right to live under a roof of their own, and it is his ambition to give them what is their right.

Once there was a man who decided to build himself a home. This man had a few notions about what he wanted in his house when it was finished, he also knew how much he wanted to expend in the construction of it. He had gone into all the details and had figured out all about the interior trim and the kind of glass he wanted in the house. Every detail he had figured out and he had made up his mind about everything before he consulted his architect. \ Then in the natural order of events he went to see his architect and laid before him his ideas. Everything was clear and the architect proceeded to draw up his plans after the directions given. Then the next step was the asking of blds from contractors. There were six bids, and all were within a hundred dollars of one, another. The architect felt sure that the figures were right In each case and advised his client to make his selection. But the client came to the conclusion that the work could be done for less money and he asked for bids from other contractors. The results was the offer of one, an unknown contractor, to do the work for a ridiculously low fiflgure. The client wanted the contract let to this man, but the architect, who had experience, advised him to give the

work to one of the first bidders because they were men who had reputations for good work. The client was Insistent and the job was let to the man of his choice. The house was built, but what a difference from what had been planned. Inferior and cheap grades of materials were used in every possible form and in every item of the construction. There was careless work everywhere, and things were changed In the details to such an extent that when Jthe house was finished

it was not satisfactory from any point of view. It was then that the owner woke up to the fact that he bad made a mistake. All to late he realised the fact that he had sacrificed the quality and appearance of his home to save a few dollars. The unknown contractor had built the house at the price he had agreed on. but the house was tar from being the one the owner had expected. Now, the experience of this man in typical of that of all home builders

who try to get their work done by unknown contractors or at figures too low. A few hundred dollars may be saved at the time, but in the end it is an extremely expensive undertaking. The way to go about building a house is to enter upon the enterprise just as you would in buying a suit of clothes. If you go to a good' tailor of reputation you are sure to get a good suit. If you go to a Cheap John place you will get a suit that will not please you. In building a home the acme of desire is a house that will come within the reasonable limits of what has been planned, and the only plan to follow is to have a man do the work, who has a reputation for following the plans of the architect and using honest ma-

terials. The house here shown Is of the colonial type so popular the conn* try over just now. It Is the style of house that is peculiarly American, and which answers the requirements of modern life. 1 There is a wide porch surmounted by a rail, that makes the roof avail* able for use on summer nights. Entrance to the house is had through a large reception hall. The width of this house, by the way, is 25 feet, 6 inches, and the length is 36 feet, 6 inches, exclusive of the porch. Off the main reception hall and entered

through a wide doorway is the living room. This room is 12 feet 8 inches by 15 feet 4 inches in dimensions. The vital point about a house is to provide .it with a dining room that will answer all requirements as to size. This plan calls for a dining room 12 feet wide and 13 feet long, of sufficient size to meet ordinary demands as to space. The kitchen and pantry are conveniently arranged and a china closet is located back of the pantry. On the second floor are. four bedrooms and a bathroom, with plenty of closet room. This is a practical, common-sense house design that makes a satisfactory home. The estimated cost of the building is 2,800.

First Floor Plan.

Second Floor Plan.