Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/407

 a May 10, 1872. THE BUILDING NEWS. 385 ————— EEE other methods of treating sewage deposit, and of utilising the same, than by making it into a worth- less manure.—I am, &c., Cuar.es Jones, Sanitary Engineer. Local Board Office, Ealing, May 8, 1872. COMPETITIONS BEGINNING TO PAY AT LAST. Srr,—If you have space in your columns, I think you really ought to notify to your readers the ex- tremely liberal offer now open to them. Seeing the advertisement of the Scarborough School Board, who wish to obtain plans for their schools in the most approved manner, I wrote, as requested, for par- ticulars, and was informed by letter from their clerk that on payment of 5s. in stamps, they would forward a plan of the site. Since then they advise competitors not to proceed with the plans of one of the schools until the site is approved. Will the competitors be entitled to demand the return of the 5s.? It would be proper treatment of them at all events,—I am, &e., OLp STAGER. A NOVEL ADVERTISEMENT. Srr,—The following novel advertisement appeared in the Daily Telegraph for May 6:—‘t Wanted, a clerk of the works on an extensive estate in the county of Dorset. He will be required to draw plans and make estimates of all buildings and repairs, to superin- tend all the carpenters and masons employed on the estate, to measure timber, also masons’ and carpenters’ work done by contract or otherwise, and to be under the superintendence of the steward of the estate. Age not under 30, and salary about 25s. per week, with a good cottage and garden, and carriage of fuel— Apply to S. Stroud, builder, West Stafford, Dorchester, Dorset.” Surely the enterprising builder to whom ap- plication is to be made has a ‘handy man” or intelli- gent labourer who would suit; for the remuneration being under the average wages paid a journeyman car- penter, it is evident but little ability is required. Does the steward or owner of the estate seriously think a man who can make plans and estimates, measure timber and artificers’ work, and perform other duties required from him, can be had for a sum total of 27s. per week, about? If so, they will probably find their mistake out in time.—I am, &c., Teebee HOUSE PLANNING COMPETITION. Srr,—What could Mr. Hicks have been thinking of when he placed the fireplace in drawing-room where he has? I can understand economising by placing the fireplace in that position to get the adjoining flue up into the same shaft, but in this case the fireplace would certainly have been better opposite the bay window ; and aboye, a dressing-room might have been taken off the end of bedroom in a line with bay, giving a bedroom 20ft. by 17ft., exclusive of bay and dressing-room 17ft. by 7ft., a convenient little room. The fireplace in library is also badly placed, and that in children’s nursery seems only placed in that position to give another external chimney, which there seems to be a superfluity of, independently of this one, espe- cially considering that they never answer as well as in- ternal ones, so ought to be avoided as far as practicable. Zalso consider that the servants’ staircase might with advantage have been reversed, and thereby a door from kitchen would be obtained opposite the serving-hatch of dining-room; the disadvantages of the present plan in this respect are obvious. The recess in passage between front and back portions of house would, I think, be better thrown into dining-room; a good side- board might be designed for this recess with shallow extending wings, I had no idea that practising architects, whose time, one would imagine, would be sufficiently occupied by schemes for real buildings, would have devoted so much labour to the contemplation of ideal ones; but having done so, I think it is a pity that they did not spend yet alittle more time in thinking out their plans, and not offer bad precedents to the younger members of the profession, so many of whom are ever ready to adopt the ideas of their seniors, without always haying the discernment to cull the good from the bad. When LIsaw the competition announced I expected to find only an industrious few among the junior members responding to it, and therefore did not expect to find any very great things in planning beyond what one sees every day. In conclusion, Mr. Hicks seems to possess an adyan- tage over every other architect not practising in Corn- wall, in that he can get his work done for about half of what it can be done for in any other part of Eng- land, and I should like to be informed of any other district where a building so loaded with external ornamentation could be executed for 10d. per foot cube.—I am, &c., London, April 30. TB: Sir,—As your columns are kindly open to criticisms on the plans submitted in your late competition for house planning, and not being a competitor or inte- rested party, I think the remarks and suggestions put forward in a letter in last week’s BurLDING NEws, and signed ‘John Stuart,” are very correct. 