at best, of but little use, they are much of the time dry. When the lower end of this drain is exposed, it is well to protect it from the entrance of reptiles and insects by a wire gauze. This also serves the purpose of admitting fresh air, while the foul exhalations find an escape through the leader-pipes from the roof.

When springs on a sufficient elevation are not at hand, the hydraulic ram placed in a running brook will answer the purpose. The ordinary method of raising water into a tank by means of a force-pump is perhaps the simplest; yet there are various mechanical contrivances for saving the manual labor involved by that system. A small Ericsson engine, placed in the cellar at a trifling cost, is an excellent arrangement; and its cheapness and economy in fuel especially recommend it. There is also a small steam-engine manufactured by Baker & Smith, which is put up in connection with their furnace, and, being supplied with steam from the same boiler, is worked without extra expense. The cost of each of these does not exceed two or three hundred dollars.

The favorite system of raising water by windmills, although very effective in its results, I think, in an æsthetic point of view, should be condemned, for they are sure to obtrude themselves most offensively upon the sight; and to see these awkward, spider-like structures dancing fandangoes before our eyes disturbs the repose, and mars the landscape of our otherwise beautiful homes. If these could be constructed in a picturesque manner, in imitation of some of the old Holland windmills, they might become a pleasing object in the landscape. I have seen an arrangement propelled by wind, and enclosed in an ornamental cupola, placed on top of a dwelling-house, or an out-building, which, while adding a pleasing feature to the architecture, kept up an adequate supply of water with scarcely an hour's work a day. These spiders, however, have an advantage mechanically, as, by presenting a greater surface to the wind, their capacity is increased, which, where great power is a consideration, as in the manufactory, is an argument in their favor.

DESIGN No. 3.

First-floor Plan.

1. Living hall, 18×18; 2. Parlor, 144×21; 3. Dining-room, 14×18; 4. Kitchen, 143×16; 5. Back hall; 6. Store-room.-Estimated cost, $6000.

This cottage has recently been erected at Montclair, New Jersey, for Mrs. A. C. Connelly, and, with some slight changes, at West Brighton,

Staten Island, for Mr. C. Dubois, Jun. Its principal feature is the square entrance-hall, with its irregular staircase, landing on a raised platform which constitutes a bay - window. This bay, which is conspicuous from the entrance, is nearly filled with stained glass, and is made large enough for the accommodation of plants (the lower part of the sash being clear glass, in order to admit the sun), and running up sufficiently high to light both stories. The vignette shows a similar hall recently constructed at Staten Island, the plan of which is reversed from the present design.

14x18:

2.
14/X21.

1.

18x 10:

The dining-room and parlor communicate with the hall by double doors. The latter has the upper part of the bay-window, which is opposite the doors, filled with stained glass. The butler's sink, in this case, is placed in the back hall, which, as a matter of economy, has its advantages; though, as a general thing, we would advise having the butler's pantry separate. There are four large bedrooms and bath-room in the second story, also two bedrooms and billiard-room in the attic. The tank, which is large, is sunk below the attic floor, in order to admit the water directly from the roof, and, being floored over and well lighted, affords space for a trunk and store

room.

First-floor Plan of Design No. 3.

CHAPTER IV.

PLANS.

Views.--Exposure.-Estimates.-Architect's Supervision.-Commercial Value attached to a Well-arranged Plan.

THE

HE next step, after the site is selected, is to provide proper plans or working drawings. There is no doubt that every one who intends building has some general idea of what he wants, and frequently sketches out an arrangement of the various floors which he fancies is just the thing. There can be no particular harm in his doing this; on the contrary, it frequently enables the architect to judge somewhat of the number and size of the rooms needed, and the general requirements of his

client. Still, there is this danger; he is too apt to be wedded to his own ideas, thus trammelling the professional man in producing the best arrangement and effects. These amateur designs should be taken as suggestions simply, nothing more.

It is the duty of the architect, studying the desires and needs of his client, carefully to manage the design in all its parts, so as to fit into, and harmonize with, the lives to be spent under its roof. He will first arrange the rooms in reFor example, the parlor or living-room-that most occupied by the family-he would place toward the south, being the most cheerful, which, while being sheltered from the bleak winds of winter, receives, also, the prevailing summer breezes.

gard to exposure.

