SELECTING A BUILDING SITE.
There are but few persons who are in a position to locate their proposed home just where they would most desire it. But, fortunately, most any building site is capable of being made to look well, it the style of architecture selected harmonizes with the surroundings.
It is of the first importance that the location be a healthy one. Better rent all your life than ignore that. Avoid the neighborhood of swamps and stagnant water, or where the cellar, (if you have one) to your house, from the nature of the location, will be damp. Large bodies of water, or running water is never unhealthy; but on the contrary, it is in many ways conducive to health. Some very uninviting, rugged and neglected spots, can, with but little expense and an appropriate building, be made exceedingly beautiful.
One of the prettiest school-houses I ever saw was built on a lot given by a farmer for a district school. It did look as if the piece of ground was worthless for any purpose; it was rocky, overgrown with briers and bushes, and a tiny stream ran across the lot, jumping from rock to rock, alongside of which, on a level spot but little larger than room for a building, a house with steep roof and turret was built, and the adjacent hillside made a splendid study and playground for the scholars. When completed the building and grounds was a model of what a country school-house should be.
While an elevation is at all times desirable, a hill is not. The exposure to the storms in winter, and the tiresome walk in summer, is to be avoided. A few native trees, if on the ground to furnish shade, are desirable. The water supply, too, is to be considered. Most architects say a Southern exposure is the best, but this depends on your location. For Southern homes the East is preferable.