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Scientific American
Architects and Builders edition.
No. 26

With Two Supplements consisting of Two Plates in Colors and One Large Sheet of Details.
DECEMBER, 1887 Single Copies, 25 Cents.—$2.50 a Year

Copyrighted, 1887, By Munn & Co.
New York: Published by MUNN & CO., 361 Broadway, corner Franklin Street.

Economic ✠ Gas ✠ Engines.

Best in principle, workmanship, and materials. An unequalled small Motor adapted to all uses. When the Motor is not at work, the expense of running it ceases. Simple, Safe, Economical, Durable. No extra Insurance required.

PLUMBERS’ GAS ENGINE.

Especially adapted for pumping water in Private and Apartment Houses, Flats, Small Hotels, and many other places.

No. 6.1 Man.

Capacity 250 Gallons, 50 feet high, per hour.

LARGER SIZES.

No. 7. One‐Half Horse, 600 Gallons, 50 feet High, per Hour.
No. 8. One Horse, – 1,500 „ „ „ „

GASOLINE GAS ENGINES.

No. 15. One Man, – 300 Gallons, 50 feet High, per Hour.
No. 16. One‐Half Horse, 600 „ „ „ „
No. 18, One Horse, – 1,500 „ „ „ „

Four Sizes, from Motor for Sewing Machine or Dental Engine to One Horse Power.
Our Gas Engines will work satisfactorily when attached to Gasoline Machines.

SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE.

Economic Gas Engine Co.,
Office and Salesroom, 34 DEY ST., NEW YORK.

STAR HACK SAW. No. 2.

This Saw is much harder than a file, and will cut iron almost as fast as it will wood. One saw blade will cut off a bar of half‐inch round iron one hundred times. The blade is eight inches long, and will do most of the sawing required about a house, shop, or farm. The Patent Frame is made of steel, polished and nickel plated. It will face the saw in four directions, as desired. Frame and twelve Saw Blades sent by mail, postage prepaid, on receipt of $1.50. Hardware dealers will furnish them at the same price. All genuine goods are marked with a star and bear our name. We also have full control of the Star Bracket Saws, and warrant them to be better than any imported blades.

MILLER’S FALLS CO., 93 Reade Street, New York.

A

FIRST CLASS

OFFICE BUILDING

SHOULD BE Furnished With

A
U. S. MAIL CHUTE
(PAT’D.) Connecting EVERY STORY with
THE U. S.MAIL BOX.

ADDRESS FOR CIRCULARS, &c.,

CUTLER MF’G. CO.

“A NECESSITY.” Sole Makers, ROCHESTER, N. Y.

THE OTIS TUBULAR FEED WATER HEATER

With Seamless Brass Tubes and the most recent improvements.

Specially adapted for utilizing the exhaust steam of

ELEVATOR
PUMPS,

both Passenger and Freight, to heat the Feed Water for the boilers.

We guarantee one square foot of heating surface per horse power.

We can give reference from Heaters already in operation under the same conditions, giving the best of satisfaction.

MANUFACTURED
BY
Stewart Heater
COMPANY,
40 & 42 Clinton Street,
BUFFALO, N. Y.

DESKS
—AND—
OFFICE
FURNITURE
In Great Variety
MANUFACTURED BY
T. G. SELLEW,
111 Fulton Street,
NEW YORK.

THE JACKSON
Heat‐Saving & Ventilating Grate
COMBINED
GRATE and FURNACE.

HEATING
on ONE or TWO Floors.

Greatest variety of rich and chaste designs in plain or oxidized Iron, Steel, Nickel‐Plate, Electro‐Bronze, Solid Brass or Bronze. Largest rooms in coldest climates thoroughly heated. Out‐door air warmed by the heat wasted in ordinary grates, and introduced, producing perfect ventilation and equable temperature, without drafts. In use everywhere. Illustrated Catalogues.

EDWIN A. JACKSON & BRO., 77 Beekman St., New York.

ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS!
ATTENTION IS CALLED TO
ADVERTISEMENT ON PAGE [iii.]
FRANK B. MALLORY.

SPECIFICATIONS SHOULD INCLUDE
Folsom’s Patent Roof Snow‐Guards

——300,000 IN USE.——

Address, JOHN H. HILLER, 1408 Tremont St., Boston.

Solid Braided Cotton Sash Cord.

The “SAMSON” Window Line does not wear out. Save the annoyance of broken cords. Samples free on application to the manufacturers.

J. P. TOLMAN & CO., 164 High Street, Boston, Mass.

THE
Asbestos Packing Co.

ASBESTOS REMOVEABLE COVERING
BOSTONITE
ASBESTOS FLOORING FELT &c.
No. 1 WAREPROOF SHEATHING
THE A. P. Co. 3 PLY ROOFING
ASBESTOS CEMENT FELTING
ROOFING PITCH

OFFICES:

169 Congress St., Boston.
33 John St., New York.

BRUSH

Electric Lights.

Incandescence Lights for Apartment Houses and Residences furnished by

THE BRUSH ELECTRIC COMPANY,

CLEVELAND, OHIO.

NEW YORK OFFICE: No. 36 Union Square.
CHICAGO OFFICE: No. 130 Washington Street.
ST. LOUIS OFFICE: No. 404 Market Street.
DETROIT OFFICE: No. 88 Griswold Street.

SEND FOR CATALOGUE No. 8.

SCHUMACHER & ETTLINGER,

LITHOGRAPHERS,

32, 34 and 36 Bleecker and 311 Mott Streets,

NEW YORK.

FINE COLOR WORK A SPECIALTY.

STANLEY RULE & LEVEL CO.,

MANUFACTURERS OF
IMPROVED

CARPENTERS’ TOOLS.

FACTORIES:
NEW BRITAIN,
CONN.

