Special attention has been given in the above model floor plan to have the interior arranged according to the most modern ideas.

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•TEACMERS-DESK.

ACK BOARD

•TABLE.

BOOKS.

THE MODEL RURAL SCHOOL BUILDING.

[By an Architect.]

The plan as laid out contemplates either an entirely new building, or the ordinary rectangular plan rural school building remodeled, and is designed to embody all of the latest ideas pertaining to lighting, heating and ventiiating.

The system of lighting is what is known as the unilateral or one-side lighting, by which the light is brought from a number of windows located to the left of the pupil, and set as close to the ceiling as practicable. The high windows shown at the rear are not essential, as the proper amount of glass surface is contained in the bank of windows to the left.

The heating and ventilating is accomplished in the same manner as in the most modern gravity heating plants in larger buildings-that is, the air is brought in from the outside well above the grade line. In this case it is brought through the lower window in the front gable, drops down the air shaft back of the heater, and ascends between the jacket and the heater. By means of a series of baffle plates the air is passed over the heating surface but never coming in contact with the fire, passes out above the heater and exhausts into the room, as indicated by the darts, directly toward and against the cooling surface, which is the windows on the left of the room. The upper part of the receptacle which receives this heater curves outward at the top so as to deflect the warm air into the room. As the air leaves the heater, being pure and warm it rises to the ceiling and would remain there were it not for the large ventilating flue and vent register at the bottom, which takes off the lower strata of air, allowing the pure warm air to fall equally all over the room. This entirely eliminates all currents and drafts and holds the temperature of the room the same in all parts. To absolutely insure an ascending current of air in the vent flue at all times there is an iron plate set vertically between the heat and vent flue just opposite where the smoke pipe enters. The heat from the smoke pipe heats this iron plate, which in turn heats the air in the vent flue, causing an upward current which pulls the air out of the schoolroom as above mentioned.

The apparatus as described and laid out is practically fireproof, and much safer than stoves, as there is a double jacket between the fire and the woodwork at any point, and between these jackets is constantly passing a current of air. It would be next to impossible to build a fire intense enough to set the building on fire. While this plant includes all the desirable features of the more elaborate and more expensive plants used in larger buildings, it has the distinct advantage of not being a patented article and can be installed without the payment of any royalties whatever, at the same time being practical and economical.

The fuel room is sufficiently large to hold fuel for at least a week, it being assumed that the janitor or person in charge can fill the same at the end of the week and do away with the dust and dirt caused by bringing in fuel from the outside many times during the day.

The work room is large and well lighted and heated directly from the school heater, and is separated from the main schoolroom by a rolling partition or sliding door, permitting the same to be thrown into the main schoolroom when desired.

The closet adjacent is designed for the use of the teacher.

The building as designed can be built of either frame or masonry, and if of frame the only masonry required would be the foundation walls and smoke and vent flues.