Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/175

 THE BUILDING NEWS. 159 would add to the collection drawings and prints of important buildings, not at present represented there. Mr. E. PAnson then read/a short biographical notice of the late Mr. Edward Walters, of Man- chester, whose death we noticed in our issue of the 26th ult. Mr. I’Anson’s remarks having been sup- plemented by some observations from Mr. E. Hall, F.S.A., Mr, E. Roserrs, F.S.A., Fellow, then read a paper entitled SOME PRACTICAL HINTS ON HOUSE-BUILDING,. The author invited attention to the following sub- jects :—(1) Site, soil, and drainage ; (2) Utilisation and disposal of water; (3) Artificial lighting ; and (4) Warming and ventilation. With regard to the first subject, until last session he thought he held heretical views as regards porous soils; but Pro- fessor Ansted’s paper ‘‘ On the Selection of Building Sites” produced a discussion which at least showed that at that time the medical profession had nearly arrived at opinions similar to those he (Mr. Roberts) had formed many years before. For clay soils, with- out doubt, an abundance of land drains is required, as such drains tend to mitigate the humidity and raise the temperature of the atmosphere. Professor Ansted’s opinion, which in the early part of his paper seemed to be in favour of gravel, was modified by the results of some observations made by Pro- fessor Pettenkofer, and which were communicated to him (Professor Ansted) after his paper was in type. He says, ‘In a general sense, it may be con- sidered as proved by experience that clay soils and other impermeable material near the surface are less healthy than well-drained sites, and more liable to attacks of fever, and that permeable soils and gravel are dry and healthy. There are, however, important modifications of this view, dependent on the subsoil and underlying rock, which are often out of sight and below even deep foundations. . . In certain cases, where bands of clay intervene in gravel, the presence or absence of fever in the popu- lation of a town corresponds exactly with the exis- tence or otherwise of these impermeable deposits;” but his facts flatly contradicted his previous state- ments: ‘Since this memoir was in type, I have ob- tained from my friend Dr. Letheby the pamphlet by Dr. Pettenkofer, already alluded to, in which atten- tion is drawn to the great influence of subsoil and rock on certain diseases, especially cholera and typhus. Dr. Pettenkofer points out that in the case of Gibraltar and Malta it was proved by British statistical returns that at a time when cholera was raging over a large area, there were certain small localities that escaped. On investigation it was found that, whereas the subsoil to a great depth and (in the case of Malta) the rock also was eminently porous and permeable, the spots that escaped were situated on impermeable clays.” Yet, as regards gravels, having said that they were “dry and healthy,” he properly and accurately said, “Tt is now well known that however pleasant clear spring water may be to the taste, it is capable of containing, and does in certain eases contain, injurious ingre- dients sufficient to render it a fatal poison. There can be no doubt that certain superficial deposits and certain rocks are liable to induce this state in the water, while others arenot. . Absorbent gravels resting on non-absorbent rocks may be expected to introduce poison into water when the ground is liable to be covered with decomposing animal or vegetable matter, or with sewage, for the rain entering them cannot fail to carry in water loaded with as much of such impurities as it can contain.” Few subjects, Mr. Roberts remarked, could be moreimportant than this to the architect engaged in country buildings, as on him devolved the duty of advising on the drain- age and water supply by which health may be re- tained or destroyed, and it was a subject, moreover, which was not generally considered. The whole question seemed to resolve itself into one of water supply, for if was eliminated from it the one sub- ject of drinking water, it seemed comparatively harmless so long as perniciousexhalations or poison - ous effluvia could be prevented. In this view it might be said that while drains in clay soils may be laid dry with comparative impunity, those in pervi- ous soils should be perfectly water-tight. In truth, however, every drain and sewer should be impervi- ous. Assuming, then, that the mere preventing of evils from these causes is easily within the reach of all, the matter of domestic water supply would seem to be of the greatest difficulty as well as importance. Well-water should be rigorously excluded, except it ceuld be procured from pure mountain sources, or from deep wells, free from polluting causes. “ Land springs and artesian springs for basins,” says Pro- fessor Ansted,” are “dangerous. Springs from hill- sides or artesian springs reaching water tapped in