294 HOW TO MAKE A COUNTRY PLACE 



always evaporates considerable desirable material, and often causes 

 quarrels among the men. 



I invariably selected on the grounds, or on each floor of a build- 

 ing, certain places for waste lumber ; 2 x 4's in one pile, board 

 ends and timbers in another, but built up in solid masses, to avoid 

 extra fire risk. From these may be selected by the handy boy material 

 required by the artisan. Such a boy, interested in the work, and at 

 everyone's beck and call for nails, water, material or tools, saves his 

 wages many times. It's a good rule, as far as possible, to insist on 

 workmen remaining on roof, scaffold or floor on which they are 

 working until noon and again until quitting time, having their 

 requirements brought by the handy man or boy. The dawdling habit 

 is contagious and will greatly increase the cost of building. 



Eye Service. 



A contractor as honest as the sun cannot eliminate eye service, 

 in a day job, and giving out to the men that it is a contract job deceives 

 no one, therefore, unless the owner is willing to have the work cost 

 more than it ought, under no circumstances should he build an elab- 

 orate house by the day. Building on a percentage basis is often but a 

 partial solution. The special contract system, with an inspector, 

 gives the owner many advantages without the waste, delay and extra 

 expense that too often go with a day's work job. 



Short and Long Mathematics. 



Short mathematics will show in a line the cost of a house which 

 with wide latitude may be figured from ten to twenty cents per 

 cubic foot contents or from three dollars to eight dollars per square 

 foot area including labor, which will cost from twice to three times 

 as much as the material. A rule of thumb but elastic as 

 the requirements of a vascillating owner. Used with judgment, 

 it will hit approximately near the nail, but accuracy requires longer 

 and closer mathematics. 



Accurate Measurements. 



The amateur builder working under the above plan will buy 

 his own material, for he can thus make considerable saving. Sash 

 and window frames to avoid mistakes should be ordered from the 

 same mill, though at best errors are bound to occur, and must be 

 rectified by the wood-working contractor, who should himself take 

 the dimensions. Accurate measurements of everything connected 

 with the building are essential. 



Contracts for plumbing, heating and electric wiring (preferably 

 iron pipe or cable system) can all be let by fair competition at a satis- 

 factory price, and minus the extra charge made by the general con- 

 tractor for this service. 



