Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/179

 Fes. 23, 1872. THE BUILDING NEWS. , 165 STREET IMPROVEMENTS. Srr,—lI haye read the proposals for metropolitan im- provements to be laidby the Metropolitan Board of Works before Parliament during the ensuing session, and I have also read the report thereon by Mr. W. Hay- wood, the Engineer to the City Commission of Sewers, as well as your remarks upon both the proposals and thereport. I am bound to assume that the differences which seem lately to have arisen between the Engineer to the Metropolitan Board—Mr. Bazalgette—and Mr, Haywood, with respect to the main drainage scheme, have not influenced the latter gentleman in drawing up his report; but I am quite at alossto account for the nonchalance with which he condemns all the proposals of the Metropolitan Board—with one or two trifling exceptions—as of little or no public utility, many of those proposals being for works the necessity of which has long been acknowledged. Mr. Haywood condemns as needless, or almost so, the proposed new street from Vernon-place, New Oxford-street, to Old-street, S. Luke’s, suggesting in its stead, that a newstreet should be made through the heart of the city (though going north of the Bank), from S. Sepulchre’s Church, at the eastern end of the Holborn Viaduct, to Whitechapel, coming out near Commercial-street. This street, it is Suggested, would relieve the existing thoroughfares of a great deal of heavy traffic going east and west, and, indeed, sucha street seems likely to be carried out by the proposed Mid-London Railway; butif itis only required to relieve Newgate-street, Cheapside, Corn- hill, and Leadenhall-street, from some of the heavy traffic between Holborn and Whitechapel, I would sub- mit that a fine wide line of thoroughfare, not much farther north than Mr. Haywood’s proposed street, is already available, with the exception of a short piece a few hundred yards in length not yet formed. I refer, of course, to the New Charterhouse-street, starting from Holborn Circus and running along the north side of the New Metropolitan Meat Market, and which, if continued in a straight line through the grounds and buildings of the Charterhouse, would come out in the Goswell-road, exactly opposite Old-street. I would here take the opportunity of asking if the Corporation of London has secured the ground necessary for joining these two important thoroughfares when the Charter- house is removed (as it shortly will be) into the country? If not, not only isa splendid opportunity for making one fine continuous thoroughfare from Holborn to Shoreditch Church being lost, but access to the market from the north-east remains somewhat difficult and circuitous. By the completion of the short length of roadway between Charterhouse-street and Old-street, I contend that a street serving practically the same purpose as would be served by Mr. Haywood’s street would be ready to hand at a small outlay—that is assuming, as I said before, that the relief of the traffic of the City proper is the only point for con- sideration. It must not be forgotten, in connection with the proposed new street from Vernon-place, that from that part of Old- street opposite the end of Pitfield - street, Hoxton—that is to say, at Tabernacle-square—a new street is proposed to be made to Shoreditch, to come out south of the Standard Theatre and opposite to Commercial- -street, which runs from Shoreditch (by the side of the Great Eastern Railway terminus) to White- chapel. This is a necessary part of the scheme,and while the improvement, as projected, will bring Hoxton, S. Luke’s, Hackney-road, Kingsland-road, Shoreditch, and Whitechapel, in direct communication with the West End, it will materially relieve the traffic between Hol- born and the City and Whitechapel. Mr. Haywood assumes that the proposed street from Vernon-place to Old-street is not required, because the number of vehicles passing from one locality to the other is ap- parently small; but does not the tortuous nature of the existing route limit the traffic? Besides, such a body as the Metropolitan Board of Works is bound to care not only for the present but for the prospective wants of the metropolis. Granting, for argument’s sake, that acomparatively small amount of traffic would pass along the new street at first, is not that the case with all new thoroughfares? Tifteen years ago the traflic passing along Commercial-street was not half so heavy asis now the case, and the traffic along the new South- wark-street has greatly increased during the last three or four years. Is it not a fact that good lines of thoroughfare (when free from tolls) develope a traffic of theirown? Andis it not desirable that all the suburbs of a large capital like London should be connected to- gether by sufficiently wide and direct thoroughfares? If both these questions must be answered in the affir- mative, then without doubt the street proposed by the Metropolitan Board of Works is far preferable, in the interests of the metropolis at large, to the one suggested by Mr. Haywood.