its progress to an outlet are generally safe.” Mr. Roberts said that in his own practice he had in- variably kept all drains outside dwellings impervi- ous, and removed from water supply. On the second head of this subject—the utilisation and disposal of water—it was by no means uncommon to leave plumbers and other workmen to do as they pleased, and therefore we had supply-pipes to closets inserted in the same cisterns whence water is drawn for drinking purposes; soil-pipes arranged so that they convey sewer-gas into the dwelling ; and waste- pipes from wash-basins and sinks carried into closet traps; and although in the last case intermediate traps might be fixed, yet every time the closet plug was drawn the draught on the pipe emptied the trap and allowed the foul air to escape through the pipes into the rooms. Mr. Seddon and others had taken up the subject of sewer-gas. In the other cases the remedies appeared to be to have separate cisterns for the supplies for the several purposes, or to have partitions placed in such a manner that the drinking water cannot be contaminated ; and, in reference to waste-pipes, to carry them down separately into pipes free from sewer gas. The freezing and bursting of water-pipes in winter might be obviated (in cases where the supply was by a head of water) by having the supply-pipes laid with a general fall towards the mains, so that when the pressure is taken off the pipes may be emptied by gravitation, and by disregarding companies’ directions, and tying down ball-cocks to allow the flow to continue while the pressure was on. With unintermittent supplies, there seemed to be no other method than packing with sawdust or hay bands. Rain-water, which in the country was of prime importance, might all be retained on the roof in tanks (provided with proper overflow tanks on basement or other floors), whence it would find its way by gravity to lavatories, &c. This retention of rain-water might be worth trying in towns. Storm-water in towns was a difficulty ; perhaps if it were to be stored it would obviate some of the troubles of sewer construction, and provide means for flushing in exceptionally dry seasons. The author next passed on to the third section of his subject—viz., artificial lighting. As regarded natural light, a skylight (except for very special purposes) was the worst light that could be adopted. It produced shadow from the person bend- ing over any object; it caused cold in winter by the vertical radiation, and heat in summer by direct rays; indeed, except where other light cannot be obtained, it is indefensible. Admitting this, who would not say the same of overhead artificial light ? If a side light in the case of daylight is the best and most convenient, artificial light from a similar point is equally proper. Every room should be, of course, lighted according to the uses to which it is to be applied. If windows are the best lights which can be obtained, it seems to follow that similarly placed artificial lights would be best at night. The use of gas outside glass screens in the walls would probably involve a great expenditure of gas, but the inside of the rooms so lighted would be free from the damaging and uncomfortable effects of combustion. Dealing with the last section of his paper, Mr. Roberts argued that cold air should always be ad- mitted vertically, and, if possible, at a level above the shoulders of sitters. Cold air thus admitted would ascend several feet without departing from the columnar form. As it was the same with warm air, which when admitted was required at the very lowest part of the room, it followed that it should be invariably admitted horizontally, thus insuring the benefit of its temperature and freshness, instead of receiving it, vitiated, after it has been up to the top of the room. In conclusion, Mr. Roberts summarised what he had said by stating negatively : 1. Never allow pervious drains in pervious soils. 2. Never allow a cesspool or drain near a well. 3. Never select gravel as a building site if well-drained clay can be obtained. 4. Never allow drinking water to be drawn from a cistern supplying a water- closet. 5. Never allow waste-pipes to be inserted into water-closet traps. 6. Never allow rain-water to run to the ground if it be required above. 7. Never allow water to standin exposed pipes in frost, &. Never allow pipes to be fixed so that they will not empty themselves. 9. Never ventilate except by pipes: inlets and outlets being equal. 10. Never use glazed earthenware pipes for upward flues. 