1f one looks back to the BurLp1ING News of the date he names, and compares the plans there shown of Bignell House with those sent in signed “‘W. H. Lockwood,” there seems a very decided similarity. Some slight changes are made—as in the bow and in their number, also in the staircase; the latter in Bignell House is far superior, as a large amount of light is obtained froma good window on first landing to light the hall. In W. H. Lockwood's plan, light is only obtained from a small window at foot of stairs, same being much oyer- shadowed by loggia; light is also obtained from a window on first floor, but the downward rays of light are much obstructed by the gallery. I would suggest that all the competition plans be illustrated in the Bur~p1nG News, together with all particulars relating to same. A small extra charge would defray the cost.—I am, &c., Die iat ns Dublin, May 7. [We beg to say that all the competition plans will not be given, and only those which were awarded prizes and received honourable mention.—ED.] ———>__—- THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. T the meeting of the members of this society on Tuesday, the 7th May, 1872, Mr. Hawksley, President, in the chair, H.R.H. Prince Arthur, K.G., &e., was elected, by acclamation, an Honorary Member. Later in the evening the usual monthly ballot was taken, and resulted in the election of twenty-seven candidates, of whom four were Members—viz., Mr. John William Gray, Engineer to the Birmingham Waterworks Company; Mr. David Rowan, President of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland, Glasgow; Mr. Walter Henry Scott, Loco- motive Superintendent and Resident Engineer of the Mauritius Government Railways; and Mr. Lionel Bury Wells, Engineering Staff of the London and North- Western Railway. Twenty-three gentlemen were elected Associates—viz., Mr. Edgar William Becking- sale, Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Co. ; Mr. Edward Pearce Brown, Stud. Inst., C.E., Brixton- hill; Mr. Edmund Small Cathells, Gas Company, Mont- real ; Mr. Archibald Crellin Cregeen, Ex-Eng. P.W.D., India; Mr. Charles Edward Gael, B.A., Asst. Eng. P.W.D., India; Mr. James Henry Greaves, Stud. Inst. C.E., Westminster; Mr. Charles Godfrey Gumpel, Leicester-square ; Mr. John Prentis Hawley, Lambeth Waterworks Company; Mr. Thomas Howard Head, Cannon-street ; Lieutenant-Colonel Percival Robert Innes, S. George’s-square; Mr. John Peake Knight, General Manager of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway; Rai Kunhya Lall, Ex. Eng. P.W.D., India; Mr. Simon M‘Bean, Resident Engineer, Ceylon Government Railway ; Mr. Frederick Herbert Mollett, Stud. Inst. C.E., Austinfriars’-passage; Mr. William Morris, Engineer to the Native Guano Company ; Mr. Henry Thomas Munday, Stud. Inst. C.E., East London Waterworks; Mr. Thomas Nuttall, Bury; Mr. James Smith Okell, Iquiqui, Peru; Mr. David Reid, Gampola, Ceylon; Mr. Thomas Reynolds, jun., Stud. Inst. C.E , Great S. Helen’s; Mr. Charles Edward Robinson, Stud. Inst. C.E., Resident Engineer of the Yeoyil Corpora- tion Waterworks; Mr. Francis Frederick Smith, late of the Honduras Railway; and Mr. Frank Napier Thorowgood, Stud. Inst. C.E., Tynemouth. It was announced that, in accordance with the bye- laws, the Council had recently transferred Messrs. William Dyce Cay, Henry Hooper, Francis Langford O'Callaghan and John Robinson, from the class of Associate to that of Member; also, that the following candidates had been admitted Students of the Institu- tion: Messrs. Gilbert Beresford, William Patrick Brodie, Stephen Finney, Joseph Edward Fisher, Charles William Hodson, Lloyd Macdonald Hughes, Marmaduke John Monckton, Edmund Penny, Ralph Sadler, Ernest Ifill Shadbolt, James Tait, Charles James Knight Watson, Horace Wilmer, William John Wilson, and Trevredyn Rashleigh Wynne- ——- > STATUES, MEMORIALS, &c. STATUARY FOR THE BRADFORD Town HALi.— The niches on the facade of the Bradford Town Hall are sufficient in number to contain statues of the monarchs of England from the Conqueror to Her present Majesty. With the view of enabling the members of the Corporation to see what the statues would be like, Mess Farmer and Brindley, of London (who are executing the carving at the Town Hall), have had a plaster model made of Richard the First (Coeur de Lion). The model stands six feet in height, the figure being designed to fit one of the niches. It is stated that the statues can be cut in stone for £60 each. It has not yet been decided whether the niches are to have their statues, but the building will look unfinished except this is done. THe ALBERT MermorraL.