Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/321

April 12, 1872. Mr. Ruskin in his “Modern Painters” and elsewhere is devoted to this series in its imaginative and artistic aspects, and most of our readers will remember what he has had to say of the “Jason,” the “Windmill and Lock,” the “Procris and Cephalus,” the “Rizpah,” the “Œsacus and Hesperia,” the “Via Mala,” and others of the famous masterpieces of the series. And from the technical side Mr. Hamerton has written much that is instructive in its regard. A judicious use of both authorities and their com- ments has been made in the catalogue compiled for the exhibition, and provided for the student in the rooms of the club. The catalogue in question deserves some recognition to itself, as really a masterpiece among catalogues. It is a quarto of fifty-eight pages, printed with the utmost care and beauty, and containing all that is known or needed by way of preface on the history of the surface, fol- lowed by the list of all the exhibited examples in the order in which they are hung—and that, so far as the “Liber” proper is concerned, is also the order of date in which they were issued. The print in its first published state is taken as the capi- tal type of each plate, and numbered in large 1, 2, 3, and so on; the variations anterior or posterior, hung on the walls for comparison with this state in each case, are numbered in small under it 1a, 1b, 1c, or 2a, 2b, 2c. In all cases the full inscriptions are given in the catalogue as originally published by Turner with the first state of the print—the current collector’s title only being inserted in those cases where no title was supplied by Turner himself; to the title and the list of examples and names of their owners are appended what observations or citations the compilers have thought fit; and to each number is prefixed its classifying initial letter. The only flaws a close search can detect in this catalogue de- luxe are the printing Mer du Glace (p. 15), and one trivial other in relation to these said initial letters. The classification adopted by Turner in his title for these Illustrations of Landscape Composition (as such he regarded them) is one carrying a formal traditional air—viz., Historical, Mountainous, Pastoral, Marine, and Architectural. He prints at the top of each plate an initial letter denoting the class to which it belongs—H. for historical, M. or Ms. for mountainous, M. for marine, A. for architectural ; but the single pastoral class of the title gets subdivided in publication into “pastoral” proper, denoted by the initial P., and implying the humbler kind of English country scene literally taken, and “elegant pastoral,” denoted by the initials E.P., and implying more or less of romance, sentiment, artificial ideal- ism and composition, often along the footsteps of Claude. There are thus actually seven instead of six classes, and when the compilers (p. 9) talk of six, and reckon them thus—Pastoral, 14; Elegant Pastoral, 14; Mountainous, 14; Historical, 8; and Architectural, 11—they forget for the moment the “marine” class, which contains the nine subjects needed to make up with the above the total figure of seventy.

It would be of great interest to be able to compare at close quarters the “Liber Studiorum ” of Turner with Claude’s "Liber Veritatis,” although, as is justly urged in the preface of the catalogue, the work of Turner has over that of Claude, for such a purpose, the immense advantage of the personal pains spent on it, and execution under the master’s own eye. The committee of the Burlington have not cared to give the opportunity for such compari- son; but they have done something like it in ex- hibiting, in another room, a very choice collection of the landscape and other etchings of Claude, as well as a few drawings by him.

BAND SAWS FOR CUTTING LARGE TIMBER. HE substitution of a band-saw—an endless serrated strip of steel running continuously over pulleys in one direction—for the old style of reciprocating gig-saw produced in many kinds of wood-working a decided revolution in the greater speed with which the work could be performed. But few would suppose that the same principle could be adopted to advantage in sawing the large logs from American forests. This, however, has been done, and sawing machines constructed on this prin- ciple, capable of sawing stuff 48ft. in length, are for sale by firms located both in Philadelphia and London. We do not know that these have yet been used to an extent warranting the belief that they will prove more useful for ordinary saw-mill work, or for sawing timber which two circular saws, one above the other, are found capable of cutting into plank. But for various special purposes, like the shaping of ship timber and many others, this adaptation of the band-saw seems to possess much merit, and will doubtless meet with extended favour, and may possibly admit of modifications in its structure now unthought of.

