248 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[July, 
A House Costing $1,300 to $1,900. 
In accordance with our previous purpose, as well as in 
response to a great number of requests, we present well 
studied plans for a low-priced house. These were 
drawn by Mr. S. B. Reed, Architect and builder at West 
Flushing, L. I., with several modifications suggested by 
Mr. Judd, who will, by way of practically testing them, 
erect a couple of these houses in Flushing during this sum¬ 
mer. We give the wide range of $600, for the cost of the 
same house. Where materials and labor are comparative¬ 
ly cheap, and little attention is given to ornament, inside 
or out, a house of this plan and size may be erected for 
$1,200 to $1,400. With labor and materials at the prices 
named below, the cost, exclusive of land, would run all 
the way from $1,300 to $1,000, or even more—according as 
one, or more, or all of the following things be provided. 
(1) Superior brick cellar wall, 7 to 8 feet high.—(2) The 
hall and one cellar finished off with fioor, lathing and 
plastering the walls and ceilings.—(3) Use of the best 
“Novelty” siding, of good pine 10-inch boards, 1 inch 
thick, with groove in the center of each board, the same 
as shown in fig. 6, page 89 of our March number.—(4) 
More brackets on the cornice, and dentals added; and 
heavier, more ornamental window caps, than are 
shown in the engravings.—(5) Fine moldings in the 
lower rooms, and some fair moldings, instead of plain 
casings, in the second story.—(G) Thick plaster with fine 
hard finish and heavy cornice moldings, and center 
pieces in the ceilings, in the first story.—(7) All the walls 
filled in with brick and mortar, or back plastered, that is, 
put lath and plaster midway between the siding and 
Inside lath and plastering.—(8) Water Tank over the 
hall stairs in the upper story.—(fi) Range with water- 
back and upper boiler in K D L, fig. 3.—(10) Sta¬ 
tionary Wash Tubs.—(11) Best quality of locks, with 
white porcelain knobs and plated shanks on all doors.— 
The addition of all these, or part of them, will add 
to the cost. After careful estimates of every part, in 
accordance with the below named prices, Mr. Judd is ar¬ 
ranging to put up two houses in fair, comfortable style 
and convenience, stopping at just about $1,500 for the to¬ 
tal cost, exclusive of land, but including cistern, fencing, 
privy, and, perhaps, a grape arbor. The 10-incli cellar 
wall will bo of brick, with an air-space in the middle. 
The cellar to be built so as to be conveniently finished off 
it ever desired; Novelty siding; tin roof; moldings and 
cornice in first story, with center pieces ; hard finished 
walls, etc., etc.—in short, a neat house, but without the 
extras. As will be seen, further on, the plan of the house, 
small as it is, admits of modifications, easily made, that 
will fit it for the wants of a large family. This is a note¬ 
worthy feature of this house. Put up cheaply at first, it 
can bo extended at trifling expense and with very little 
“ tearing up. ’ The above-ground position of the base¬ 
ment renders the rooms in this quite light and cheerful. 
©escription.—Fig. I shows the Fi-omt Eleva¬ 
tion. This gives a general view. The basement should 
be more aboveground. As formerly explained, we be¬ 
lieve in setting the first floor well up, so that the occu¬ 
pants shall always be as far above the ground as may be. 
For a basement 7 feet high, 2 to 2»4 feet in the ground is 
deep enough, and 4to G feet above the ground—except 
in very cold regions where it is necessary to bank up the 
entire walls to keep frost out. A 10-incli wall, built hol¬ 
low, or with air-space, will withstand pretty severe cold 
weather. The whole roof should be a few inches higher 
than shown, so as not to appear so close to the upper- 
windows. The cornice should be a little heavier than 
shown. Make the brackets a little shorter and broad¬ 
er. It adds greatly to the good appearance of a house of 
this kind, to have the roof project at least 20 inches 
all around. The cost is but little more. We have seen 
many, otherwise fine, dwellings deprived of all beauty 
by “sticking on” a very narrow and light cornice. 
Fig. 2— Cellar or Basement.— (7 feet high in 
the clear.) The plan shows a division that may be made; 
but when great economy is studied these interior divisions 
may be omitted—until wanted. One or more chimney 
flues should start in the cellar for stove pipes there, if 
ever needed. An outside door and steps are shown at C. 
If the future wants and circumstances of the family re¬ 
quire, B may be finished off for a Kitchen, with a dumb¬ 
waiter through the floor. A, may be fitted up as a Dining¬ 
room. In this case a small Cellar might be excavated un¬ 
der the piazza. We believe Mr. Judd intends to make 
the Cellar of the full size, piazza included. It will be seen 
that no more wall, and but little more digging, will be re¬ 
quired. The girder will need supporting with locust posts, 
or brick piers, if the cellar division be not made at first. 