SOLD BY ALL
HARDWARE DEALERS.

Stanley’s Universal Hand Beader.

For Beading, Reeding or Fluting, and for all kinds of light Routering, this tool is invaluable to wood‐workers.

Seven superior steel cutters go with each tool. Both ends are sharpened, thus embracing six ordinary sizes of Beads, four sets of Reeds, two Fluters and a double Router Iron (⅛ and ¼ inch).

No. 66 Iron stock with seven Steel Cutters, $1.00.

Scientific American ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS EDITION

NEW YORK, DECEMBER, 1887.

Entered at the Post Office of
New York as Second Class Matter.

Vol. IV.Subscription, $2.50 a Year.
Single Copies, 25 Cents.
No. 6.

THE SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL AT STRATFORD‐UPON‐AVON.

The American veneration for the birthplace of Shakespeare is well known, and it has just taken practical shape by the presentation to the town of a public drinking fountain and clock tower, the gift of an American citizen, Mr. George W. Childs, of Philadelphia, in commemoration of the jubilee of Queen Victoria. The memorial has been erected in Rother Street, a broad open space near the center of the town, where several thoroughfares converge, and where the annual statute fairs or “mops” take place. The structure is handsome and imposing, and is built of Peterhead granite (for the fountain) and of hard freestone (for the clock tower). The base of the tower is square, with projecting buttresses at the four corners, terminating in acutely pointed gablets, surmounted by a lion bearing the arms of Great Britain alternately with the American eagle and the stars and stripes. Appropriate inscriptions are engraved on the four sides of the memorial. The tower terminates in a spire, beneath and surrounding which are smaller spires and turrets. The whole height of the structure is fifty feet. The architect is Mr. Jethro A. Cossins, of Birmingham. The ceremony of inaugurating the fountain was performed on Monday, October 17, by Mr. Henry Irving, in the presence of the Mayor (Sir Arthur Hodgson, K.C.M.G.), the corporation, and a distinguished company of visitors. Sympathetic letters were read from Mr. J. Russell Lowell and Mr. Whittier; and speeches were delivered by Mr. Irving, by Mr. Phelps, the American Minister, Mr. Walter, of the Times, Sir Theodore Martin, and others.—London Graphic.

THE SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL AT STRATFORD‐UPON‐AVON

[Larger image] (211 kB)

Optical Refinements in Architecture.

Many architects look upon all refinements of line and curve as so much waste time, and would as soon think of referring to the original Latin of Vitruvius for rules in proportioning their rooms as to consult and apply the corrections of the Parthenon to their buildings. In sketching out his design to a small scale on a sheet of Whatman’s drawing paper, the architect does so without any further thought than to produce a convenient plan or a well grouped elevation. Any infinitesimal correction to the straight line or entasis would be inappreciable to the naked eye on the surface of paper the inequalities of which would render it worthless; nor does he take much trouble in the proportions of his rooms, so long as they look right and fit well. If such refinements are to be made, they should be shown in large drawings, or set out to the full size on the works by proper rules and other instruments. The task is laborious and troublesome, and contract prices are little in sympathy with such niceties of adjustment. Even of the more practicable mode of adopting certain ratios and proportions, the architect does not avail himself very much.

We do not say that every horizontal beam—such as an entablature supported by columns at intervals—ought to be “corrected” by the application of a parabolic curve, or that every string course and cornice should be arranged to curve or bend upward; but we contend that these refinements ought to be made in interiors wherever the lines are long, and contrasting lines and surfaces occur in juxtaposition; that they are, in truth, applying precisely the same principle of correction as the colorist or decorator would apply when he takes care to juxtapose two colors or shades which shall be complementary to or harmonize with each other.

It is painful to witness in modern buildings a perfect ignoring of these principles of design. We go into a public hall or concert room, and take our seat. The flat coffered ceiling appears to be literally bending or falling upon our heads. To make the impression still more apparent, the architect has introduced a circular or flatly curved arch over the orchestral recess. If the ceiling is a flat curve, as it often is, the trusses are, perhaps, brought down below and incased, their lower edges being made perfectly horizontal, the two lines serving to increase the difference between them; in other words, to make the trusses look as if they were deflecting.

Mr. Pennethorne, some years ago, showed that the masses of the temples of Athens and Rome were designed on perspective principles—that is to say, the masses and many of the details were designed as they were intended to be viewed. The point of sight was always before the architect—that is to say, he studied the effect of his entablatures, abaci, and other masses of details from points of view that were likely to be frequented. It is well known that the various sections through the Doric capitals, the mouldings, and other parts of Athenian buildings, were composed of different arcs of the conic sections. Mr. Pennethorne says that the Greek entablature is perspectively proportioned and arranged to suit the given points of sight thus: The apparent height of entablature is measured in seconds upon the arc of a great circle. “Then, dividing this whole apparent height into some given number of aliquot parts, measured also in seconds, the apparent height of the architrave, of the frieze, and cornice will, in each case, be a multiple of this given modulus. Again, by dividing the first modulus into a given number of apparent aliquot parts, a second modulus is obtained, by which the apparent heights of all the details of the cornice of architrave and frieze will be regulated, and the true lineal heights are then all determined by trigonometrical calculations.” In short, all the visible heights of features are, upon this principle, regulated from a given point, the real elevational height of each part being afterward found.

