DISTRIBUTION OF INVESTMENTS. 17 



It will be at once apparent that a division of space on the basis of 

 cubic feet devoted to various enterprises in barns, for instance, is 

 open to serious criticism. This subjects such products as hay, straw, 

 etc., stored in mows, to greater building charges than horses and 

 cattle, for which greater expense is incurred in constructing stalls, 

 mangers, floors, etc. In order to correct this error additional study 

 of the cost of construction of the various portions of the buildings 

 would be necessary, and the need for this did not occur in time to 

 include it in the scope of this study. 



Factors for the relative cost of various portions of farm buildings 

 of ordinary construction could no doubt be worked out, by means of 

 which the cubic space devoted to any enterprise could be made the 

 basis for an equitable division of the total value. Some method is 

 desirable, as it is incorrect to charge live-stock enterprises with the 

 investment in portions of the buildings devoted to other enterprises. 

 Animals may be fed grain in a barn for a short time each day and 

 pastured outside, while both hay and grain may be stored in the barn 

 continuously for market. A storage charge, in the latter case, should 

 unquestionably be added to the cost of production. It is only logical 

 to base the unit charge on the amount of the commodities stored, 

 taken in connection with the total annual cost of that part of the 

 building designed exclusively for storing products. A unit-storage 

 charge based on cubic space would place on the proper classes of live 

 stock the burden of the large amount of storage space required, for 

 roughage. A division of the entire building charge on the basis of 

 the number of 1,000 pounds head of stock sheltered, or on the floor 

 space occupied, might be unjust to the hog enterprise, for which a 

 comparatively small space is required for storage of feed. A tool 

 room, workshop, driveway, or other space may be used for storing 

 tools, wagons, and machinery, for storing and preparing seed, and for 

 other purposes which are obviously not associated with live-stock 

 enterprises. Conceding the partial inaccuracy of a division of build- 

 ing values on the basis of cubic space occupied, it is contended that 

 even this method results in a distribution of building charges more 

 nearly correct than one based on the number, size, or value of live 

 stock alone. Considering the importance of the building equip- 

 ment, it is unfortunate that so little investigation has been con- 

 ducted with a view to discovering the fundamental principles involved 

 in the economical planning of farm buildings. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 



All personal property has been valued with due consideration for 

 both exchange value and value in use. Marketable live stock and 

 products were invoiced at the prevailing prices. Work animals and 

 machinery, however, have a value to the farmer not necessarily the 



