Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1912 — The American Home [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The American Home

WILLIAMA.

Mr. William A. Radford wHI answer questions and give advice FREE OF COST on all subject* perrarning to the subject of building, for the readers of this paper. On accourt of his wide experience as Editor. Author and Manufacturer, he is, without doubt, the highest authority on all these subjects. Address *3 taqpdrSes to William A. Radford, No. ITS West Jackson boulevard, Chicago, HL, and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply.

India was the original home of the bungalow, the native name for this type of house being bangla, which signifies a country house of one floor only. On account of the increasing popularity of the bungalow style of building in our own country It wffl. be Of i- t to note some of the special characteristics associated with these structures in the land of their origin. In India it is the Europeans who live in the bungalows, which are built in all sizes and styles, according to the taste and wealth of the owner. The single ground-floor plan is frequently departed from by the addition of rooms utilizing the under-roof space on the second floor. Invariably, however, the bungalow is surrounded with a veranda, the roof of which affords a shelter from the sun, though in America the veranda is often confined to one end .of the house or run only part of the way around. In the chief cities of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay some of the bungalows assume, the proportions of palatial residences, but in the smaller towns they are of more modest pretensions. In general, they are provided with exterior offices or buildings to accommodate the large retinue of servants common in Indian life. Besides private bungalows, there are military bungalows on a large scale

for accommodating troops in the military divisions; also public bungalows maintained by the government for the accommodation of travelers, in which are blended the features of an English roadside inn and an eastern caravan, sary. These bungalows, though they vary greatly in actual comfort, are all built on the same plan. They are quadrangular in shape, one story high, with roofs projecting so as to form porticos and verandas. Along the trunk roads they are located an Indian’s day journey—12 or 15 miles — apart They are divided into'suites of two, three, or four rooms, provided with bedsteads, tables and chairs, glass windows, and framed glass doors. Off each room is a bathroom, with standing jar of cool water. Travelers are expected to bring their serv-

ants, bedding, cooking apparatus, etc, with them, though tableware, condiments, and sometimes even food and liquors, with cooking service, are supplied. At each travelers’ bungalow is stationed a government peon, who acts as watchman, and who is bound to help travelers’ servants in procuring food and fuel in the nearest village The regular charge for the use of the bungalow is one rupee, or about half a dollar, a day. Natives seldom stop at these public bungalows, which are patronized almost exclusively by Europeans. It Is the artistic possibilities and low cost combined with available ennvenience of arrangement and lightening of the work —the housewife having practically no stair climbing to tire her out—which have commended the

bungalow type of house so strongly to American home builders. Especially in the suburbs or outlying districts of our cities, where busy workers of the day seek rest amid surroundings like those of the country, and where even those of moderate means find it impossible to call their home their own, the bungalow is in constantly increasing evidence.

In the accompanying perspective view and floor plan we show a very neat and attractive five room cottage of the bungalow type, which can be built anywhere tor about $1,700. It is 24 feet 6 inches wide and 46 feet 6 Inches long. The spacious porch across the entire front affords a shady outdoor retreat, where, we think, very much of the “living” will be done by the family at every opportunity in fair weather. Entering the house we find ourselves in a large, inviting living room, also extending’ the full width of the house, with a seat along the left end, and a large fireplace at the right end, flanked by bookcases for the little library that should be found in every home. Straight down the center of the house runs a hallway, on each side of. which opens off a commodious bedroom with ample closets, the latter being supplemented by two additional closets opening directly off the hall. Back of the bedrooms lie, on one side, the bathroom, entered from the hall, with still another closet (for linen, etc.), and on the other side, the welllighted pantry opening directly off the kitchen. At the very end of the hall, , a door opens , into the dining room, . which is directly connected with the | amply Ugh ted kitchen. From the latiter a door opens to the cellar stairi way, and another door to the back

porch. The cellar or basement can be built of any size desired, and is lighted by windows in the underpinning or the foundation walls. Every inch of space in this house is put to advantageous use, and the entire layout is convenient and adapted to the modern requirements of good lighting, heat and ventilation.

Floor Plan.