Should the gentleman be a reading man, it would be well to place

the library at the north, in order to acquire a steady light. The diningroom may properly be situated at the western side, giving a view of the sunset at the evening meal. North of this should be the kitchen, occupying the least-desirable exposure. If the verandas are limited, the most valuable position would be on the east side of the house, on account of the shade the greater portion of the day. For the contrary reason, the conservatory should have a southerly exposure. The plumbing should also be located at a warm side, to prevent its freezing. And this is not all that is to be taken into consideration in a well-studied plan. It is essential that the rooms most frequented should command fine views, and their arrangement should be such as to form a pleasing exterior as well, the important parts to present the most imposing appearance. Again, a constructional motive should be considered. The arrangement of supports, the disposition of doors and windows, the intersection of roofs, and the general outlines of the building-all have a bearing upon the arrangement of the rooms, which should suggest themselves to the architect in the first conception of his plan. After these preliminaries, he should submit the sketch to his client, which may not prove altogether satisfactory. It is either unsuited to some of his domestic requirements, or not in accordance with his original intentions. Should these prove solid objections, it would be the architect's duty to alter his sketch, and, while transgressing no general rules, conform more with his client's notions. This settled, he next proceeds with his working drawings, which consist of the floor plans for each story, and the four exterior sides or elevations. These, in connection with the specifications, are sufficient for obtaining estimates from the various contractors. It is often considered by the uninitiated that mere sketches or preliminary studies are sufficient to obtain correct estimates of the cost. But this is a most dangerous plan to work upon, as it is almost certain to mislead; for no builder can have a clear conception of what the building really is to be, until regular plans and specifications are matured. These estimates being received from reliable parties, the owner may then go on with a certainty of what the building will cost.

No work of any importance should be carried on without the general supervision of the architect, for rarely is there a plan so perfect that improvements cannot be made, and they are likely to suggest themselves as the building develops. But the most dangerous thing an owner can do is to allow alterations to be made without consulting the original designer, who has fully studied the plan in all its bearings, and one slight change may affect the composition in twenty different ways, both of a constructive and æsthetic nature. The architect is always willing to

make changes when the owner desires them, and he alone is able to make them in conformity with the other parts of the plan.

I can cite, as an exemplification of this, an instance of an expensive dwelling, for which an architect had prepared the plans, on the line of one of our metropolitan railways. The design was prepared with especial reference to the rules to which we have alluded, and he had laid out the house on the ground accordingly, ready for the building to proceed. Upon visiting the place a few weeks after, he found, to his dismay, that, for some trivial reason, suggested by the mason, it had been turned and made to face in a different direction. Immediately all the advantages of exposure, view, and the general appearance of the building—so much studied, and from which he had expected such good results-were entirely lost. One point on which he had depended making a favorable impression was that from the railway, from which hundreds of passengers daily commanded a view of the building. Another was from the highway leading from the village. The side of the house least considered was the north, from whence it was little seen, and had no particular view, where he had located the kitchen. Imagine his chagrin, then, at finding the picturesque grouping turned entirely away from the points upon which he had calculated, and in their place those parts he had most endeavored to conceal. The kitchen seemed to have been the object of especial pride to the owner, as it was this he had placed fronting the railway, and it now occupies the agreeable exposure designed for the livingThere shortly after offered just the opportunity for rectifying the blunder, as, wishing to enlarge this department, he could build a tasteful addition, relieving its gaunt and meagre appearance. But instead of consulting his architect, he was again guided by his builder, who assured him that the way to accomplish his design was to lengthen the kitchen portion some ten or twelve feet. Then the error assuined a magnitude truly sublime, for the blemish was intensified at least tenfold, as it overpowered and destroyed all the proportions of the house.

rooms.

This is the solution of the question I have so often heard asked, as we ride by in the cars, why Mr. B's house so much resembles a prison or a lunatic asylum; and, I might add, had not his obstinacy stood in the way of his interests, the building might, in case of trouble, have brought him a fair profit, instead of a loss of fifty per cent. on the original investment, and the architect's reputation might not have suffered, as it invariably does when these charlatans thus distort his plans, and the damage he sustains overbalances by far any pecuniary advantages he may derive.