Vol. LYII. No. 2532. 
NEW YORK, AUGUST 6, 1898. 
81 PER YEAR. 
THE PRIZE HOUSE PLANS. 
THE THIRD PRIZE WINNER. 
Water Privileges Decide the Contest. 
On pages 429 and 430, we printed the plans which 
won first and second prizes in our house-plan com¬ 
petition. The judges were unable to agree in award¬ 
ing the third prize, as there were two plans that 
seemed about equal in value. A referee finally decided 
in favor of the plan submitted by Mrs. O. P. Howland. 
This house can be built for less money, it has proved 
its comfort and convenience by actual service, and 
provides for a supply of hot and cold water. Mrs. 
Howland’s house is located in Cayuga County, N. Y. 
She describes it as follows : 
The Third-Prize House. 
Of course, we consider it a model house. It was all 
new but the bedroom below and the woodhouse, and 
cost a little less than $2,000. The rooms could all be 
made smaller except the kitchen and 
pantry, and so lessen the cost greatly. 
We have hot and cold water in the upper 
hall, and on the first floor, the upper 
cistern being built over the back stair¬ 
way leading up from the dining-room ; 
underneath this stairway, is the cellar¬ 
way. In the cellar, we have a large 
cement cistern from which we draw 
water there, and from which by means 
of a pump arranged for the purpose, we 
fill the upper cistern in case of lack of 
rain. The overflow pipe from the upper 
cistern empties into the lower. Of course, 
the plumbing and tanks cost considerable, 
but that is included in the amount men¬ 
tioned, and I would not be without the 
convenience of them for double the 
amount we paid. On the north side of 
the kitchen is our sink with hot and 
cold faucets, and at the end of it, is the 
pump. Over the sink is a cupboard open¬ 
ing into both kitchen aDd pantry. Be¬ 
low the sink is a cupboard for kettles, 
etc. At the other end of the sink, is a 
large cupboard from floor to ceiling; 
this, also, opens both ways into kitchen 
and dining-room. It is a china closet above, and is 
used for washed clothing below. The stove stands 
just opposite the sink, and the hot water close by. 
For economy in time and strength, I know no kitchen 
could be more complete. I have used it six years, and 
do not know of a single change I would like made in 
it. This part of the house and the hall are my espe¬ 
cial pride, though all the rooms are light and cheery, 
and so many have remarked on the fine arrangement 
of the rooms. The carpenters complained because we 
would have so many doors ; but Mr. Howland drew 
up the plan himself, and we just would have it as we 
wanted it, and have always been perfectly satisfied 
with it. 
At times, it is a larger house than we need for our 
own small family, but we have been in the habit of 
entertaining considerably, and it is a pleasure to be 
able to make one’s friends comfortable. The chimneys 
are built with two flues, for a furnace if we wish, 
though we have not yet put one in. We also put in 
the registers for hot and cold air. Because people 
live in the country is no reason why they should not 
have homes with all conveniences. 
A Michigan Farm House. 
The house plan that ranked with Mrs. Howland’s in 
THE THIRD PRIZE HOUSE PLAN. Fig. 247. 
the opinion of the judges was submitted by J. H. 
Montgomery, of Michigan. The house and plans are 
pictured this week at Fig. 249, 250, 251 and 252, and 
Mr. Montgomery sends the following details : 
Material .—This plan calls for wood, but either stone 
or brick may be used. The cellar floor is of cement. 
Height of Rooms. —Cellar, from floor to stringers of 
first floor, 8 feet; first floor, 9 feet 3 inches; second 
floor, 8 feet 3 inches. 
Stairs. —Front, 3 feet wide, 10 inches tread, 7% inches 
rise, 10 steps ; back, 2% feet wide, 10 inches tread, 734 
inches rise, 10 steps ; attic, 234 feet wide, 10 inches 
tread, 1% inches rise, 14 steps; cellar, 3 feet wide, 10 
inches tread, 7% inches rise, 13 steps. 
Pantry .—This room has shelves on two sides, with 
drawers, flour bins, cupboards, etc., conveniently ar¬ 
ranged. One cupboard opens into both the pantry 
and dining-room. 
Changes.-— If more room be desired, the plan can 
easily be enlarged by the addition of rooms above and 
below. On the other hand, the dining-room may be 
made smaller, the lower chamber left out, and corre¬ 
sponding changes made above so as to reduce the size. 
Price .—With good workmanship, average interior 
finish, when built of wood, this house can be built 
complete with furnace for from $2,500 to $3,500 ac¬ 
cording to price of labor and material in location of 
building. 
Note particularly the following advantages : 1. The 
dining-room and part of the chambers are most con¬ 
veniently reached from the side entrance, which is 
desirable when many hands are to be cared for. 
Privacy for the family is thus secured. 2. Plenty of 
room for employees is provided ; 25 or 30 can be seated 
at once in the dining-room, while 30 or more can find 
sleeping rooms. In addition, several comfortable 
rooms might be finished off in the attic. 3. The 
kitchen, pantry, storeroom, dining-room and cellar¬ 
way are conveniently close to each other, also well 
separated from the rest of the house. 4. The large 
number of closets will make housekeeping easier. 5 
Furnace heat is indicated, and is very much to be pre¬ 
ferred. Either hot air or steam may be used ; in case 
of necessity, by adding another chimney, stoves could 
be substituted. 
PLANK-FRAMED BARNS. 
Two years ago, we gave a picture of the barn frame 
put up by Mr. J. L. Shawver, of Ohio. No timbers 
are used in this frame, but heavy plank 
nailed and braced take their place. We 
are to describe this frame in some de¬ 
tail soon. Here is a note from one who 
has used it: 
We have built a large barn after the 
plan of John L. -Shawver, of this State. 
I cannot say definitely just how much 
lumber was saved; but there certainly 
is a very considerable saving over the 
old timber frame; not simply in the 
number of cubic feet, but as much in the 
kind of trees from which this timber can 
be made, though there is very much sav¬ 
ing in cubic feet of timber. Not only is 
this frame as strong as the old timber 
frame; but considerably stronger. There 
is no weakness in any part of the frame. 
This is not the only advantage in the 
Shawver frame ; but this frame has no 
tenons or mortices to rot off, after the 
building gets old; or to get wet in the 
mortices from rain, etc.; neither are 
there any heavy timbers to decay with 
dry rot when the frame gets old. 
Mr. Shawver’s claim of saving in tim¬ 
ber, and time and framing, are and can 
be justified by the facts, if one do not employ car¬ 
penters who are unacquainted with the Shawver 
frame, or prejudiced against it, or both, and from 
prejudice, are determined to prove that no time is 
saved with this frame. Were I to build a dozen barns 
on property of my own, not one would be the old tim¬ 
ber frame. Another advantage in this plank frame is 
the roominess in the barn; there are no timbers in 
the way, no crossties; but a continuous open space 
from end to end, and to the roof. Any farmer build¬ 
ing a barn should no more think of using the old tim¬ 
ber-frame in this age, than he would of buying one of 
the first make of the old heavy twine harvesters. 
Ohio. It. D. RINEHART. 