Fig. 3— First Story.— (9 feet high in the clear.) 
The general arrangement is shown by the engraving. 
The piazza, P, may be lessened, if desired, and more 
room thrown into the hall, 7/, and into the room 7, in fig. 
4. The parlor, (PL), used somewhat as a living or 
sitting room, is of convenient size. A mantle-piece may 
or may not be added. An economical arrangement is to 
lead the stove pipe from KDL, through the wall into 
a drum in PL, and then turn it back into the chimney. 
This will keep the front room warm. The drum should 
have a small fire chamber in it for using wood during some ■ 
of the coldest days. The closets or pantries, cc , should 
be made pretty deep to give plenty of room in them.— 
KDL is used for a kitchen, a dining-room, and partly 
as a living room. The back stoop, S, maybe a 6imt)le 
platform with railing, or be covered in. 77, may be light¬ 
ed by a sash over the front door, and partly from the win¬ 
dow over the open stairway in the second story. The 
window against the stairs at the left of 77 may be simply 
a blind one for the good appearance of the outside. A 
Pantry, 5)4 feet square, is provided at the rear of the hall. 
The stairs to the cellar are in the hall 77, under the other- 
stairs. They should be wide enough for convenient de¬ 
scent to A, if that should ever be used as a Dining-room. 
Fig. 4.—Second Story.—(8 feet high in the clear.) 
It will be seen that there are four sleeping rooms, F, 7?, 
S, and 7, all large enough for a full-sized bed, except 7, 
which will take in a % bed. F and if may be heated by 
stoves, the pipes entering the chimney flues. 7, may have 
a door also into F, if it is desired for a young or sick 
child. By having the door into the hall, 7, may be kept 
as a “spare room,” if the family require the other three 
sleeping rooms. We have slept comfortably in a “spare 
room,” no larger than this, in many pretty well-to-do 
farmers’ dwellings. Or R, or S, may either of them bo 
used as the spare room. We don’t believe in the frequent 
practice of living or sleeping constantly in a small room, 
and reserving the largest and best room for occasional 
visitors. That is sacrificing comfort and health to show.- 
If friends, stopping for a night, or a few nights, cannot 
put up with such rooms and conveniences as may be 
readily furnished, their friendship is not worth a great 
deal. [And in this connection we will throw in our 
standing protest against the custom of giving up one’s 
whole time to worry and excitement over getting up ex¬ 
tra fine food for visitors—just as if f/wyhadno such things 
at home, and had come away to find “ something good to 
eat.” If we go to see our friends, it is to visit with them , 
and not with their larder. We do not want a hasty oc¬ 
casional word with them, while they are flying about to 
Fig. 4.— SECOND STORY—FLOOR FLAX. 
feast our appetites: We prefer they should cook less 
than usual—give us plain, simple food, enough to satisfy 
the natural demands—and give us some of their time and 
attention for visiting. The venerable Bishop Redding 
once called upon a good lady of our acquaintance awliilo 
before noon. She was all excited, because no good 
preparations were made for dinner. “ Sister,” said lac, 
“I have but three hours to stay, and I want to yisifc 
with you and your husband. You have good bread ami 
milk: let us eat that, and all have the rest of the time to 
talk together’’—and it was done. The writer happened 
to be one of the quartette, and we had a “ feast of reason 
and flow of soul,” such as a fashionable hotel tabic 
seldom supplies. The same principle applies to the 
general household arrangements for entertaining guests, 
especially where the house is small and means limited. J 
Mr. Judd has another plan nearly perfected, for a house 
costing from $2,000 to $3,000, exclusive of land, which he 
is preparing to build the present season. It is designed 
to contain many conveniences, plumbing, etc. The 
plans of this will be described next month, probably. 
Prices.—The following prices are used as the basis of 
calculation the present summer, here. The variations 
under the same items, refer to quality. Thus, while the 
best carpenters may receive $3 or more, per day, others 
less experienced, and less expert, will be dearer at $2 a 
day. There must be always some apprentices learning,, 
at low wages, while they can do some kinds of work as 
well as full men. The same remark applies to other 
workmen.— Wages per day of 10 hours: Carpenters, 
$2.00@.3.50; Masons, $3.50@$4.00; Laborers, $1.50@$1.75; 
Painters, $2.50@$3.50 ; Grainers, $4.00@$5.00; Roofers, 
$3.00@$4.00; Slaters, $3.50@$4.50.—Timber and Lumber 
per 1000 feet board measure: Timber, (beams, posts, etc.) 
$22.50; Siding, planed, $34@$10; Flooring, $32@$3G; 
Joists, $18@$20; Clear Pine, $50@.$55; Hemlock Boards, 