This system of proportion would probably entail too much labor upon the architect to work out with any accuracy, and may be looked upon as chimerical. But we see instances every day of positive ignorance of these principles, especially in the designing of mouldings, projecting features, and towers. If the architect is too impatient to make nice corrections in the manner we have pointed out, he ought at least to take the trouble necessary to regulate his heights and masses before inking in his elevations. Sketching in perspective is a valuable auxiliary in designing roughly the masses of a building; but some more accurate method is required in perspectively setting out the heights of stories, entablatures, parapets, towers, and other features. This can only be done by adjusting all heights from a given point of sight, or upon the arc of a circle described from the said point. An elevation is misleading, as every architect knows who has suffered disappointment after the building is finished. It only gives vertical heights, which may be very much curtailed or foreshortened in the actual view of the building from the opposite side of the street, for example.

Many towers and spires have been spoiled by designing them in elevation instead of at the angle. In broach spires we find a want of care in one particular above the others. The broach is designed on the level. The hips of the broach are made to look gentle in elevation, but when raised above the eye 60 or 100 feet, they become so depressed as to give a very ungraceful and abrupt springing to the spire.

We may instance the want of entasis to spires and columns. Every one who has a critical sense of vision must have observed the apparent weakness there is in a spire that has perfectly straight sides, when compared with one which has been entasised, and the same with all columns. Here also the method to insure the correction can be easily applied. The more important of these refinements are capable of being made at the initial stage of design, without recourse to decimals of two or three removes from the decimal point, or to mathematical calculations.—Abstract from the Building News.

Testing Pile‐Protecting Compounds.

In 1882 several piles, coated with various patent anti‐teredo coverings, were driven in the harbor of San Francisco for the purpose of testing them. Recently Engineer Manson began pulling up the piles in order to see the result of the experiments. A pile coated with Pearce’s compound, composed of paraffine, limestone, kaolin, etc., was found to be completely honeycombed by the teredos. The eucalyptus and cedar piles were also nearly destroyed. In 1884 the two piles incased by A. W. Von Schmidt in sewer pipe and cement, the twenty‐three coated by Frank Shay with asphalt and wire cloth, the ten of McKeon & Co., coated with warm cement containing a poisonous substance, and those of W. H. Hayes, coated with Portland cement, etc., were examined by Colonel Mendel and Mr. Manson. All showed signs of having proved failures. The insect is ahead of the inventors up to date.

A Tower on the Mount of Olives.

The tower which is being erected by the Russians on the highest point of the Mount of Olives is already several stories high, but one more is to be added. The object is to make it so high that both the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea may be seen from the top. A number of bells will be placed in the tower. In digging the foundation, several Christian graves were found, together with an inscription in Greek, in which the word “Stephanus” could yet be deciphered.

Scientific American.

ESTABLISHED 1845.

Munn & Co., Editors and Proprietors,

No. 361 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

O. D. MUNN.A. E. BEACH.

NEW YORK, DECEMBER, 1887.

THE
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN,
ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS EDITION.

$2.50 a Year, Single Copies, 25 cents.

This is a Special Edition of The Scientific American, issued monthly. Each number contains about forty large quarto pages, forming, practically, a large and splendid Magazine of Architecture, richly adorned with elegant plates in colors and with fine engravings; illustrating the most interesting examples of modern Architectural Construction and allied subjects.

A special feature is the presentation in each number of a variety of the latest and best plans for private residences, city and country, including those of very moderate cost as well as the more expensive. Drawings in perspective and in color are given, together with full Plans, Specifications, Costs, Bills of Estimate, and Sheets of Details.

No other building paper contains so many plans, details, and specifications regularly presented as the Scientific American. Hundreds of dwellings have already been erected on the various plans we have issued, and many others are in process of construction.

All who contemplate building or improving homes, of erecting structures of any kind, have before them in this work an almost endless series of the latest and best examples from which to make selections, thus saving time and money.

Many other subjects, including Sewerage, Piping, Lighting, Warming, Ventilating, Decorating, Laying Out of Grounds, etc., are illustrated. An extensive Compendium of Manufacturers’ Announcements is also given, in which the most reliable and approved Building Materials, Goods, Machines, Tools, and Appliances are described and illustrated, with addresses of the makers, etc.

The fullness, richness, cheapness, and convenience of this work have won for it the Largest Circulation of any Architectural publication in the world.

An Increase of Trade will necessarily accrue to all Manufacturers and Dealers whose establishments are conspicuously represented in this important edition of The Scientific American. Terms for advertising very moderate. A card of rates sent on application.

Bound Volumes.—Two volumes are published annually. Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4, which include all the numbers of this work from commencement to close of 1887, may now be obtained at this office or from Booksellers and Newsdealers. Price, bound in paper, $1.50 per volume. These volumes contain all the colored plates, sheets of details, specifications, and all the other interesting matter pertaining to the work. They are of great permanent value. Forwarded to any address.

MUNN & CO., Publishers,
361 Broadway, New York.

For additional information concerning any of the plans or buildings illustrated in these pages, address Munn & Co., as above.

CONCERNING AGENTS.

Customers who pay money to subscription agents or brokers do so at their own risk. Care should be taken to deal only with known, responsible, and reliable parties. We send no papers until we receive the subscription price; and no person is authorized to represent us, act for us, or receipt for us.

Munn & Co., Publishers, 361 Broadway, New York.

CONTENTS
Of the December number of the Architects and Builders Edition of Scientific American.

TO OUR READERS AND PATRONS.

The present number closes our fourth volume and brings us to the end of another year. Many subscriptions now terminate, and we ask our patrons to be prompt in sending their renewals, thus avoiding the loss of any numbers. The terms are only $2.50 a year.

Considering the wealth of illustration, the variety and value of information presented, this work is by far the cheapest of anything in the same line.

To builders, and those contemplating the erection of dwellings or other structures, our paper has proved to be of great value.

With every number, during the past two years, we have given plates in colors of many new buildings, with specifications, accompanied by extra special sheets of details. In most cases these have been so complete as to enable the builder and contractor to proceed at once with the construction; and on the plans thus presented, thousands of new buildings have been erected in all parts of the country. In almost every town in the land attractive dwellings are now to be seen, which, on inquiry, will be found to have been built from Scientific American plans.