As concerns the proportions of the machine as made for heavy sawing, we find the diameter of the wheels over which the saw passes stated at 6ft. These wheels are of wrought iron, and are tightened against the saw to a tension of from 2 and 1½ to 10 tons, the uppermost wheel being vertically adjust- able a distance of 2oin., and having its shaft, 4in. in diameter, of steel. The shaft of the lower wheel is of wrought iron, and is ½in. greater in diameter, and the journal-boxes of both are lined with hard brass. The log carriage is commonly made with especial reference to the variety of work for which the machine is designed, and of course varies according to circumstances. For resawing, feed-rolls are fitted to the apparatus. The production of large machines of this kind furnishes a good example of what may be done in extending the utility of an invention merely by the application of mechanical judgment without any exercise of what can be properly called inventive skill.

BOOKS RECEIVED. Dilapidations : A Text Book for Architects and Surveyors. Mr. Banister Fletcher has revised and reprinted, in a neat volume, his series of articles on dilapidations which appeared in the Building News the latter part of last year, and has added thereto a list of the cases cited, an elaborate analysis of contents of each chapter, and an ex- haustive index. The work shows who are liable for dilapidations, what are dilapidations and waste, and instructs surveyors how to take and value them ; it is illustrated by examples drawn from the author’s experience, and gives the latest legal de- cisions. It is, in fact, a text book and a standard work of reference for the architect and surveyor on matters appertaining to dilapidations. How to make a House Healthy and Comfort- able, by H. J. Lanchester (London: F. Harvey), is a little treatise in which in forty-three pages the author gives information for the benefit of the British householder in matters connected with drainage, closets, water supply, warming, ventilating, &c. The information seems of too general and undefined a character to be of much benefit to anybody. A Handbook of Sewage Utilisation, by U. R. Burke (London: E. and N. F. Spon), is simply a treatise describing the different methods of disposing of sewage. A Treatise on the Metallurgy of Iron, by H. Bauerman, F.G.S. (London: Lockwood & Co.), has reached a third edition, and will be deservedly welcomed. Building Societies and Borrowers, by C. D. Arnold Friedlin (London: Ward, Lock, & Tyler), is an at- tack generally on the principles of building societies, and particularly on those advocated by Mr. Arthur Seratchley and by the secretary of one of the fore- most societies. The Year Book of Facts (London : Lockwood & Co.) is, as usual, a bundle of news- paper cuttings put together with little order and less judgment in selection. Warner d Sons’ Bell Catalogue for 1872 is a well got up collection of il- lustrations of and testimonials to its authors’ achieve- ments in their own beautiful art. Remarks on the Water Supplied by the West Middlesex Water- works Company, by Alfred Swaine Taylor, M.D., F.R.S.S., (London: H. Mitchener), have reference to therather alarming phrases used in the reports of some of the medical officers on the water supplied by the various companies. Dr. Taylor points out that such vague expressions as “living organisms” and “moving organisms,” which may with equal pro- priety be applied to a slug or a worm, an eel or a monad, are only calculated to excite needless alarm and prejudice. Sewage and its Economical Dis- posal, by F. H. Danchell, C.E., is a rather enthu- siastically-written pamphlet, in which the writer claims to have solved the sewage problem. The sewage of the United Kingdom is to be purified by means of charcoal, and there is in the “ bogs of the United Kingdom peat enough to last till Doomsday.” A company appears to have been formed, and to be at present engaged in testing the method advocated. How to Make Money by Patents, by Charles Barlow (London: Barlow & Co.), has reached a second edition. Hardwicke’s Shilling Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and House of Commons, (London: R. Hardwicke) are rendered this year more useful than ever by being bound up in one handy little volume. The information, as usual, is corrected down to the latest possible date.

The foundation-stone of 8. Mary’s Schools, Dukin- field, near Manchester, was laid on March 30. The accommodation is to provide for 200 children. Mr. Colbeck, builder, Ashton-under-Lyne. Mr. Edmund Kirby, of Liverpool, is the architect.

