AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
333 
1875 .] 
A House Costing $2,500. 
BY 8. B REED. ARCHITECT, CORONA, LONG ISLAND, N. Y. 
These plans are for a full two story house, that 
will embrace the merits of the most economical 
form of construction, (having a floor measurement 
of 24x28, nearly square), with symmetry of style— 
and comprising a very commodious and convenient 
interior arrangement. The Elevation, (fig. 1), 
has marked features of simplicity and refinement; 
with sufficient diversity of parts to give variety and 
grace, without pretentious display. We invariably 
recommend high foundations for houses of this 
character ; of course a foot in hight at the bottom, 
will add a foot to the hight of the whole, imparting 
a better appearance externally, and on account of 
the better ventilation thereby afforded to the cellar, 
adds greatly to the healthfulness of the interior of 
the whole house. Additional steps will be required 
to the stoops, but the cost of these are compensated 
by deductions in the excavation for the cellar, and 
stone steps to the area. The large Porch, and 
double Doors, the Bay, and other Windows, each 
distinctive in themselves, and adapted to their 
places, similar only in conformity of character—are 
60 proportioned as to harmonize with each other 
with pleasing effect. The pediments of the roof 
are so arranged that each “face” of the building 
will have very nearly the same appearance of out¬ 
line. The main cornice projects two feet beyond 
the framework of the house, and is supported by 
large trusses; all other cornices, and window caps, 
have proportionate projections, insuring heavy 
shadows, giving relief and finish to the whole.... 
Cellar, (fig. 2,) excavations for this cellar are 
made 2 feet 6 in. below the general surface of the 
ground. The Foundation Walls, Chimneys, Girder 
Supports, and rear Area Walls, are built as describ¬ 
ed in the June number of the American Agricultur¬ 
ist, page 212, after which the earth is graded around, 
and up against the foundation, so as to give such 
slope as will turn the water away from the house 
and walks, leaving the foundation 4 feet above the 
final grade_ First Story, (fig. 3.)—This sto¬ 
ry contains the principal Hall, Parlor, Dining or 
Living-room, Kitchen, rear Lobby, three Closets, 
and private Stairs. The principal hall is entered 
from the front porch, through large double doors, 
is square (10 x 10 feet), and contains the principal 
stairs, which are built with a quarter circle, and 
niche, nearly in the center of their hight as des¬ 
cribed in the June number, page 212. This hall 
connects with the parlor through double doors; 
this will be found to give an impression of ampli¬ 
tude that would scarcely 
be expected in a house of 
this size. The parlor has 
a large Bay-Window, fin¬ 
ished with elliptical arch, 
and ornamental corbels, 
and a marble mantel. The 
dining-room is intended 
as the living-room of the 
family, and communicates 
with each room and hall 
of the first story: has a 
closet under the front 
stairs, and has a marble 
mantel. The Kitchen is 
provided with large 
Range, two Closets, Sink, 
with cold and hot water, 
and closet underneath, 
and communicates with 
the dining-room, lobby, 
and cellar stairway. The 
rear entrance to this story 
is through the lobby, 
which has two small win¬ 
dows. The private stairs 
are arranged to start 
from the rear lobby.... 
iSecoiml Story, (fig. 
4.)—The manner in which 
this story is divided into 
rooms very much resem¬ 
ble a “ double ” house, 
the hall being nearly in 
the center of the house, 
and the rooms at either 
side: contains Hall, two 
Stairways, six Rooms, 
and five Closets. The 
hall is 5 ft. 6 in. x 10 
ft., and has 7 doors lead¬ 
ing from it to the different rooms, and private 
stairway. Many persons require a “ study ”; 
the room directly above the principal hall is best 
adapted for such purpose, has a large closet, and is 
most convenient to the stairs. The door to this 
room should have ground glass upper panels, to ad¬ 
mit light to the hall. The Bath-room is provided 
with French bath-tub, seat closet, and wash-basin. 
The soil-pipe from this story will be concealed by 
passing down inside one of the kitchen closets. 
Marble shelves, resting on stucco trusses, are in¬ 
tended for each of the four principal rooms of this 
story_ General Details.— It is intended 
that all work should be done in a workmanlike and 
substantial manner, of good materials as indicated 
in the estimate. All the principal timber is framed 
together, and raised in the usual manner, and se¬ 
cured with hard-wood pins. The Enclosing should 
be dressed, of thoroughly seasoned materials, and 
nailed with lOd. nails. The cornices are ornament¬ 
ed with bold paneled brackets, and deutil courses. 
Each gable is provided with a circular ventilator. 
All roofs are covered with charcoal tin, laid on 
rough boards, and have gutters as described in the 
May number, page 173, at a cost of 10 cts. per run¬ 
ning foot. The columns of the front porch are 
turned, and have ornamental caps and square pe¬ 
destals. The stoop-rail is five inches wide, and the 
balusters are scroll-sawed, of It inch pine plank. 
The trusses under the bay-window are large, scroll- 
sawed, and ornamental. The flooring should be 
thoroughly dried, close laid, and double nailed to 
each beam, with lOd. nails. While laying the floor, 
(having reached the center of the span of the beams), 
a row of cross-bridging should be put in, in a strong- 
manner. In this way the mcqualitics of the upper 
surfaces of the beams, which are always more or 
less sprung, will be brought into line by the flooring, 
and each piece of bridging will receive its relative 
proportion of the weight. The tarred-paper is next 
inserted between the outside studding, in the man¬ 
ner described in the March number of the American 
Agriculturist, which is much cheaper than “ brick¬ 
filling,” and for many reasons more desirable. The 
central partitions that carry the principal weight, 
should be studded strongly of 4-inch materials, or 
wall-strips set edgeways. All closet, stair, and 
cross partitions, may be 6et of 2-inch materialst or 
wall-strips set flatways. This latter method saves 
nearly one-half of the space taken by the partitions, 
which may be added to the size of the rooms, where 
it frequently happens that a few inches becomes a 
matter of importance. The second story ceiling 
timbers are of wall-strips, put 12 inches from cen¬ 
ters, and a flooring of rough boards is laid over a 
part, to make room for storage, etc. All sash are 
li inches thick, and have second quality French 
glass in them, and are hung with iron weights. We 
think there is a good opportunity for improvement 
in the manufacture of window sashes—making 
them air-tight, and suggest inserting the necessary 
rubber strips near their edges, and especially in the 
Fig. 1.— ELEVATION OF FRONT OF HOUSE. 
