292 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[August, 
bolt, which holds the tongue-braces to the hounds, 
works in a lengthened slot, instead of a simple 
round hole. When the wagon is drawn forward, 
the cross levers release the shoes from the wheels, 
but when the wagon presses forward, the tongue 
is forced-back, and by the action of the cross levers 
holds the shoe against the tire. The friction turns 
the shoe so that the curved end locks against the 
wheef. When the back-pressure of the tongue is 
released, the shoe falls into its former position 
again of its own motion. The inventor of this use¬ 
ful brake is H. Markrud, of Ettrick, Wis. 
A Stone House Costing $2,500. 
BY 8 . B. WEED, ARCHITECT, CORONA, LONG ISLAND, N. Y. 
This plan has many features to commend it as an 
economical country house. It is similar in many 
respects to the one given last month, having an 
equal breadth of front, and is constructed of like 
substantial materials. The arrangement of the 
several parts, however, are more regular and com¬ 
pact, and embrace accommodations for a good sized 
family_ Exterior, (fig. 1.)—At first sight the 
reader will perceive the perfect balance apparent 
in the outlines and details of the front. Variety is 
also an especial feature, resulting from the pleasing 
diversity and systematic distribution of the promi¬ 
nent parts. The site has much effect upon the ap¬ 
pearance of any building, This house should have 
a commanding position to afford such views as 
would seem to be expected from its broad and gen¬ 
erous windows. Health and happiness being large¬ 
ly dependent on the situation—it is important to 
select a position having a natural drainage, and 
therefore more likely to be surrounded with pure 
wholesome air_ Cellar, (fig. 2.) — Hight 61 
feet. The plain engraving saves the need of fur¬ 
ther explanation. The ceiling is smoothly “ laid 
off” with one coat of plaster, and the walls are 
flush pointed, so that the whole interior may be 
whitewashed whenever it shall be desirable to 
lighten or sweeten the cellar... .Eirst Story, 
(fig. 3.)—As is suggested by the exterior, system 
and order are prominent features in the interior ar¬ 
rangement. The main Entrance is through double 
doors. The principal Hall is central and roomy, 
and contains the open and ballustered stairway to 
the second story. The two principal rooms are of 
equal size, with outlooks front and rear. The Par¬ 
lor has a pleasant bay or plant window, arranged to 
be shut off, when desirable, by large sash doors.— 
This window has no floor, but is cemented around 
its sides below the floor-line, to secure dryness to 
the walls, and is filled with earth wherein plants 
may be grown. The thick solid masonry surround¬ 
ing this bed will secure it from frost. The tem¬ 
perature required fro make the parlor comfortable 
will be sufficient for the plants—while the strong 
sun-light will insure their vigorous growth. A mir¬ 
ror may be placed on the mantel opposite this win¬ 
dow, arranged to reflect its contents, and make a 
most cheerful picture.—The Living-room is a con¬ 
venient apartment, in easy communication with the 
front and rear entrances, the wood-house, and the 
cellar-stairs, passing down under the front hall 
stairs. It has a large pantry, and is provided with 
a range, sink, stationary wash-tubs, water, and 
waste-pipes. The importance of having cold and 
hot water always ready should not be overlooked. 
Very much of the drudgery of housework in the 
country, consists in drawing, and carrying water, 
and besides, it generally happens that when water 
is most wanted, the vessels are empty, necessitat¬ 
ing great inconvenience and frequent distress.— 
The Bed-room is situated between the parlor and 
living-room, and communi¬ 
cates with both, and has 
a good sized closet. This 
apartment may be used 
as a sewing-room, where 
such work need not be 
put away every time it is 
laid down for a moment. 
The Wood-house at the 
rear is constructed of light 
materials, and serves as a 
fuel and utensil room.... 
Second Story, (fig. 
4.)—This story is divided 
into five chambers, a hall, 
and seven closets. Each 
room is entered directly 
from the hall, obviating 
the too frequent necessity 
of passing through one 
room to reach another. 
Closets are a necessity in 
■any well ordered house¬ 
hold ; their uses are so nu¬ 
merous that it is hardly possible to provide too 
many_ Itcmarks on Construction.— 
The element of durability is an important quality 
of this structure, avoiding the necessity and ex¬ 
pense of frequent repairs. The exterior walls are 
constructed of stone and brick as described in the 
last American Agriculturist. Care should be taken 
Fig. 1.— FRONT VIEW OF HOUSE. 
to make these walls perfectly solid and thorough. 