No architectural publication in the world presents to its patrons so many practical specifications and drawings without cost, except the merely nominal subscription rate of $2.50 a year. It is hardly necessary to remind the builder that he would be obliged to pay several hundred dollars if the same number of plans were to be specially prepared for him.

In addition to the colored plates, details, and specifications, we have furnished a large number of other new architectural illustrations and many pages of valuable information. In all, the past year’s volumes include about one thousand engravings.

We remind our readers of these items with the hope they will mention them to their friends, and, if possible to secure a new subscription, to send it in with the renewal of their own.

Our aim is to improve and enlarge the sphere of work, rendering it more and more valuable. To this end we need the support and encouragement of as many subscribers as possible. If each one of our friends will do a little for us in this direction, all the parties concerned will derive benefit.

If any of readers have inquiries to be answered, or suggestions to make, relating to subjects or features they would like to see treated in our paper, we shall, at all times, be pleased to hear from them.

Architects and builders who desire to see their plans reproduced in our pages are also invited to communicate with the editor.

A CORRECTION.

In our November number an error was made in the estimate given for the $2,500 house illustrated in our colored plate. The cost should have been stated at $3,400. In some way the bill for mason work and painting was omitted. These additions and other modifications bring the cost up to the above sum.

A SUBURBAN RESIDENCE.

One of our [colored plates] this month represents a suburban dwelling built of dark trap rock, trimmed with buff brick, and roofed with ornamental stamped iron plates. It is now being constructed in New Jersey, by days’ work, at a cost of about $9,250. The following is an abstract from the

Specifications.
mason work.

Excavating.—Excavation under the entire house to a depth of about 4′.

Cellar Walls.—Cellar walls built of good sized trap rock. All necessary bluestone sills, cellar steps, and copings, fine tooled brownstone steps for stoops, also fine tooled brownstone sills for the doors and windows above cellar.

Walls.—All stone walls above cellar are medium sized trap rock and well selected, pointed with black mortar.

Brick Trimmings.—Buff brick used for trimmings, as shown on the plans, laid in mortar same color as brick.

Chimneys.—Chimneys built of trap rock and buff brick, and topped out as shown on the plans.

Fireplaces.—Fireplaces built where shown, of white fire brick, and the hearths laid in tile.

Stone Steps.—Stone steps from main entrance to ground.

Porch Floor.—Porch floor is cemented with Portland cement.

Cementing.—The entire cellar bottom is cemented 3” thick with concrete and Portland cement.

Plastering.—The entire first and second stories are plastered three‐coat work, hard finished. Cornices in principal part of first story and second story hall. Center pieces in rooms to correspond.

CARPENTRY.

Timber.—Timber all well seasoned spruce. Floor timbers, 2″ × 10″, 12″ on centers. Studding, 3″ × 4″. Main rafters, 2″ × 8″, 24″ on center.

Cornice.—The cornice is formed of wood heavily moulded.

Roof.—The rafters are covered with hemlock boards, then covered with ornamental iron plates laid on tar felt. Valleys and gutters, XX tin. Leaders, galvanized iron. The ridge is ornamental iron work.

Floors.—The floors throughout are double. The upper floors are narrow white pine, except hall and kitchen. The hall is narrow oak, the kitchen narrow white maple, the bath rooms are white maple. The main hall is paneled wainscot, 4′ high. Kitchen and bath rooms wainscoted with narrow beaded strips of maple. The trimmings throughout, except main hall, will be selected white pine. Hall to be of white oak. Doors to be six paneled. Main stairs and balustrade to be white oak. Others stairs white pine, with Georgia pine treads. Inside blinds throughout. Plain bronze hardware on principal part of first story. Jet and bronze for balance.

Painting.—The wood and iron work on the outside will be painted three coats. The inside will be wood filled and have two coats of hard oil.

Plumbing.—The apparatus for plumbing work located as shown on the plans. To be piped and arranged for water pressure.

Range.—The kitchen to have an approved low down range, fitted in fireplace.

Heater.—There will be placed in the cellar a No. 14 combination steam and hot air heater.

A LARGE CONTRACT FOR ROOFING PLATE.

The interesting picture of the Western Tennessee Hospital for the Insane, at Bolivar, in that State, which will be found in our advertising pages, will command the attention of humanitarians and administrators everywhere. Such buildings, devoted to such purposes, are not frequently to be met with. The announcement made in connection therewith, that the Alderly brand of square Terne plate was selected by the commissioners for the roof, gutters, and valleys of the structure, requiring over 1,000 boxes of roofing plate, presents, in a forcible way, the claims of that article. It is manufactured and sold by Messrs. Gummey, Spering, Ingram & Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., and Liverpool, England.

A DWELLING OF MODERATE COST.

This cottage is built in Plymouth Park, Buzzard’s Bay, near Wareham, Mass., one of the most charming locations on the New England coast. From the veranda a beautiful view is obtained of the bay and coast. The cottage is erected on one of the knolls (which is one of the features of the park), and has for a background a grove of pine and oak trees. The shingles are treated with “Cabot’s creosote stains” of the following colors: On roofs, a steel gray, and on sides, sienna. The clapboards are painted a light olive green and trimmed with bronze green and Indian red. The studs of hall, dining room, and parlor are exposed, and together with underboarding and beams overhead are planed and sand‐papered, and all woodwork is given two coats of shellac of light finish. The second floor is plastered (sand finish). The contract price for cottage was $2,800 complete. The architect is Chas. E. Miller, 149 Broadway, N. Y.

Specification.
general conditions.

