Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 117, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1919 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOME TOWN HELPS

REFUGE FROM SUDDEN STORM l— Easily Constructed Shelter Which Should Have Place on Every Public Picnic Ground. There ,is not much pleasure to be had in the woods if no shelter is near when rain threatens at any minute. Many picnics are broken up by showers which last but a few minutes, simply because there is no way to protect the food or to keep dry until the squall passes over, writes C. L. Mell er, Fargo, N D., in Popular Mechanics Magazine. A shelter, such as illustrated, will take the discomfort out of walks and picnics, and will Induce people to tempt the weather moro often, since they know that protection Is within easy reach. ' A dead tree, the trunk of which is still quite sound, makes an excellent start for such a shelter. It should be cut off about ten feet from the ground, care being taken to make the saw cuts as even as possible. It may be necessary to erect scaffolding to make this cut properly. After the cut surface is worked smooth, eight rafters are fitted into the top of the trunk, The rafters are 12 feet long, four of them being two by four inch timber, end four, four by four inches. They are supported at the outer end by four by four inch posts, driven into the ground afid extending eight feet

above IL The four by four inch rafters should be fitted into the log first, the two by four inch being added later. Upon this framework, which forms an octagonal, umbrella-shaped structure, seven-eighths inch boards are nailed to form the roof. This may be covered with shingles or some roofing material. For greater comfort, a seat built around the trunk may be added, and other seats may be built near it. The whole structure should be finished in a dark, neutral brown, with just a touch of white trimming. If the roof Is stained a moss-green, the color scheme will be in harmony during all seasons of the year, with the prevailing colors throughout the surrounding woods.

Picnickers Have Little Fear of Passing Rainstorms When a Substantial Shelter Is Near to Protect Clothing and Food.