The mortar used should be of the best lime, and 
coarse sharp sand. Such mortar improves with 
age, but produces greater hardness and strength. 
Fig. 3 —PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR. 
The brick comer work may be laid in dark or blue 
mortar with good effect in subduing the strong 
contrasts in color. Interior plastering should nev¬ 
er be applied directly to the stone-work. Such 
walls do not readily conform to the sudden changes 
of the surrounding temperature, and are rendered 
damp and unwholesome from the moisture of the 
air being condensed upon them. They should be 
furred off, leaving an air-space between the stone¬ 
work and plastering, through the whole hight of 
the wall, and opening into the spaces between the 
rafters of the roof. Side walls constructed in this 
manner afford a most comfortable interior, having 
a more equal temperature than is possible in the 
usual frame building, and neither the severe cold 
of winter nor the extreme heat of summer is im¬ 
mediately felt within. The chimneys are of hard 
brick ; their interior location insures a great saving 
of fuel, as the heat that is radiated from them 
greatly assists in warming the house. The princi- 
CHAMBER 
| 6-5*12 
Id 
(?' CHAMBER 
L__ 7-6 x 12 
1. 
HALL 
I0*U> 
j 
1 
\ 
d 
CHAMBER ^ 
A 
■f- 
CHAMBER 
12. M2 
II MZ 1 
CHAMBER 
8 * 10 
1 
tA- ,[ c~ 
Zsl-Ld 
Fig. 4.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR. 
pal roofs are covered with dark slate. “Key¬ 
stone ” and “ Chapman ” are good qualities and are 
mostly used in this vicinity ; they have good color 
and do not fade. A good effect is produced by 
clipping the exposed corners of about one-third of 
the slate in a uniform manner, and laying them in 
belts of five or six courses each across the roof: 
Estimate of tlie Cost.: 
Ill yards Excavation, ® 20c. pervard.$ 22.20 
171 perches Stone Work, @ $2.75 $ nercli. 470 25 
103 feet Stone Sills and Steps, @ 30. per loot .30.90 
2,000 Bricks in angles, etc.. @ $12 $ 1.000, laid .24.00 
4.000 Bricks in chimneys @ $12 ¥ 1000, laid. 48.00 
060 yards Plastering, @ 35c. per yard.231.00 
80 yards Plastering in ceiling of cellar, @20c. $ yard_ 16.40 
3,367 feet Timber, @ 2c. per ft.'_ 67.34 
viz. 2 Girders. 4x8 in. x 32 ft. long. 41 Beams, 3x8 in.xlStft. IV. 
4 Plates, 4x8 in. x 11 ft. long. 22 Beams. 3x8in. x 11 ft. IV 
2 Purlins, 4x8 in. x 38ft. long. 40 Rafters, 2x5 in.xl9 ft. lg. 
1 Ridge, 2x6 in.x29 ft. long. 4 Valleys, 3x7in.x 21 l't.l'g. 
1 Ridge, 2x6 in. x 22 ft. long. 18 Collars, 1 '4x 5 in. l4ft.lv 
230 Wall Strips, @ 13c. each.29.90 
130 Furring Strips, @ 6c. each. 7.80 
Anchors (of tire iron) $3; Cornice materials, $30. 33.00 
300 Shingling Lath, @ 6c. each.18.00 
Rear Wing, (exclusive of tin) complete.100.00 
20 squares of Slate, @ $9 square.180.00 
32 Hemlock Boards. @ 16c. each. 5.12 
3>£ squares of Tin, @ $8 ¥1 square.. .28.00 
60 feet of leaders and gutters, © 10c. $ foot. 6.00 
213 Flooring, 8 inch, © 25c. each. 53.25 
Stairs, complete. ... 70.00 
Piazza and Stoop, (exclusive of tin) complete. 80.00 
6 Cellar Windows, complete, @ $5 each.30.00 
17 plain Windows, complete, ® $10 each.170.00 
4 Dormer Windows, complete, @ $18 each. 72.00 
27 Doors, complete, @ $9 each.243.00 
4 Mantels, 2 marble and 2 wooden, complete. 62.00 
Closet finish, complete . 18.00 
Range and Plumbing, complete..150.00 
Nails, $14; Painting, $60 ; Cartage, $15. . 89.00 
Carpenter's labor not included above. 125.00 
Incidentals.. .. 19,84 
Total Cost, complete.$2,500.0(1 