The contractor is to give his personal superintendence to the work, and to furnish all transportation, labor, materials, apparatus, scaffolding, and utensils needful for performing the work in the best workmanlike manner, according to the true intent and meaning of the drawings and these specifications, which are intended to be co‐operative, and when anything is shown on plans and not mentioned in specification, or vice versa, the same is to be furnished as though it were both shown and specified. This specification and the drawings annexed are intended to include everything requisite to the proper and entire finishing of carpenter’s, mason’s, and plumber’s work, and the same shall be furnished, notwithstanding every item necessarily involved in the above words is not particularly mentioned.

All work when finished is to be delivered up in an undamaged state, without exception, except where otherwise specified, all materials to be of their respective kinds, and all labor to be done in the best workmanlike manner, to the full satisfaction of owner. Should the contractor introduce, at any time, materials different from the sort and quality herein specified, the same shall be removed and made good at the contractor’s expense.

The contractor will be held responsible for all portions of the work let to him.

The contractor shall make no alterations of the drawings or specification, but should any error or inconsistency appear in these, it shall be the duty of the contractor to duly notify architect, who will make proper adjustment. The contractor is to give to the proper authorities all requisite notices of the work in his charge, obtain official permits and licenses for temporary obstructions and pay all proper fees for the same, and to be solely answerable for all damage to neighboring premises or to the person or property of the public by himself or his men or through any operatives under his charge, whether in contract or extra work. Contractor is to protect his work from frost until building is finished, and is to cart away all rubbish and leave the whole broom clean. All drawings, etc., are to be returned to the architect, and are not to be used for any other building.

CARPENTER.

Scantling.—Sills over piers 6″ × 8″, sills that rest on stone wall 4″ × 6″, all to be halved and pinned at angles. Plates 4″ × 4″, posts 4″ × 6″, girts 4″ × 4″, braces 2″ × 4″, studding 2″ × 4″. The studding of hall, parlor, and dining room to be planed and chamfered.

Partition caps 2″ × 4″ to be planed in the above rooms. Soles 2″ × 4″ as well. First floor beams 2″ × 8″, 16″ on centers. Second floor 2″ × 8″, 16″ on centers, and to be dressed when exposed in above rooms. Attic beams 2″ × 8″, 16″ on centers. All beams under partitions to be doubled and spiked. Trimmers ditto.

Main Roof.—Rafters 2″ × 8″, 2′ on centers. Valley rafters 3″ × 10″.

Veranda.—Girders 4″ × 8″, floor beams 2″ × 6″, 2′ on centers. Rafters 2″ × 6″ (dressed). Posts constructed of studs. Hemlock boards and shingles. Veranda roof timber will be exposed and dressed, floor to be merchantable yellow pine, free from large loose knots, shakes, or sap. Balcony floors to be covered with heavy canvas and slushed over with metallic paint, to be graded away from wall of house.

Framing.—The house to be framed and braced in a perfect and substantial manner, and to be perfectly plumb and true. All beams to be spiked together where practicable, so as to form tie across building. All framing of beams to be with tenon and tusk. Roofs strongly framed and cross bridges, first and third tier of beams. Gutters on roof to be hung of galvanized iron. Veranda to be built in and lined with Merchant & Company’s roofing tin (or plates). There will be three 4″ galvanized iron leaders for main roof, and one in front for veranda. (See plans.)

Gables.—Construct gables as shown.

Roofing.—Cover all roofs with sawed pine shingles 6″ × 18″, three shingles to the lap. On main roofs these to be nailed on shingle laths; on veranda roofs, on spruce boards, underside dressed (as specified). Flashing of Merchant & Company’s old method roofing plates. Flash around chimney, valleys, and junction of roofs with walls of house.

Walls.—The walls of hall, dining room, and parlor to be covered with good ⅞″ pine boards dressed on exposed side; all other underboarding to be of hemlock of even thickness. Over this cover walls with felt paper, and then on first story cover paper with clear pine clapboards 5″ to weather. Above felt cover paper with 6″× 16″ sawed pine shingles not more than 6″ to weather. Between partitions of hall, dining room, and parlor fit ⅞″ pine boards, dressed on both sides, with ¼ round mould to keep panel in place; the sheathing on other sides of room dressed on one side; boards not more than 5″ wide.

Bases.—Form base as shown of 1½″ thick pine.

Casings.—1¼″ thick and 2″ wide.

Furring.—Fur out the walls of stairs to cellar (corner boards to be 4″ wide, 1¼″ thick; put on angle beads where necessary).

Outside Step.—⅞″ thick riser, 1¼″ thick tread.

Flooring.—First and second floors to be made of good T. and G. yellow pine in rooms over hall, parlor, and dining room; to be dressed on both sides; third floor spruce; all to be not more than 5″ wide.

Partitions.—Set the partitions between hall, parlor, dining room, pantry, kitchen, and cellar stairs with 2″ × 4″ spruce, studs dressed and chamfered. (Note.—This is to be done so as to make a uniform appearance in hall, dining room, and parlor.) Studs of all other partitions of hemlock. Construct woodwork between piers, as shown.

Interior Stock.—All the stock for inside finish to be best quality, well seasoned, smoothed, and sand‐papered, and, unless otherwise specified, of white pine. Hardwood saddles for all hearths and door openings.

Architraves.—All doors and windows to have ⅞″ × 5″ plain architrave with moulding and bead on ends. No splicing allowed.

Doors.—Front door to be 2″ thick, of design shown (cherry). All other doors to have 1⅝″ thick four paneled stock door (local manufacture), and, unless otherwise shown, to be 2′ 6″ × 7′ 6″. The openings from hall to parlor and dining room to be: hall and parlor, 7′ × 7′ 6″; hall and dining room, 6′ × 7′ 6″. Bases 6″ high, moulded (in bed rooms, closets, and pantries).

