Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/472

 450 THE BUILDING NEWS. May 31, 1872. Our Office Table. ———— TRANSATLANTIC. MunicreAn GOVERNMENT.— One of our New York subscribers has written to correct an erroneous idea which he imagines to have inspired a paragraph under the above head in No. 903. Heinforms us that Mr. A. H. Green, who is now Comptroller of the City and County of New York, is actively engaged in the work of dis- covering and checking ‘inflated expenditure and thievery” in the New York Public Works Depart- ment, and that therefore our ‘undercurrent of sarcasm on his strictures” was misapplied. We knew nothing of Mr. A. H. Green, and any “ sarcasm” in our note was directed not against him, but against the ridiculous costliness of the report of the New York Board of Works; and here we are glad to find both our correspondent and Mr. Green agree with us. It seems that the late Board actually ordered 20,000 copies of this report to be printed, at a cost of some - thing over five dollars, or £1 sterling, each. Mr. Green was in time to restrict the number to 5,000, and thus in this one item saved the City of New York £15,000. We congratulate Mr. Green, and should be glad if he has a brother he could spare to come over and look after our Metropolitan Board of Works the next time its members want to spend a few thousand pounds on their own comfort to see the Queen pass through Hyde Park. New Cumes ror Carrisrock Cuurcu.—A Dorset paper states that the chimes which are to be placed in the new tower of Cattistock Church when completed will consist of twenty-nine bells, cast at Louvain, in Belgium, by the well-known bell- founder, Severin Van Aerschodt. They will form what is calied a carillon, precisely the same as is to be found in many churches and town halls in Belgium and Holland, which, instead of playing the single notes of any air, as on the ordinary chimes in England, play four-part music as written for the pianoforte. The airs can be changed from time to time at a small expense, and of the twenty-nine bells six will be fitted with wheels, so as to be rung in peal as well as played. The weight of the tenor will be 18cewt. 74lb. The machine, which will play the tunes at the hours, in con- nection with a clock, will be made by Messrs. Gillett & Bland, of Croydon. Tue Roya, ArcurrecruraL Museum, Tufton- street, Dean’s-yard, Westminster, S.W., will be open free to architects and their friends daily from 10 a.m. to7 p.m. during the forthcoming Architectural Con- ference. On Thursday, June 6, at 4 o'clock, there will be an adjourned meeting at the Museum of the Council, employers of art-workmen, &c., to con- sider proposals for securing instruction to students and others visiting the Museum. Cards of invita- tion to this meeting may be had of the Hon. Secre- tary, Mr. Joseph Clarke. F.S.A.,'13, Stafford-place. CLAss or ConsrrucTion AND Practice, Ancut- TECTURAL AssocraTion.—The last meeting but one of this class for the present session will take place on Friday evening next, June 7, when the subject will be “Ironwork.” The following are the ques- tions:—1, What is the difference between wrought and castiron? Give their strengths and weights. 2. Describe the method of casting ironwork (sdy a hollow column). What precautions are to be ob- served in the designing of it? 3. Describe the process of manufacturing and fixing complete, a wrought vane to a timber spire, or a wrought hinge for gate hung to stone jambs. 4. Give the formule for caleulating the proportions and strengths of cast, plate, and latticed girders. 5. Give drawing of a plate girder 20ft. span, distributed load 15 tons. 6. Hurst's table gives 9:5 tons as the safe load of a hollow cast-iron column 15ft. long, 6in. diameter, 4in. metal. Prove the correctness of this. 7. How is the strength of girders tested before using? Sketch and describe any appatatus used for the purpose. RENDERING Woop IncompustTipLe.