—I am, &c., Feb. 21. DELTA. SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN AND THE LODGE OF ANTIQUITY. Srr,—At page 124 of your issue for February 9th, we are told, inter alia, that Sir Christopher Wren was “for many years master of the lodge,’’ that is, that he was Master of the Lodge of Antiquity. Now, I beg to call that statement in question, and challenge the Lodge of Antiquity to produce its proof for such an assertion. Iam aware that in Preston’s “ Illustrations of Masonry,” we are told that Sir Christopher Wren, in 1666, was appointed Depute Grand Master under the Earl of Rivers, who was Grand Master, but that is all nonsense, as no such offices existed among the Masons at that time nor until half a century afterwards ; and, so far as Sir Christopher Wren is concerned, we are told in Aubrey’s ‘t Natural History of Wiltshire” that Sir Christopher Wren was not “adopted ” until the 18th day of May, 1691. Under these circumstances, therefore, and for other reasons, it appears to me that the statement that Sir Christopher Wren was ever Master of this lodge,is, to say the least, simply a Masonic dream.—I am, &c., VERITAS. eee Sutercommnication, QUESTIONS. [2472.]—Yorkshire Stones.—Will any of your readers give me the names of owners of quarries of the Britannia blue and Robin Hood, Howley Park, and other Yorkshire stones ?—Fossiu. [2473.]—The New Law Courts.—Could you or any of your readers inform me what is the stone to be used in building the New Law Courts? Is it to be of durable nature (like that, for instance, used in Somer- set House or the Thames Embankment), or is it to be a repetition of that used in building the Houses of Parliament? Who selected the stone—Mr. Ayrton? or is it left to Mr. Street, and has that gentleman not made up his mind yet ?—W. F. P. [2474.J—Coloured Drawings.—I am about to try a competition in which, according to the instruc- tions used, ‘tno drawingsare to be coloured.” If they are got up in Indian ink or sepia would they be con- sidered as coloured ?—INQUIRER. [2475.]—Gothic Hips.— In what manner is it usual to guard against the entrance of water at the angles of slated spires or hipped roofs where all external lead, tile, or slate covers are omitted ?—MATHETES. (2476.]—Measures of Lime, &c.—How much is a hundred of lime, and why called a hundred? How many bushels go toa yard? Iam told that 16 bushels of stone lime = 1 cubie yard, also 14 bushels only of ground lime = 1 cubie yard; if this is correct, why the difference? Then again I refer to Tarn’s ‘‘Student’s Guide,” and find that a bushel is 2,218 cubic inches; therefore, as a cubic yard contains 46,656 cubic inches, it follows that there are by this calculation 22 1-25 bushels toa yard. Further, I am informed that a yard of sand contains 18 bushels. Can any of your readers give me some information on the subject ?—A. H. (2477.]—Sun Blinds.—Will any kind intercom- municator explain the manner in which shop sun blinds are made to roll and unroll—I mean those which project in front of the window? I wish to keep the roller inside, so as not to have any boxing visible with- out; and as the reyolving shutters will come immedi- ately below the bressummer, I presume the blind roller must be kept still further within.—L. K. [2478.|—Destroying Mites.—Can any of your readers inform me the best means of destroying mites in a flower bin ?—J. BAILEY. (2479.]—Perspective.—Will some reader kindly recommend a good work upon perspective suitable for an architectural student? Also, a good general work upon Gothic architecture ?—W. F, [2480.] Clerk of Works’ Railway Fare.—Can he claim it for return jOurney, although completed his engagement ?—CLERK OF WORKS. [2481.]—Lightning Conductors.—Wishing to apply these to a house which has three stacks of chim- neys and two gables, all of about equal height, and at considerable distance from each other, I should be obliged to any correspondent who will say if it is neces- sary to haye a conductor from each to the ground, or if to connect these points to the iron spouts at the eaves would be sufficient if one of these spouts were connected with an iron pump ending in a well twenty-two feet deep? A correspondent, whose initials are ** B. L.G.,” writing on this some years ago, said, in reference to the points needing protection: ‘* You haye only to suppose a model of it (the house) before you, and a circular plane in your hands about as large as it would stand upon; whatever point might be touched by the centre of the plane is a point liable to lightning stroke, and requires a conductor to the nearest metal gutter.” But I do not understand in what position or positions this plane isto be held. Lightning conductors on private houses are unknown in this neighbourhood, and as I shall have to rely on the assistance of a village trades- man only, I must be tolerably well informed on the subject myself. Is there any recent work which treats of the practical details of erecting conductors?—A. C. [2482.|—Reservoir Construction.