Door Frames.—All door frames to have 1⅛″ thick jamb, with stops nailed on.

Window Frames.—All windows, unless otherwise shown, to have box frames with pockets; sills to have sub‐sill, upper sill, plowed, etc., and given proper pitch.

Sashes.—All sashes to be 1⅝″ thick, with lights as shown, and to have moulded sash bars. All sliding sashes to be double hung, the best steel axle pulleys, hemp sash cords, and iron weights. Cellar windows to have plank frame hinged at top. Casements to be hinged and have spring catches.

Bath Room.—Sheathe up sides of bath tub, riser of water closet and basin, with clear white pine ⅝″ thick; wainscoating of bath room of same stuff 4′ 6″ high with neat mould on top. Make a batten door under basin with catch, etc. Door in riser of and in top of water closet and bath to be black walnut put on with brass screws.

Closets.—Fit up closets, except as otherwise specified, with one shelf, and cleat under for books. Bed room in attic to be furred as shown.

Dressers.—Fit up dresser in kitchen of clear white pine, glass doors at top and drawers and cupboards under; dressers in pantry to be the same.

Blinds.—Provide and hang to all windows of first and second floors 1¼″ outside blinds of two folds properly hinged, and having rolling slats.

Base Knobs.—To all doors, and to have rubber tips.

Hardware.—Butts.—All doors to be properly hung with japanned butts of requisite sizes. Locks.—The front door to be supplied with brass faced mortise, patent reversible front door knob lock with night work, with two keys to each combination, and brass striking plate. All other doors (except closets) to have 4″ mortised locks, brass face and brass striking plate. Closets to have rim locks. All locks to have brass keys. Knobs.—The front door to have a plain 2½″ round bronze knob, with bronze rose and drop escutcheon to match. All other knobs to be (black) terra cotta with bronze iron mounting, etc. Bell pulls.—The bell pull to front door to be bronze, to match front door hardware. Bolts.—The rear door to kitchen to have two barrel bolts; door to cellar one, doors to bulkhead to have brass padlock with staples, etc. Drawer pulls.—Drawers to have bronzed iron drawer pulls. Sash fasts.—All double hung windows on first floor to have Morris patent self‐locking sash fasts, to be of bronzed iron. Put on patent fasts to all casements, windows. Hooks.—Put heavy, triple hooks of japanned cast iron to all closets, 8″ apart. Screws.—All hinges, etc., to be securely put in place with steel screws of proper size. Bell hanging.—Put in a large gong for front door, properly connect with wire, etc.

Stairs.—Main stairs to have an open string moulded and nosing to return on ends and carried around well. Risers ⅞″ thick, tread 1½″ thick: tread and risers housed into wall string and treads plowed into risers; risers plowed into the underside of the tread. The outer string to be 1″ thick, and beaded on lower edge. All to be of clear pine. The stairs to have cherry newel, 5″ × 5″, turned. Cherry rail, 2″ × 3″. Balusters, 3 on each tread, 1⅛ × 1⅛; all to be solidly put together and wedged. Cellar stairs to have 1½″ thick strings, sawed to receive 1¼ treads; all of spruce. Attic stairs to have 1¼″ strings, plowed to receive risers and treads; all of spruce.

PAINTING.

All shingles of walls and roof to be stained with Cabot’s best creosote stains, of colors selected by architect. The clapboards to receive two coats of best white lead and linseed oil finish, in colors as directed.

Hardwood.—The newel, rail, and balusters to be filled with three coats of hard oil, rubbed to a dead finish. The studs and beams overhead in dining room, parlor, and hall to have two coats of shellac (or Wheeler’s hard finish). All other woodwork the same.

Glazing.—All glass to be double thick American, of number of lights shown; all to be well puttied and tacked, thoroughly cleaned, and left whole and perfect. All small lights to have cathedral glass, selected.

MASON.

Excavation.—Excavate for all cellar wall piers, etc., as shown. Dump the earth where directed, and leave the premises clear after building is finished. Piers 3′ below surface.

Cement, Lime, and Sand.—All lime used in the mason’s work to be extra No. 1 Rockland lime. Cement, best quality Rosendale of approved brand. Sand to be clean and sharp, and all to be used in proper proportions.

Foundations.—Furnish all materials and build walls, unless otherwise shown, 1′ 6″ thick of stone laid in lime and cement mortar in equal portions, and clean, sharp sand in proper proportion; the whole to be well bonded and trowel jointed inside and out.

Hearths.—Hearths to be of Portland cement, with lampblack to give color.

Bluestone.—Chimney cap to be of bluestone in one piece, holes for flues cut in. Cellar stairs as shown.

Brickwork.—Brickwork of chimney to be selected, on exposed places jointed in red mortar, all to be hard, well burned brick. Build in register flue in kitchen breast where directed and 6″ C. I. thimble where shown. Build in breast of chimney on second floor 5″ C. I. thimble, 2′ 6″ from floor.

Trimmer Arches.—Turn trimmer arches over all fireplace openings.

PLASTERER.

Laths.—Laths to be best seasoned pine, free from all imperfections, laid ⅜″ apart and breaking joint.

Plaster.—Plaster will be two coat work, the second to be white sand finish, well floated. The first coat to be best Rockland lime and clean sharp sand, well mixed with long cattle or goat hair, to be thoroughly worked and stacked, all to be well troweled and made perfectly true. Patch up and repair all plastering at completion of building.

PLUMBER.

Lead Pipes.—The lead pipes through to be AA lead pipe. The waste pipes to be heavy; all joints between lead pipes to be heavily wiped, and joints between lead and iron pipes to be made with brass ferrules wiped into lead pipe and calked into iron pipe with molten lead and oakum.

