The following is a section of part 7. The entire section is on the Iowa History Site. I hope you all enjoy it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MODERN CONVENIENCES FOR THE FARM HOME HEATING SYSTEMS THE IDEAL SYSTEM The health and comfort of the home depends to a considerable extent upon the heating apparatus, which, in importance, is second only to that of sanitary plumbing. Stoves are a development of the fireplaces of our ancestors. Their waste of fuel, their uncleanliness, and their inability to properly heat even one room are features recognized by most people. The ideal heating apparatus is one that will promptly and continuously supply every room in the house with enough warm fresh air to make it comfortable in the coldest weather. It must be easy to manage and not complicated in construction. The cost of installing a steam or hot-water system is more than that of a hot-air furnace. The amount of fuel used by them is less, but for a small house the hot-air furnace is most often used. It has the advantage, too, if properly installed, of supplying fresh air, while the other systems demand special means for ventilation, or dependence must be placed entirely upon opening the doors and windows. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/