1875.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
89 
In the basement or cellar. One toot of the soil 
taken from the excavation for the cellar should be 
nsed in giading around the house, to secure the 
Sidlnj 
msT 
terrn^ 
.^^"'^v p^ 
Flit 
Fig. 3. — PLAN OP CELLAK. 
flow of water aioaij from it, and still leave the 
walls 3 feet or more above the ground. 
Cost. — The following Estimates of cost in detail, 
Fig. 6. — SECTION OP OUTSIDE WALL. 
will give an idea of the general character of the 
work. The prices given are for materials in the 
vicinity of New York. Carpenters wages are reck- 
oned at S3 per day ; mason's work, $3.50 per day; 
and painters, $i per day : 
Excavation, 2 i^ feet deep, f^ 25c. per yard f 13.75 
12,000 Hard Brick, @ $15, furnished and laid 180.00 
23 feet Stone Steps, @ 40c.. per foot 11.20 
16 feet Stone Sills. ® 30c. per foot 4.80 
483 yards Latti and Plasterin^s, @ 40c 193.20 
2000 feet Timber, @ 2Xc. per foot 50.00 
viz. 2 Sills, 4x7 in. x20 feet. 2 Ties, 4x6 in. x20 feet. 
2 Sills 4x7 in. x30 feet. 2 Ties, 4x6 in. xSO feet. 
4 Posts, 4x7 in. x;o feet. 2 Ginlers. 4x8 in. il5 ft. 
2 IMntes. 4x6 in. X 20 fei-t. 2 Strinjiera, 3x8 iu.x20 It. 
2 Plates, 4x6 in. x 30 feet. 30 Beamt^. 3x8 in. X2U feet. 
32 P.afters, 3x4 inches xl2 feet, (3 20c 6 40 
300 Wall Strips, 2x4 inches xl3 feet, ® 16c 48.00 
200 Novelty Siding Boards, 9,^ inches, @ 38c 76.00 
160 pounds Tarred Paper, @ 5c 8.00 
100 Henilocli Boards, 10 in., (nb 20c 20.00 
100 feet Main Cornice, @ 50c 50.00 
1 Bay Window Complete, with Blinds (labor Included) 75.00 
IH Stoops Complete, (labor included) 70.00 
8 WInfiows with Blinds, @ $18 144.00 
4 Windows with Blinds, @ $S ^.CO 
8X Squares of Tin [".ooflng. ® $9 76.50 
100 feet Gutters and Leaders, @ 10c 10.00 
ISOFloorlnsc Pl.ank, tonsued and grooved, @3oc 52.50 
Stairs. (Main and Cellar) 80.00 
Baae-Boards. Shelviilfj. etc 3t.00 
4 M.antels (1 full marble, and 3 marble shelves on 
Trusses of Plaster) SO.no 
21 Doors Complete, (labor Inclnded) 200.00 
5.50 lbs. Nails. ® 5c 17.50 
Painting, two coats ;.. 80.-00 
Carpenter's Labor, not Included In windows, doors, 
and porches, about 250.00 
Cartaee, average one mile 30.00 
Allow for extras. Cistern, Pump, Sink, etc. etc 141.15 
Total Cost.... ri ?2.0CiO.OO 
Prices vary in different localities, somewhat, hut 
when higher in some particulars they will generally 
be Igwer in others, so that the whole cost will not 
be greatly different over a considerable extent of 
countrv. There are many items that can be cut 
down in the above estimate, where great economy 
is needful — our estimate is for a pretty complete, 
tasteful house. For example, substitute wood for 
stone steps and sills ; omit the blinds, and bay win- 
dow, use cheaper doors, pine stair-ratling and newel 
instead of walnut, etc. Any good builder can con- 
struct a house of this size, number of rooms, and 
general conveniences, for $1,500 to Sl.COO, the 
smaller sum where bricks, lumber, and labor are 
obtainable at moderate prices. The Bay Window 
and general external appearance of the front are 
very desirable. A movable "Dresser" having 
drawers and shelving with small doors, is indicated 
for the dining room. This room may be heated by 
leading a pipe from the kitchen stove to a drum and 
back into the chimney, or up through the chamber 
above to warm that somewhat. A " Fireplace 
heater " in the parlorwill warm the chamber above. 