Iron Pipes.—Iron pipes to be heavy C. I. soil pipe, free from all imperfections, and of uniform thickness; thoroughly coated inside and out with coal tar. All joints to be calked tight with molten lead and oakum.

Drain Pipe.—From point marked on plans run a four inch C. I. pipe to roof, making all proper branches for water closets, baths, basins, tubs, sinks, and at roof to be capped with Smith’s patent ventilating cap. At foot of this place a 4″ running trap, with hole for cleaning out, and an inlet to run out under servants’ water closet. All branches to be Y branches, 4″ for water closet, and 2″ for basins, sink, etc. Plumber to make connections with street pipe.

Lead Supply Pipe.—Run from point marked on plans a ¾″ lead pipe. Place at the beginning of this a rough round way lever handle, stop and waste cock. Connect with main supply. From the ¾ lead pipe make all proper connections for water closets, tubs, baths, and sink with ⅝″ pipe, all to be graded so as to empty at stock cock. In kitchen, over sink, put two cocks (lever handle), so as to control supply of hot and cold water to second floor, the same to empty in the sink.

Boiler.—Furnish and set where shown in kitchen a heavy 30 gallon galvanized iron boiler with stand complete. The boiler to be supplied with water through a branch of ⅝″ lead pipe, and connect with water tank of range with a ⅝″ extra strong lead pipe, the other part of boiler to be fitted up with ⅝″ strong lead pipe with ⅝″ sediment cock, and the required length of light lead pipe to empty into sink trap (boiler to have a safety attachment). Furnish and put on to supply to boiler in the most convenient place a ⅝″ finished lever handled stop cock to control supply to boiler. From head of boiler run lines of ⅝″ lead pipe to supply sink and tubs in kitchen, basin, and bath tub on second floor.

Sink.—Furnish and set up (and of size shown) a plain C. I. sink with slate back. To be set on C. I. legs, to be supplied with hot and cold water through ⅝″ lead pipe, drawn through ⅝″ compression bibb cocks, one hose, the other plain, wasted through heavy lead S trap calked into iron pipe as specified.

Tubs.—Furnish and set up tubs of size shown, supplied and wasted the same as sink, but to have brass plugs and safety chains. Tubs of wood well dovetailed.

Wash Basin.—Furnish and fit up (of size shown) in bath room a 1¼″ thick Italian marble slab, counter‐sunk and moulded on edges, backs 10″ high, the slab to be fitted with a 12″ marble pattern basin (overflow) well fitted to slab, with brass clamps, etc. The basin to be supplied with hot and cold water through silver plated compression basin bibb cocks (⅝), wasted through 2″ lead pipe and S trap, silver plated basin plug and safety chain.

Bath.—Furnish and fit up bath of size shown, 14 ounce copper tinned and planished, tub to be supplied with hot and cold water through ⅝″ lead pipe, and drawn through ⅝″ bath silver plated compression cocks. Wasted through 2″ lead S trap. Silver plated plug and safety chain.

Note.—All lead S traps to have brass trap screws for cleaning.

Water Closet.—Water closet in bath to be a Demarest or Manhattan patent long oval flushing rim earthenware hopper, automatic seat, all complete, with waste preventing cistern, to be copper lined; supply through ⅝″ lead pipe connected to main supply; to have heavy last lead trap, properly connected with soil pipe. Connect from cistern to hopper with 1¼″ light lead pipe so as to get good flush. The water closet for servants to be enameled iron hopper with cistern, etc., as above.

It is said that the ova of tapeworms are frequently deposited in the wrinkles of a lettuce leaf and near the mid rib of a cabbage leaf, and so it behooves those wishing uncooked leaves of any kind to have them carefully washed.

A FRENCH COTTAGE.

We publish herewith the plans for a house designed by M. A. Fatalot and erected by M. Valette, architect. It is built on the side of the terrace (Rue Babie), on the green hills which overlook the Seine.

A FRENCH COTTAGE—HOTEL DE PEINTRE, A MEUDON.

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The construction is very simple. The architect was, in fact, asked to use the strictest economy. The first floor, built over a cellar, consists simply of a vestibule, A, which opens into a dining room, C, a bed room, D, a kitchen, B, the water closets, E, and the stairway. The latter is constructed of wood and leads to the second story, which serves as both studio and drawing room. This room is lighted by the large window shown in our perspective view. The walls of the building are of stone—stone from Meudon, nicely colored—and Bourgogne bricks of different shades form the design of the frieze. The basement is of dressed stone; the pediments of the gables and the cornice are covered with a plaster of sand and mortar colored in imitation of stone. The tops of the pediments are decorated with Parvillee faience. The perron is of Bagneux stone and the mullions and supports of Euville stone.

Our Forestry Problem.

According to latest estimates, we consume yearly, with our present population of sixty millions, not less than twenty billion cubic feet of wood. The amount is made up, in round figures, in the following manner:

2,500,000,000 feet for lumber market and wood manufactures;

360,000,000 feet for railroad construction;

250,000,000 feet for charcoal;

500,000,000 feet for fence material, etc.;

17,500,000,000 feet for fuel.

To this it will be safe to add, for wasteful practices and for the destruction by yearly conflagrations, at the least, twenty‐five per cent.

The average yearly growth of wood per acre in the well stocked and well cared for forests of Germany has been computed at fifty cubic feet. Applying this figure to our present requirements, we should have an area of not less than five hundred million acres in well stocked forest to give us a continual supply of all kinds for our present needs. Now, a careful canvass made four years ago developed the result that the existing forest area in the United States, excluding Alaska and Indian Territory, comprised almost five hundred million acres (489,280,000); but it is well known to everybody who is acquainted with our forests that they cannot compare in yield with the average European Continental forests under systematic management. Much of what is reported as forest is useless brush land or open woods, and depreciated in its capacity for wood production by annual fires, by which the physical structure of the leaf mould is destroyed, and thus, too, its capacity for storing the needful moisture, reducing wood production, and killing all young growth.

