Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1912 — THE AMERICAN HOME [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE AMERICAN HOME

% S ARADFORD 12 EDITOR

Mr. William A. Radford will answer questions and~«lve 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 Sa 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. An eight-room house, somewhat on the bungalow order, is given in this plan. A bungalow, properly “speaking, has only one floor; but this plan provides for three bedrooms above, and a kitchen is added at the back, with a lower roof. The bungalow developed in this country on the Pacific coast The Idea, probably, was originally brought from India, although a. great many architects claim that the modern bungalow really is the outgrowth of the log cabins and the sod adobe houses of the early inhabitants of the United States, probably bungalow architectural ideas could be traced back to all these sources. The result is that we have a very comfortable low cost house called a bungalow, which is being extensively built in different parts of the country, and its popularity is constantly increasing. ~~ Within easy reach" of large cities, bungalows are going up by the hundreds and the idea is a good one. People are tired of being crowded into •mall, unhealthful quarters, and are taking this means of providing themselves with good, sensible homes at a reasonable outlay. The original bungalow roof was low and broad; but in order to get more sleeping accommodation, the ridge was raised just enough at first to get one room. Builders, however, have repeatedly pushed it up higher, until we see a good many houses built very much after this plan, with about three bedrooms in the roof. It costs but little more to build a seven or eight room house in this way, than to build a five room house with the rooms all on the level. The rafters, of course, are longer, and It

takes more shingles; but the work on the roof is not much different, and, as far as the inside is concerned, you simply add the finishing up of three extra rooms. The foundation is no larger; and the only addition on the first floor is the stairway, which, ip this case, is built in and closed with a door at the bottom. You seldom see an open stairway in a bungalow house. It seems to be out of keeping with the general layout. Even in larger houses, people’s ideas regarding stairways have' undergone some modification. The question has often come up: Why should we build a fancy open stair directly opposite the main entrance door as

though every person entering must receive an Invitation tp go up aloft? The fact is that not one stranger in « dozen entering the front door goes upstairs; but it makes a considerable difference to the members of the family where the stairway j is "placed, fjirery often it would be much handier In the middle of the house. It would take up less room, too, and save njouey, and save the architect a headache. The fapt Is, we pay too much

attention to fashion or custom. One person is afraid to do anything different, and each one follows along after his neighbor without knowing why. I have watched the development of the bungalow idea in bouse building with a great deal of satisfaction, because I think I can see in it the means of providing thousands of homes at prices within the reach of those who would never own houses of their own if they had to buy houses or to build on the regular orthodox lines laid out in the old-fashioned way. I have nothing to say against large two

story solid houses as heavy as any one wants them. They are all right in their right place; but what suits one does not suit another, either in plan, in appearance, or in cost; and the bungalow has added a chapter to house building which meets the view of a large and increasing number of persons. Thiß house plan gives an opportunity for young people to start in with a home of their own without a great outlay in cash. As designed, the house i- built without a cellar; but a cellar may be added at any time.

While the children are small, it is not absolutely necessary to finish the bedrooms on the second floor. The house is complete downstairs. I know men with families of five or six children to build a house like this, occupy it for a year or two, then add a cellar, sleeping rooms in the attic, a porch at thd back or side, and many other attractive featuses as they felt they could afford the expense. And very often the money saved in rent has paid -for these improvements. I particularly like to see thrift of this kind, and I aid optimistic enough to believe that similar sentiments are increasing as the country becomes more thickly populated. I see evidences of economy that I never noticed before except in isolated cases. Economy is one of the greatest virtues. Economy and ignorance seldom go together. It requires a person of more than average intelligence to practice economy, sensibly. Economy is not stinginess; there is a wide distinction. A house after this plan can be built for SI,OOO or $1,500, according to the location, coßt of material?, and the price of skilled labor.

Second Floor Plan.

First Floor Plan.