—I am about to construct a reservoir, holding about 50,000 gallons, to supply a house in the country. Will some one of your readers who has experience in such matters ex- plain the best method of construction, and the proper materials, and state the best area and depth; also the best way of filtering, and the kind of pipes and cement for joints of same? ‘The source of supply is a stream running through a wood. There is an ample fall, and the stream can be easily turned into a slight natural hollow, the proposed site for the reservoir. There is an independent supply for drinking purposes, this being only required for washing, cooking, and other domestic use.—DERMOD [(2483.]—Trapping Urinals.—Allow me to ask, through the intercommunication of your paper, a simple, yet efficacious, mode of trapping a series of urinals placed one above the other in the several floors ofa factory. A suggestion will oblige —SuRVEYOR. REPLIES. [2447.;—Trussed Beams.—Simplified from Hurst's porting the load between the staysas a beam exposed to transverse strain—i.c., it may be calculated for half the uniformly-distributed load if trussed as sketch No. 1, or for one-third if as No. 2. Let L = length in feet, D = depth in feet—measured from the points of intersection of stay, tension-rod, and top beam; W = load in tons, uniformly distributed; H = horizontal thrust on beam in tons; S$ = strain on inclined part of tension-rod in tons. Wie Then H = “Yanai s) = “alae: 8 D 16 When truss is as Fig. 2 (an inverted queen truss), H H H u y will be as above, and then tensile strain on the hori- zontal part of the tie-rod will alse = H. wv 8D supposing the beam divided into three equal parts be- tween the tension-rod and struts. To resist S, the tension-rods must be caleulated so as to give one square inch of area for each five tons of strain.—E. [2456.]—Obstructing Light.—There is no distinct or definite distance as to the extent one may buildfrom an adjoining building. To give a right of action, there must be a substantial privation of light sufficient to render the occupation of the house or room uncomiort- able, or prevent the plaintiff from carrying on his ac- customed business on the premises as beneficially as he had formerly done.—J. BAILEY. [2465.]—Lights.—Any person building in such a manner and position as to obstruct ancient lights will be liable to an action at law for damages, or a Chancery injunction to pull down. There is no stated distance to be observed. An ancient window light is one to which the owner has had undisputed enjoyment for 20 years. See reply 2456 in last week’s number, p. 143.— R. L. [2466.)—Cireular Pews.—‘ Builder” cannot do better than study Nicholson’s work on “Joinery.” He will find Burchett’s “Geometry” exceedingly simple and concise.—T. C. H. [2467.]—Porous Tiles. — Try linseed oil and itharge.—T. ©. H. [(2468.]—Ventilation.— A. C.” has prepared his plans of ventilation, and seeks advice as to best mate- rials for carrying out the same, which can only be com- plied with by advertising somebody’s goods. But I would call attention to the fact that in his plans, as submitted, there is no provision for the admission of fresh air, which, if not specially provided for, must, of course, enter by other means, which will probably be by chimneys not in use. The shaft or chimney in roof over staircase for carrying off products of combustion from gas is good, but much too large; it should not be more than eight or nineinches. Are there no win- dows to open in the lower rooms? Open windows in fair weather, and a good open fire when less fairagainst all the gimerack ventilators in the world. — T. H. SAUNDERS. [2468.] Ventilation. — Few modern residences are erected with professional assistance without the item of ventilation being taken into consideration and practically worked out. The ventilation of a house should be treated as a whole; and in the present case, unless we trust to our imagination for material data, it will be idle to offer advice. Suffice to say that venti- lation in this case is a simple affair; that chimney- breast ventilation is objectionable; that the proposed shaft is large (two-thirds will suffice, unless the house is very large); and that a down draught will naturally follow, unless special provisions are made to prevent it. All depends on some unknown quantity—that our querist leaves to the imagination.—A. Z. (2470.]—Clerk of Works’ Railway Fare.— Second.—T. C. H. ———_>———_ New Brice ar S. Lovuis.—The great bridge at S. Louis is progressing rapidly. The concrete or foundation for the last pier, a small one on the Illinois side of the river, has been Jaid, and the bridge company will have no further use of the air pumps, voltaic armour, &e. The masonry, of which there will be 103,000 cubie yards, is about two-thirds completed, and the superstructure has already been commenced. ‘The cast-iron plates at the piers have been placed and prepared for the reception of the steel tubes forming the spans. It will be completed in about a year. La + 9 D3,
 * Hand-book.”’—The top beam must be capable of sup-