— The group “ America,” which is now being erected on the north- west pedestal of the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, will complete the groups of sculpture connected with that edifice. America will be represented by a female figure mounted on a buffalo pressing on through the prairie grass. Another figure on one side personifies the United States directing the pro- gress of the continent, whilst on the other Canada accompanies her, pressing the rose of England to her breast. These figures are all in action. Behind them are two seated male figures representing South America and Central America. The group is by Mr. Bell. The other angle groups are ‘‘ Europe,” by the late Mr. Macdowell; “Asia,” by Mr. Foley; and “ Africa,” by Mr. Theed. They are all in Campanella. marble. of | Antercommunication, QUESTIONS. [2546.|—Sharpe’s “Architectural Parallels.”’ —Will any of your readers kindly inform me where I can procure a cheap copy of Sharpe’s ‘‘ Architectural Parallels,” as also Carpenter’s ‘‘ Sketches "?—J. B. work of public rooms of a country mansion-house with pitch pine, I wish to know from some of your intelli- gent readers how finishings, bound doors and shutters, architraves, &c., are generally made and fixed so as to avoid nail-holes as much as possible, these being un- sightly in wood to be varnished, as in this case. Does any colour or stain arise from the use of iron hinges, screws, and sprigs? If so, what is the best substitute ? — JOINER. [2548.]—Best and Cheapest Scantlings.—In this sketch plan the dotted lines are intended to repre- sent two beams to carry floor above, which will be used fora school. Will one of your corresponderts kindly favour me by answering the following questions? 1. What is the best and cheapest scantling for each of 7 62= = -29),0--——> these beams, each haying a clear span of 29ft. between supports, supposing them to be of red deal? 2. What may be safely calculated as the weight they would have to carry? 3. What is the best work published on the bearings of different beams and breaking weights, &c. ? —INQUIRER. (2549.]—Architect’s Book-Keeping.—Will you or any of your numerous correspondents kindly give me some hints on architect's book-keeping, with examples of entries and accounts ?—BEGINNING TO WALK ALONE. [2550.J)—Calculating Gasand Water Supply. —Can you tell me, through the medium of your “Tntercommunication” column, how to caleulate the gas and water supply for buildings (as to the strength, &c., of the various pipes, and sizes)? Also, where I can procure a cheap good work on iron girders, roofs, &c, ?—A SUBSCRIBER. [2551.]—Black Mortar.—Will some one kindly inform me the ordinary ingredients of common and best black mortar ?—WATCHING,. [2552.]—Estimate.—I should be glad if some one would kindly inform me what are the respective prices (generally allowed in preparing an approximate esti- mate) per cubic foot of contents in yillas of middle class, schools, and churches.—V ALUE, [2553.|—Estimating Cubical Contents of Buildings.—I should be very much obliged if, through your “‘ Intercommunication ” column, any one will tell me how the cubical contents of a building are taken.—ALEX. CARLTON, [2554.)—Substitute for Glazed Bricks.—Can you or any of your readers refer me to a substitute for glazed bricks for lining walls, to be had at a moderate cost, glazed bricks being just now very high in price, and difficult to procure for immediate delivery ? Wall tiles, if well made, are generally high priced, and most of the cements I know of seem too liable to chip under hard usage, and rarely dry of uniform colour. What I want is a hard glazed surface (on a brick wall) at a small cost, and of a somewhat presentable colour.—AN ARCHITECT. [2555.)—Contents of Cistern.—I shall be glad of a solution, in figures, of the following formula for determining the time required for a cistern with verti- cal sides to empty itself, the water flowing from an orifice in the bottom: D = depth of cistern in feet, A = area of surface of water in inches, a = area of orifice in inches, T = time required for the cistern to empty itself in minutes, T = A DF D = 6ft., A = 1296in. a @ = 4:908in.—WATERWORKS. [2556.]—Removable Fittings.—Would some one give me a list of those articles or improvements which I have added to a house which I may claim as my own when I quit the house ?—C. P. E. (2557.]—Slate.—I have heard that slate may be ob- tained of such thinness that it may be used like veneer. Of what size and where can I obtain it, and how can I fix it to the interior of a cupboard ?—CARPENTER. 8.]—Well Staircase.—What size of roof-light adapted for well staircase of 17ft. x 10ft. area, the stairs being 3ft. 9in. in width and the staircase four stories in height ?—CLERK OF WORKS. [2559.]—Tiling Floors.—Will some one oblige me by informing me what preparation is needed for laying encaustic tiles where there is now a boarded floor? Can the tiles be laid on the floor ?—S. C. (2560.|—Sketching In and About London.— Would some one kindly answer the last portion of the ij question regarding sketching in and about London,
 * 2547.]—Pitch Pine.—Haying to finish the joiner’s