—A very excellent way to render wood incombustible, accord- ing to a correspondent of the Lnglish Mechanic, is to soak it in a strong solution of alum and the sul- phate of copper. About one pound of alum and one of sulphate of copper should be sufficient for 100 gallons of water. These substances are dissolved in a small quantity of hot water, then mixed with the water in the vesselin which the wood is to be steeped. The timber to be rendered fireproof can be kept under the liquor by stones or any other mode of sinking it. All that is required is a watertight vessel of sufficient dimensions to hold enough of the liquor to cover the timber, which should be-allowed to steep for about four or five days. After this it is taken out and suffered to dry thoroughly before being used. A plan of rendering the wood partially fireproof would be to whitewash it two or three times. The | following is a recipe for glue to hold against fire :— Mix a handful of quicklime in four ounces of linseed oil, boil them to a good thickness; then spread it on tin plates in the shade, and it will become exceed- ingly hard, but may be easily dissolved over the fire, and used as ordinary glue. > CHIPS. The United States Academy of Design has chosen Mr. Launt Thomson for its Vice-President. An Italian savant, M. Luigi Vallerio, of the Academy of Florence, is said to have just discovered a new art, that might be called photo-painting, for not only are drawings reproduced, but the colours also, with remarkable distinctness. The next congress of the British Archmological Association, it is stated, will be held on the 5th of August to the 10th inclusive, at Wolverhampton, under the presidency of the Earl of Dartmouth. The foundation stone of a new Congregational School and Mission Room was laid in North Hall- street, Leeds, on Whit Monday. The cost will be £750. Mr. Thomas Ambler, is the architect. On Tuesday week the foundation stone of a new General Baptist Chapel was laid in Wintoun-street, Leeds. The style is Gothic. The chapel will seat 500 persons, at a cost of £3,500. Mr. Alexander Crawford is the architect. A scheme is on foot for the erection of water- works for the town of Andover. An eminent engineer has estimated the cost at £5,000. The corner stone of new schools in connection with Christ Church, Sparksbrook, was laid on Mon- day afternoon. The cost will be £2,700, and the schools will accommodate 565 children. On Sunday last the memorial stone was laid of a new building which is to form an enlargement of the Old Hall Independent Chapel, Dukinfield. The cost of the addition will be about £3,000. Mr. John Fernley, of Southport, is providing, and intends to present to the Wesleyan Methodist Con- ference, a building in that town, costing not less than £8,000, which is to be devoted to the education of the daughters of Wesleyan Methodist Ministers. The parish church of Knapton, near Malton, was reopened on Whit Sunday, after restoration and en- largement. The church has been enlarged by the addition of a north aisle, a chancel, and a porch, and the whole has been restored in the Decorated style. The architects were Messrs. Gibson & Son, of Malton. The Wingfield Convalescent Home, situated about a mile from Oxford, was opened on Monday week. Mr. Wilkinson, of Oxford, is the architect, and Mr. T. Jones the contractor. ‘The cost was £1,076. The Grocers’ Company propose to apply the proceeds of certain of their charities to edwcational purposes, and propose to erect schools for 6500 children on asuitable site or sites within three miles of the City of London. The estimated cost of build- ing and endowment is £30,000. New Schools are about to be erected in connection with S. Oswald’s Church, Collyhurst, Manchester, Mr. John Lowe, architect. On Monday afternoon the corner stone of a new Baptist Chapel at Accrington was laid by Mr. Jones Barlow, of that town. The chapel will be a Gothic structure, from designs by Mr. Baynes, London, and is estimated to cost £7,000. The brouze statue of Mr. James Ramsden, Mayor of Barrow, was unyeiled on the 21st inst. by the Duke of Devonshire. The foundation stone of anew Temperance Hall for Skipton was laid on Whit Monday. The build- ing will be a one-storied edifice in the Classic style. Mr. J. Varley, C.E., has gratuitously furnished the design. Rapid progress is being made with the construc- tion of the Albert Bridge acer the Thames at Chelsea, under the care of Mr. Williamson, the con- tractor; also with the Embankment in that vicinity, for which work Mr. Webster is the contractor. Mr. John Guest, writing from 31, Croundale-road, Oakley-square, N.W., makes an appeal on behalf of the orphan family of five children, between the ages of four and fifteen, left comparatively destitute by the unhappy suicide of their father, Mr. Edward Mitchell, sculptor, of 60, Croundale-road, Oakley- square, Camden-town, the death of their mother having occurred about a year previously. The City Commissioners of Sewers have determined to pave the carriage way of Ludgate-hill with American wood pavement, at an estimated cost of £2,247, or 18s. per square yard, the gradient being too steep for the use of asphalte. The ground Jately occupied by the works and offices of the Gas Light & Coke Company, Worship- street, Shoreditch, has been sold in its entirety by Messrs. Norton, 'lrist, Watney, & Co., for £20,000. Mr. Alderman Sidney is about to erect a new church at Bowes Manor, from the designs of Mr. G. G. Scott, R.A. The General Council of the Department of the Seine has voted the establishment of tramways in Paris. Mr. G. W. Harris haying resigned the secretary- ship of the Society of Engineers, Mr. Perry F. Nursey, C.