11. Never allow chandeliers to be the ex- clusive light merely because it has been customary. A long discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Seddon, Cockerell, C. Barry, T’Anson, Aitchison, Banister Fletcher, and others took part, and Mr. Roberts having replied to some of the points raised and acknowledged the usual vote of thanks, The CHAIRMAN said that in reference to a qnes- tion asked at the last meeting regarding the pro- posed new Metropolitan Building Act, a letter had ; Ionic. been received from Mr. Pollard, the clerk to the Metropolitan Board of Works, stating that copies of the Bill would be sent to the Institute as soon as ready. When they arrived they would at once be referred by the Council to the Professional Practice Committee, for consideration. - The proceedings then terminated. ————_>—_——_ THE TEMPLE OF DIANA AT EPHESUS. N oceasional correspondent of the Times sends the following letter, dated 27th January, 1872 :— Most people have heard of those famous Seven Sleepers of Ephesus who, taking refuge from the persecutions of Diocletian at the close of the third century, fell asleep there, and woke up two centuries afterwards to find a new world and a Christian em- pire. Scarcely less romantic have been the fortunes ~ of the famous Temple of Diana of Ephesus, one of seven wonders of the ancient world. Destroyed by an earthquake, and plundered by the Goths in the third century of the Christian era, it served as a quarry for the architects of the Byzantine city built at Ephesus, probably in the time of Justinian, till, the appetite for plunder being exhausted, the remnant of its ruins was allowed to silt up silently under the slow but sure action of alluvial deposit. Thus the very site of the world-famous temple was obliterated till British enterprise, piercing through 22ft. of alluvial deposit, came suddenly on the marble pavement, still strewed with broken colnmns, capitals, and fragments of sculpture. This discovery, one of the happiest efforts of archwology in our time, is due to the persevering energy and sagacity of Mr. Wood, who, having searched for the site of the temple since 1863, first at his own expense, and subsequently with funds supplied by the trustees of the British Museum, has been rewarded, after long years of toil, by the discovery of the site, which was finally ascer- tained about this time last year. During the last twelvemonth a large area of the temple has been cleared to the pavement, and various architectural marbles have been found, more or less mutilated, lying as they had been left by the barbarous de- spoilers in Byzantine times. The diameter of these columns of the temple being 6ft., the scale of the architecture is, of course, colossal, exceeding, it is believed, in proportions the celebrated Temple of Jupiter Olympius at Athens, the temple at Bran- chide, and all other extant examples of Greek architecture. The great weight of the marbles discovered ren- dered it necessary for Mr. Wood to apply for nayal aid, which was supplied by the British Government with that alacrity which has distinguished the Ad- miralty in the history of our recent archeological expeditions, and which can alone insure the complete suecess of such arduous enterprises. Her Majesty’s ship Caledonia, a grand old ironclad three-decker, was atonce sent to Mr. Wood’s assistance, and has been engaged since the beginning of this month at Ephesus and Smyrna in hauling, packing, and ship- ping the marbles of the temple selected by Mr. Wood for the British Museum. I have been favoured with a sight of these huge masses before they were packed. The largest, weighing upwards of 11 tons, is part of a drum of one of the cwlatce columne mentioned by Pliny—i.e., columns with figures sculptured on them, of which the temple had thirty-six. Of this bold, striking innovation in Greek architecture there exists, it is believed, no other example except at Ephesus. The relief on this drum appears to represent an as- semblage of deities, of whom the only one who can be positively identified is Mercury, the rest being draped female figures. On a stone from a pilaster, corre- sponding in dimensions to the sculptured drum, is @ relief representing Hercules struggling with a draped female figure, and on another fragment of a drum are the lower halves of some seated and standing female figures. This sculpture is very bold and effective as decoration, but wants the ineffable charm and fresh- ness of the frieze of the Parthenon, whilein masterly vigour of execution and dramatic force it falls far short of the frieze of the Mausoleum. It is careless and inexact in execution, and has the characteristics which we might expect to find in the Greek sculp- ture of the Macedonian period, when work was executed rapidly to gratify the vanity of kings, and when an Oriental love for mere mass rather than beauty of design had begun to affect both sculpture and architecture. Allowing for this first disappoint- ment, I own that I gazed with a peculiar interest on these relies of those famous columns on which S. Paul must have gazed when he preached against them, but which local fanaticism, aided by local vested interests, preserved in all their splendour for three centuries after his coming. The architecture of the Temple of Diana is Mr. Wood has very properly selected such fragments as will show what the base, the capital,