Without care, without management, and left to the kind but uneconomical work of nature, interfered with, in addition, by rude and ignorant action of man, it is doubtful whether, on the existing area, one half the amount of wood is produced yearly which we now require. We have, therefore; beyond doubt, reached—if not passed—the time when increased drain means squandering of capital, and when regard to husbanding, to careful management, to recuperation of our forests, and planting of new forests is required for the purpose of merely furnishing raw material; and it should not be forgotten that to reproduce the quick growing white pine of an acceptable quality and sufficient size requires not less than eighty to one hundred years, and for the long leaved pine two hundred years; that, altogether, wood crops are slow crops; that nothing of size can be grown under a quarter of a century at the best.

That this is a business requiring intelligent national consideration is apparent. Not less so if we appreciate the magnitude of the values resulting from it. The total value of forest products in the census year was placed at $700,000,000, or ten times the value of the gold and silver production, five times the value of all coal and mineral production, and exceeding every one of the agricultural crops, corn and wheat not excepted; and representing in value about thirty per cent. of the total agricultural production.

Of injuries wrought locally by the reckless clearing of hill sides and of deterioration of the soil due to inconsiderate action of man, I could entertain you by the hour. The country is full of examples. Any one who wishes to study the effect of such denuding of hill sides upon the soil, the water flow, and agricultural conditions, need not go to France, Spain, Italy, Greece, or Palestine. The Adirondack Mountains are within easier reach, where the thin cover of earth exposed to the washing rains is carried into the rivers, leaving behind a bare, forbidding rock and desolation, while at Albany the Hudson River is being made unnavigable by the debris and soil carried down the river. The government has spent more than ten million dollars, I believe, and spends every year a goodly sum, to open out a passage over the sand bar thus formed.

Go to the eastern Rocky Mountains, or to Southern California, and you can gain an insight into the significance of regulated water supply for the agriculture below, and also learn how imprudently we have acted and are acting upon the knowledge of this significance by allowing the destruction of mountain forests in the most reckless and unprofitable manner. Along the shores of Lake Michigan, and along the sea coast, we are creating shifting sands by the removal of the forest cover, to make work for the ingenuity of our children in devising methods for fixing these sands again. The vegetable mould with which the kind forest had covered the alluvial sands of the southern coast plain we are taking pains to burn off in order to replace it with expensive artificial fertilizers.

That the great flood of the Ohio, which cost the country more than twenty million dollars, was entirely due to deforestation, I will not assert; but it must have been considerably aggravated by the accumulation of minor local floods, due to the well known reckless clearing of the hill sides, which sent their waters down into the river in torrents. At the season when the winter snows are melting, watch the newspapers, and you will find an almost daily mention of the disastrous ravages of brooks and streams, many of which injuries could have been prevented by avoiding the creation of their distant and indirect cause. Thus we may multiply examples all over the country, showing harmful local influences upon agricultural conditions due to forest devastation.

That the vast stretches of land in the Northwest, from which the white pine has been cut and burned off, present the aspect of a desolation which sickens the heart, you may hear from every one who has seen these deserts unnecessarily wrought by man. Every traveler in this country, be it to the White Mountains, to the Adirondacks, along the Alleghany Mountains, be it through the Rockies or the redwoods of California, cannot but be startled by the desolate, sad aspect of many of these once beautifully clad mountain crests.

And we are a nation hardly a hundred years old, with over thirty acres per capita to spread ourselves upon. What will become of us when we must live upon five acres per head? We are far enough advanced in our recklessness of disregarding the indirect significance of forest areas to have learned a lesson at home, and to feel the necessity of being more careful in the utilization of the forest, so as not to lose its protection for our agricultural and general interests.

The means for its solution I may only briefly indicate. They are education, example, encouragement, legislation. Some of these are of slow effect. Others can be made to give results at once. Let the United States government, which still holds some seventy million acres of the people’s land in forests, mostly on the Western mountains, where its preservation is most urgently needed—let the government set aside these otherwise valueless lands, and manage them as a national forest domain, and then the first effective step, a feasible and not a forcible one, is made. Let the military reservations on the Western treeless plains, which are still in the hands of the general government, be planted to forests and managed as such. This would be no doubtful experiment, would interfere with nobody, would enhance the value of the surrounding country—and education, example, and encouragement are provided, as far as it is in the legitimate province of the general government. And such example, instead of costing anything to the country, can be made self‐sustaining—nay, productive—and would add appreciably to the people’s wealth.—B. E. Fernow.

Mortar containing sugar has been employed in building the new Natural History Museum in Berlin, and has proved far superior to common mortar. It sets almost with the firmness of a good cement, while mortar made with molasses became soft and brittle after a time. In Madras a mortar is used with which either sugar, butter or buttermilk, shellac and eggs are mixed. It holds well and takes a marble‐like polish.

A RESIDENCE FOR $8,000.

The perspective and plans herewith presented are from the designs of Mr. S. W. Whittemore, architect, East Orange, N J. The general dimensions are: Front, 36 feet, exclusive of bay windows; side, 51 feet, exclusive of piazza and laundry. Height of stories: Cellar, 7 feet; first story, 10 feet; second story, 9 feet 6 in.; attic, 8 feet.

Materials.—Foundation, stone; first and second stories, clapboards; roof, shingles.

Cost.—$8,000.

Fireplaces are provided in the dining room, library, parlor, and hall. The attic is finished throughout. Cellar under the whole house except laundry.

A RESIDENCE FOR $8,000.

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First Story Plan.

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