£., has been appointed to the vacant post. On Thursday week the foundation stone of a new National School for the parish of Winterbourne | Earls, Wilts, was laid. The architect was Mr. W. F. Hooper, of Morecambe, Lancashire. The foundation stone of a new vicarage house for S. Michael's, Chester-square, in the Buckingham Palace-road, was laid yesterday (Thursday) after- noon by the Marquis of Westminster. Mr. R. J. Withers is the architect. The Metropolitan Board of Works will, at the meeting held to-day, proceed to consider the motion of Mr. Shaw, of which notice was given on the 17tk inst. “ That the Board disapproves of the Report of the directors of the Native Guano Company, who were wholly unauthorised to hold out expectations to the public that this Board had, or contemplated having, any connection with the Company, or had given reason to the directors to assume that the Board had any intention of taking the works.” ———— eed MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. Monpay.—Society oF ENGINEERS.—* On Electric¢ Telegraph Instruments.” By Mr. EB. G. Bartholomew. 7.30 p.m. Fripay.—Civit AND MeEcHANICAL EXGINEERS? Socrery.—Annual meeting. 7.30 p.m, ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION, — Meeting of Class of Construction and Practice; subject: “Ironwork.” 6,30 p. m.—Meeting of Class of Design; sub- ject: “Corona for Gas; 1-in. scale.” 8 p.m. Grade Welws. WAGES MOVEMENT. GREENOCK.—The bricklayers’ labourers employed at the new gasworks in course of erection at Inchgreen, for the Greenock Police Board, haye struck work for the nine hours’ movement. Ipswicu.—Nearly the whole of the men who have been out on strike in the building trade resumed work on Tuesday morning last. Some days since the masters met and proposed to submit the dispute to arbitration, requesting Mr. T. D’Eye Burroughes and Mr. John Orford, jun., to act in their behalf. Since Friday week, when this resolution was arrived at, the League have been expecting a communication from the masters. On Friday morning last they received a note from Mr. Orford, requesting them to appoint two arbitrators to _ meet himand Mr. Burroughes. The League accordingly appointed Mr. A. A. Watts and Mr. F. J. Bugg to act on their behalf. Two of the firms wanted their men to resume work last Saturday, and a meeting was held to consider whether any of the men should resume work before the decision of the arbitrators had been given, Atthis meeting the men unanimously resolved not to resume work until the arbitrators’ decision had been given. However, most of the men resumed work on Tuesday morning, pending the decision of the arbitrators. IsLE oF Man.—Recently the joiners met and resolyed on demanding an increase of 3s. per week, aud a reduction from 60 to 58 hours per week. The result of their movement was that they succeeded in obtaining the reduction of hours, but the masters refused to increase their wages beyond 22s, Gd. a week, and ultimately the men acceded to these terms. The masons in Douglas held a meeting on Thursday week. They now work 60 hours for 21s.; but, owing to bad weather, they seldom make a full week. ‘The result of the meeting was that the men resolved to demand an increase of 3s. per week, and a reduction to 58 hours a week. Pertu.—The Sheriff of Perth has sent seven trade unionists to gaol for six days’ for ‘ picketing’ two men who refused to go out onstrike. Notice of appeal was given. SEF FIELD.—Only seventy masons remain on strike at Sheffield, the musters having conceded the men’s demands, —_o—_—_ TENDERS. CORNWALL.—For the erection of new Board Schools at Saltash, Cornwall. Mr. Henry S. H. Pearse, archi- tect :— MeMillan.. eon HALL Matcham. 1945, Lapthorn & Goad 1778 Shaddock. 1749 Clarke....... 1723 Hubbard & Bevan 1583 Mildon & Bond... 1476 Brooking (accepted)... « 1309 EAST SHEEN.—For the erection of house and conserva- tory, stabling, lodge, and entrance-gates, for Mr. F. W. Catt. Mr. R. H. Burden, architect. Quantities supplied by Mr. Gate:— Extra for Suffolk brick facings £ £ Parsons.... 2930 47 Stoner 2855 53 Carless 2846 33 Stimps 2819 50 Scrivener & 2756 39 Sims......... 2735 60 Adamson... : 2695 38 Cooke & Green (accepted) 2564 ae 80