AMERICAN AGRICULT URIST, 
[September, 
A Convenient Cottage, Costing $1,000. 
BT S. B. REED, ARCHITECT. 
These designs were prepared to meet the increas¬ 
ing demand for inexpensive and comfortable coun¬ 
try houses. The question is frequently asked : 
“Can a dwelling be constructed for the sum of 
The plans here given will be found to excel those 
referred to in many respects, especially in the 
amount of accommodation, having seven conven¬ 
ient rooms, instead of the usual five, or at most six 
divisions_Blxterios* (fig. 1).—The side eleva¬ 
tion shows the outside appearance of the house. 
The body is set at a convenient hight from the 
Fig. 1.— SIDE ELEVATION OF THE HOUSE. 
$1,000 that will contain all the accommodations 
and conveniences required by an average-sized 
family, and withal have an appearance that shall 
not compromise one’s idea of self respect ?” The 
chief difficulty in the way of a satisfactory answer 
lies in the arbitrary number and character of the 
rooms required. As a rule, there must be the con¬ 
ventional parlor, dining-room, kitchen, entrances, 
closets, etc., in the first story, and several chambers 
above ; altogether approximating establishments 
costing double or treble the estimated amount. 
Although such demands are perplexing, their num¬ 
ber is so large that they can not be ignored. Sev¬ 
eral designs for cottages of this class have been al¬ 
ready published in the American Agriculturist (see 
numbers May, 1875; May, 1876; May, 1877, and 
April, 1878), which may be consulted with profit by 
those who are considering the subject of building. 
ground, the foundation showing 2 feet above the 
grades. The outlines of the main building are 
symmetrical and well defined. The roofs are set at 
an angle of 45°, giving them the prominence they 
deserve. The gabies have a touch of ornamenta¬ 
tion, and light chamfer work is put along the 
frieze, and under the windows, giving a finished 
appearance. The front and rear Porches are of 
timber work, also chamfered. In some localities 
it may be desirable to have more shade in front 
than i« afforded by this porch, in such case a ve¬ 
randa may take its place, crossing the entire front 
of thehouse_Cellar.—Hight, 61 feet. In the 
estimate of cost appended, allowance is made for a 
cellar under the wing only, which is sufficient in 
most cases. Others, especially farmers, wanting all 
the store-room possible, may extend the cellar un¬ 
der the eutire building. — [All the cellar-room 
should be excavated for the sake of good health, 
even if the room is not otherwise needed.—E d.]— 
There are two windows, an outside entrance, and a 
flight of plain stairs leading to the kitchen above. 
_First. Story (fig. 2).—Hight of ceiling, 9 
feet. The front entrance is from the porch to a ves¬ 
tibule, aud through it to the two principal rooms. 
The vestibule has a small window at one side, to¬ 
wards which the front door swings in opening, and 
at the other side sufficient space is allowed for a 
liat-rack and stand. The Parlor and Dining-room 
are of equal dimensions, and similar in form, both 
being octagonal in front, and having a single chim¬ 
ney between them. The parlor has front and side 
windows, and oue closet. The Dining-room, in¬ 
tended as the family living-room, is conveniently 
arranged, having an open fire-place, three windows, 
a closet, and direct communication with the front 
vestibule and rear entry. The Kitchen opens from 
the rear entry, is fair sized, and well lighted. It 
has a large fire-place, a pump and sink, two clos¬ 
ets, and a stairway to the cellar. The rear entry 
opens from a covered porch, and is lighted by a 
small window, and from it a boxed or cottage flight 
of stairs lead to the second story. It will be ob¬ 
served that there are no superfluous halls, or other 
waste room, every inch of space being devoted to 
purposes of real utility_Second Story (fig. 
3).—Hight of ceiling in the main part, 3 to 8 feet; 
in the wing, 2 to 7 fset. The roofs, being set at an 
angle of 45°, are unusually steep, giving increased 
head-room ; then the partitions surrounding the 
hall are set to add to the hight of the vertical walls 
where most important. There is a hall, four- 
rooms, and four closets on this floor. The two 
front chambers have two windows each, and the 
chimney between them allows for the use of stoves, 
if required. The two rear rooms serve acceptably 
as bed-rooms, the larger one having two windows, 
will accommodate two persons comfortably. The 
smaller room has a sash-door, through which light 
passes to the hall_Coa»*»4r*ict,ioi».— The 
foundations and chimneys are of brick-work. Frame 
of sawed spruce, siding of pine, “ novelty pattern.’ 
Roofs of pine shingles; floors of tongued and 
grooved spruce ; windows, four lights each ; doors, 
pine, panelled ; plastering, three-coat work ; paint¬ 
ing, two coats. The following estimate covers the 
cost of building by this plan. Those requiring the 
increased veranda, and cellar space suggested, 
should add $50. In many localities, suitable stone 
and sand abound, which may be had for hauling. 
In such cases, the foundation may be of stone, 
which, together with the plastering, will cost 
much less than here calculated_Ultimate.— 
Cost of materials and labor is as given below : 
88 vds. Excavation, at. 25c. per yd. $9 50 
11,000 brick in foundation and chimney, at $12 per M.. 182 00 
500 vds. Plastering, at 20c. per yd. 100 00 
1,80(> ft. Timber, at $15 per M. 27 00 
3 Sills 4 x 7 in. 20 ft. long. 1 Ilidge 2x7 in. 25 ft. long. 
3 Sills 4x7 in. 18 ft. long. 1 Ridge 2x7 in. 23 ft. long. 
3 sills 4 x 7 in. 17 ft.long. 48 Beams 2x6 in. 12 ft. long. 
2 Plates 4x6 in. 25 ft. long. 24 Beams 2x7 in. 16 ft. long. 
2 Plates 4x6 in. 17 ft. long. 2 Valleys 2x7 16 ft. ft. long. 
4 Posts 4x6 in. 13 ft. long. 
800 Wall Strips, at 12c. each . 36 00 
40 Joist 3x4, at 15c. eacli. 6 00 
130 Siding, 9H in., at 28c. each. 36 40 
Cornice materials. • 15 00 
800 Shingling Lath, at 6c. each . 18 00 
48 bundles Shingles, at $1.25 each. 60 00 
60 ft. Tin Va'lej's, at 8c. per ft. 4 80 
160 Flooring (inside), 9 in. wide, at 28c. each. 44 80 
80 Flooring (outside), 1H in. wide, at 25c. eacli. 7 50 
2 Cellar Windows, at $3 each.. 6 00 
15 plain Windows, at $5.50 eacli. 82 50 
1 Dormer Window, at $8; 21 Doors, at $5 each.... 113 00 
2 Porches. $25; 2 Stairs, $16.. 41 00 
5 Mantel Shelves, $10; Closet finish, $6. 16 00 
Nails, Pump, and Sink, $25; Painting, $75. 100 00 
Carting, $15; Carpenters' labor, $125 . 140 00 
Incidentals. . ■ • 4 50 
Total...$1!000 08 
Road Bust is frequently tbe most convenient 
absorbent at tbe farmer’s command; and a few 
barrels of it, when properly used, will save a large 
amount of fertilizing material. It is an excellent 
thing to have in tbe poultry-house, where tbe fowls 
can dust themselves at pleasure, a large box filled 
with it being the most acceptable shape. The fine¬ 
ness of the road dust makes it of particular value. 
That containing the most clay is the best absorb¬ 
ent ; in fact, a fine sand is of but little use either 
as an absorbent or deodorizer. A supply of this 
road dust should be gathered and stored during 
tbe first dry spell, before the season closes. There 
is no better time than the early autumn for the 
gathering of a quantity of this valuable material. 
