1876 .] 
AMERICAN AGRIOULTURIST. 
169 
an appropriate entrance to the house. The large 
Bay Window is the most imposing feature of the 
front, is expressive of comfort and cheerfulness, 
and gives a good appearance and character to the 
whole building. The principal cornices are neatly 
trussed, and have such “ spread ” as gives a finished 
and hold appearance to the roofs. It has such pro- 
Fig. 5.— MANNER OF FRAMING. 
portions and genteel style, that if near a more 
formidable or costly residence, it would not dis¬ 
grace it.... Cellar, (fig'. 2).—Higlit 7 feet. Its 
outlines correspond with the ground plans of the 
principal building; it is 3 feet below the gen¬ 
eral surface of the ground, and 4 feet above, and 
has an outside entrance door, three good sized cel¬ 
lar windows, two of which are in the front, and one 
at the side, contiguous to the coal-bin. It is ac¬ 
cessible from the first story by a plain stairway. If 
desirable at any time, a pleasant basement room 
may be finished in the front part, at a small cost.... 
Fig. 2.—PLAN OF CELLAR. 
First Story, (fig. 3).—Hight of ceilings 9i feet. 
It is divided into three rooms of nearly equal size, 
with a Hall and two Closets. The Bay window 
adds considerable to its area, making it the largest 
and pleasantest room. The Dining-room adjoins 
the Parlor, and may be used with it as occasion re¬ 
quires, by opening the folding doors. Each of 
these rooms has neat marble mantles, and opens 
into the front hall. The Kitchen connects with the 
Dining-room, and is provided with a pantry, pump, 
sink, two windows, and an outside door leading to 
the rear [yard. When houses are built on single 
village lots, it is usual to arrange for one “ blank ” 
side, as in this plan, but where more ground is 
allowed, it is desirable that openings should be 
made for at least one window in each story of this 
side, as they would add to the cheerfulness of the 
interior, and give a better appearance to the out¬ 
side. Two windows are thus indicated by dotted 
lines, one for the dining-room, and one for the in¬ 
terior chamber, though the latter is lighted from the 
roof, as noted. It may be advisable even to put two 
other windows, on this side of the house, for the out¬ 
side general good appearance, or blind windows 
may be put in at small expense, for the same pur¬ 
pose_ Second Story, (fig. 4).—Ceilings 8 
feet high. The divisions are very simple, making 
4 rooms, 3 closets, a stairway, and passage leading 
to each room. Construction. —Reference 
is had in this plan to what is known in the trade as 
“piece lumber”—the joists, wall strips, boards, 
etc., being generally in lengths of 13 feet each. 
There is great economy in being able to use such 
standard lumber, without cutting to waste. Figure 
5 shows how a neat, cosy cottage may be cheaply 
constructed almost wholly of such 13-feet materials. 
But there is a decided preference for full cham¬ 
ber ceilings, and as the difference in cost would 
not exceed $60, it is best to make the house two full 
stories high. The principal frame is of 3-inch tim¬ 
ber, with studding of 2 x 3 inch. This thickness 
of the framework secures some 220 feet more in¬ 
terior space to the rooms, than in the use of 4-inch 
timber, besides saving one-fourth of its quantity 
and cost. Ordinary 11 x 10 inch spruce plank are 
used for the frame work for the floors and ceilings. 
For the beams they are. reduced to the depth of 8 
inches, and the 2-inch strips sawed off are used for 
shingling lath. For the ceiling frame of the Second 
Story, they are simply sawed through the middle,, 
leaving each half 5 inches deep, and are all placed 
16 inches apart from centers. One row of cross 
bridging is put through the center of each tier of 
beams, and the center of the ceiling strips are se¬ 
cured by hangers from the rafters. The Rafters are 
2x4 inches, framed to rest on the principal plates, 
where they are connected with the ceiling strips by- 
spikes, preventing any settling or spreading of the 
roof. The Roof of the main wing is constructed 
w-ith double pitch, corresponding with that of the 
main roof. The principal roofs are finished with 
shingles, and the improved gutters, described on 
page 173, May American Agriculturist, 1875. The 
Porch and Bay window roofs are covered with tin 
laid on smooth boarding.—The rake or pitch of 
roofs has much to do in giving character and 
finish to buildings. * For ordinary roofs, when 
shingles or slate are used, the rise should be one- 
third the width of the building, as in this case, the 
rise is 41 feet, for the width of 13 feet. This pitch 
is very pleasant to the eye, and easy of construc¬ 
tion. In larger buildings it is often desirable to 
secure more space or head room in the Attic, when 
the rise should be one-half the width of the build¬ 
ing. We would never go between these two angles 
in search of a roof line that would gratify good 
taste, or comport with gny style, but deviations 
above i or below 1 may be made, as circumstances 
indicate.— Circular openings covered with blinds, 
in each gable, give free air circulation between the 
ceilings and roofs. Every dwelling should have 
some way of readily reaching the roof from the 
inside, to clean the gutters, repair the roof or chim¬ 
neys, and in case of fire in the house or in the neigh¬ 
borhood. An opening is made in the ceiling of the 
middle chamber, (fig. 3), over and just inside the, 
door, and thence through the roof. This is neatly 
boarded around its sides, forming a “well,” and is 
covered at the top with a sash, sloping with the 
roof, hung so as to be easily opened and closed by 
a cord from the inside. This provides for light, 
ventilation, and a scuttle in combination. A sash, 
hung on center pins to revolve, over the door of 
this room, transmits light from the sky-light to the 
second story passage and stairway, and supplies 
ventilation... .The Mason’s work is complete and 
Fig. 3.— PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR. 
substantial in every part. The foundation walls, 
piers, and chimneys, are of hard brick and mor¬ 
tar; the plastering is two coats of brown mortar, 
and a hard finish Heating. —Only two fires are re¬ 
quired at any time, to make the principal rooms of 
this house comfortable. The Parlor, and chamber 
immediately above it, are. warmed through a heater 