An end section of the "Novelty Siding" is 
shown in fig. 5. This is of 10-inch boards, 1 inch 
thick, cut as shown in the engraving. The groove 
in the centre gives it the appearance of narrow 
clapboards ; the lap of about an inch closes tightly, 
and the thick boards not only add to the warmth, 
but also to the strength. A house covered with 
this will vibrate very little in the most windy situa- 
tions, and be firmer than one covered with thin 
siding having much heavier timber. 'Where plan- 
ing mills are accessible, it is little more expensive 
than the dressed half-inch boarding, and the ap- 
pearance is quite as pretty. In this vicinity it is 
customary to purchase a lot of pretty good quality 
merchantable pine boards, select the best and clear- 
est of knots for siding, and use the rest for flooring 
where knots are not objectionable when to be cov- 
ered with carpeting. The smaller and firm knots 
in the siding used are readily covered with paint if 
first primed with a little solution of shellac in 
alcohol. 
EDITORIAL NOTES. 
Mr. Reed provides in his estimate for " 160 lbs. 
Tarred Paper." We suppose he intends this to be 
applied as sheathing upon the studding, before put- 
ting on the siding, as this is the usual custom. We 
suggest the plan devised by Mr. Judd, (cur senior 
Publisher), and described in the Ameryan Affricid- 
tuHst for March, 1871, pages 88 and 89. A section 
of the wall is shown in fig. 6. The studding 3 x 4, 
makes a space of 4 inches between the siding and 
saw run through the roll cuts it into 16 inch 
strips. The studs being set 16 inches apart from 
CHAMBER. 
8'-5''x 12 
u 
CflAMBER 
10' t 14-' 6" 
HALL 
5-10"xr-6' 
CHAMKR 
CHAMBER. 
PLAN OF 9EC0SD STORT. 
plastering. Tarred paper, or what is termed roof- 
ing felt, is procured in rolls 83 Inches wide. A 
Fig. 3.— PLAN OP PIEST STOBT. 
center to center leaves the clear space of 14 Inches. 
The strips of felt are turned up an inch on each 
edge, and these turned edges are held against the 
studs by lath firmly nailed up and down, so as to 
hold the sheets midway between the plastering and 
siding. This leaves two air chambers, both good 
non-conductors of heat. Mice or insects will not 
eat or go through this material. It is impervious to 
currents of air, and the whole is as warm as if filled 
in with brick. The cost is very small, and as wJU 
he readily seen, it is much warmer than when the 
felt is put on directly under the boards, leaving only 
one air chamber, and that a wide one.... In all 
house-plans we advise putting in all the closets 
possible ; they are always convenient, even a foot 
square " cubby-hole " in the side of a chimney is • 
handy place. In planning a house, after 
making the size as large as one's means 
will allow, the "better half" should be 
consulted as to the .idvisihility of mak- 
ing this or that room a little smaller by 
cutting off a few inches here and there 
to enlarge a pantry or closet We al- 
ways advise to put in an extra hell or 
two, and one or more speaking tubes, 
to connect the upper and lower 
rooms. The cost is but trifling if they 
are put in when building. A hun- 
dred feet of speaking tube will cost but S3 or 
$3 ; the carpenter can insert it behind the lath, 
running it from one room to another in a few min- 
utes, and it will save many steps, and much calling 
throush the halls, especially when the mother hap- 
pens to be an invalid and restrained to a chamber. 
In arranging sink, table, dish pantry, etc., with 
reference to dining-room and kitchen, always plan 
to save steps. A distance of 10 feet extra, travel- 
led over each way, say 30 times a day, in hsndliog 