Building Intelligence,

CHURCHES AND CHAPELS,

Bebington.—The parish church of Bebington, was reopened on Tuesday, after restoration. The edifice was built at three different periods—the nave in the Norman, the south aisle of nave and the tower and spire in the Decorated or Pointed, and the whole of the chancel and its aisles in the Perpendicular period. From the chancel westward the building has undergone alterations at various times, a recent one being the construction of the north arcade and aisle, and the alteration of a portion of the original Nor- man arcade on the south side. In the present re- storation the fabric has not been altered in any way, the works being confined to cleaning the interior thoroughly, rendering it dry by asphalting the whole of the area under the floors, re-tiling, heating and ventilating, and seating throughout with neat open benches of oak, and constructing a choir and chancel by screening between the piers of the eastern portion of the interior. The chancel tiles were made in Prussia from the designs of the architects. The general contractors for the restoration were Messrs Holme & Nicol, of Liverpool. The work has been carried out from the designs of Messrs. Audsley, architects, of Liverpool.

Birmingham.—S. Martin’s Church, Birmingham, is about to be restored, or rather, almost entirely re- built. The condition of the present edifice, which is the mother church of Birmingham, has long been very disgraceful to so wealthy a town. It consists of nave, chancel, and side aisles, with a tower sur— mounted by a spire at the west end of the north aisle. Rickman assigns its foundation to the early part of the thirteenth century. The original tower and spire, which were restored nearly twenty years ago, from the designs of Mr. Hardwick, were Early Decorated. The nave and chancel were later additions. The building has suffered greatly at the hands of meddle- some churchwardens, the interior being as ugly as lath and plaster, high-backed pews, &c., could make it. In the new works, the style of the tower will furnish the key-note of the style adopted in the ele- vations. The tower will be left standing, but the whole body of the present church willbe pulled down- the foundations of the north, south, and west walls being retained, on account of their solidity, and to avoid interference with the adjacent graves and vaults. The new structure will be cruciform on plan,. consisting of nave, north and south aisles, north and south transepts, chancel, chancel aisles, choir vestry, and clergyman’s vestry. ‘The nave will be 152ft. in length—an extension of 50ft.—and the chancel 37ft. long. The width of the chancel and the nave will be the same as before—viz., 24ft. The interior wilf be faced with Bromsgrove stone, with Bath stone dressings, and the exterior with Grinshill stone, of which the tower is built. The roof will be open timbered and boarded, resting upon framed principals filled in with wood tracery. The ceiling of the chancel will be waggon-headed, the panels being left for decoration. The only galleries will be two small ones in the transepts. The new church will seat a total number of 1,502 persons. Mr. Chatwin, of Temple-row, Birmingham. whose design was selected in competition, is the architect. The estimated cost is £12,000.

Chester.—The new church of S. Thomas has been consecrated. At present there are only three bays of the nave, with chancel and chancel aisle erected, leaving two bays of the naye, west front, part of tower, and north porch for completion at some future period. The material used throughout is Runcorn stone, and the designs, in the Early English style of Gothic, are by Mr. Gilbert Scott, R.A. The chairs in the church will seat about 400 persons. The whole has been built at a cost of about £5,600 by Mr. Roberts, contractor, Chester.

Cotham.—The foundation stone of a new church in the parish of S. Matthew, Kingsdown, was laid on Monday by the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. The church is to be in the Early Gothic style, the principal material used being Pennant stone, relieved by facings of freestone. The roof will be of open timber, covered outside with slate. There will be seats of red deal, stained and varnished, to accommodate 700 persons. The height of the tower and spire will be 150ft. The chancel will be octagonal in shape, and will have a boarded roof. The architect is Mr. Bevan, the contractors are Messrs. Wilkins & Sons.

Fenton.—The memorial stone of a new Wesleyan Chapel at Fenton was laid on Easter Tuesday. The style adopted is Italian. The materials to be used are red bricks, with bricks of other colours sparingly introduced for relief, and Hollington stone dressings.