K. J. T. Ekblaw

THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING

REPRESENTATIVE TYPES OF SHEDS The Simple Shed Type.

Copyright 1916
National Lumber Manufacturers Association

Over fifty million dollars is lost every year on American farms because implements and machinery are not properly housed. Is part of this wasted on YOUR farm?

Protection of farm machinery in well built implement sheds means dollars earned through dollars saved. On the average farm an implement shed saves annually as much as the income from $1,800 at interest.

Implement Sheds
By K. J. T. Ekblaw

A very fair indication of the thrift and general prosperity of a farmer is the method he employs in caring for his tools. Shiftlessness, waste, lack of energy, constant buying and heavy burdens of debt will accompany poor care. Good care is an indication of shrewdness, business ability, long-lived machinery, comfortable bank balances and the assurance of a peaceful, prosperous future.

To the progressive man, figures speak more forcibly than does the most persuasive lecturer on economic topics. The report of the United States Census for 1910 contains some figures that bear a distinct message to the farmers of the country. In 1900 the value of all farm property in the shape of farm implements and machinery was $749,775,970; in 1910 this same value had increased to $1,265,149,783, representing an increase of 68.7 per cent. This increase can be ascribed mainly to increased quantity rather than to higher prices, for the increase in price of farm machinery has been comparatively slight. It means that the farmers are realizing the benefits to be derived from the use of labor-saving machinery. In 1900 the acreage of improved land in farms was 414,498,487; in 1910 this became 478,451,750, an increase of only 15.4 per cent. These figures may be a little more significant if expressed in the following way: In 1900 there was $1.80 worth of machinery for each acre of improved farm land; in 1910 this had increased to $2.65, or an increase of over 47 per cent.

These figures will immediately indicate an opportunity for the furtherance of economic agriculture. With so much capital invested in equipment, the American farmer would certainly be a very bad business man indeed if he did not take some means of protecting this equipment to reduce depreciation and to increase its length of life. The question has sometimes been asked, does it pay to house farm machinery? Is it not a better practice not to give any special care to the machinery but use it as long as it will run without care then buy newer and more up-to-date equipment?

The situation bears some consideration. According to Census figures, the average investment per farm in farm machinery is almost exactly $200. This, however, is the case when every sort of farm is included, and since the Census Bureau’s definition of a farm is extremely liberal it would not be practical for our purposes. A fair estimate of the average value of farm machinery on a farm is $1,000. No reliable figures are available to indicate the rate of depreciation of farm machinery; one farmer will take excellent care of his binder and it may do service for twenty or twenty-five years, while another farmer will leave his binder in the middle of the field where the last stalk of grain was cut, and it would be surprising if his machine could operate satisfactorily for more than five seasons. To take ten years as the average life of farm machinery is certainly to be considered conservative.

Most farm machines are well and substantially constructed and will render satisfactory and efficient service with slight repairs for a much longer term of years than the average which has just been given. It is entirely safe to assume that the average length of efficient service can be increased to fifteen years providing proper care is given. It is almost equally safe to assume that the average life of uncared-for machinery will not be much more than five years.

The farmer who has a thousand dollars worth of machinery to which he gives no care and attention will then have an annual reduction in value of $200, besides his interest charge of $60 on his investment or a total debit of $260. The farmer who properly houses his machinery will have an annual deduction of $66.66 for depreciation and the same interest charge of $60. He will have, in addition, an annual charge of $25 for interest and depreciation on his building if it cost $250, or a total of $151.66, which is $108.34 less than that of his improvident neighbor. The careful farmer then may consider that he has in his implement house an investment representing over $1,800 as shown by the saving it brings him; as a simple implement shed can be built for $250, a net profit of an interest-paying $1,550 remains. Putting the problem in another way, on many farms the savings on machinery will pay for a shed in two or three years.

In view of the fact that the small tractor is becoming an extremely popular source of farm power, special consideration should be given to its shelter. The tractor is an implement that would be extremely likely to be injured as a result of exposure to weather. It is entirely possible that the damage which may be done to this one single machine in one winter’s exposure may be sufficient to pay for the cost of a machine shed which will house all the implements on the farm.

So much for the economic side. The figures that have just been given relate only to a very conservative case. On many farms the saving would be a great deal more. Besides this there are other things of which the value cannot be estimated, such as the benefit of having a machine that will operate when it is called upon to do so; the added value an implement shed gives to the farm; and the additional prestige which will redound to the owner of the farm.

The careful farmer will, of course, find that criticisms of ill-cared-for machinery do not apply to him; he has a machine shed, and knows the value of paint, oil, and grease in extending the life of implements. His equipment always looks new, for as rust breaks through the protecting coat of paint, a new coat is immediately applied; and his plowshares, discs, cultivator shovels, and other bright parts of implements are always given a thorough coating of grease before being put away for the winter. As a result, his implements are ready for business when spring comes and time is valuable.