Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/557

 June 28, 1872. THE BUILDING NEWS. 535 ooo to overcome, and to presume a case of that sort which would never arise would, I think, be a great waste of labour. The question arises, what kind of schools are best suited to your present purpose. As a matter of observation it will be found that mixed schools of about 600 children are mostly required— say, 200 boys, 200 girls, and 200 infants—on a site of about } acre in extent, or (say) 200ft. by 100ft. A miaster’s cottage might or might not be included. The chief features for consideration are disposition of light, ventilation, compactness of arrangement, and aboye all compliance with the rules of the Educational Department. A plan, elevation, section, and perspective view are sufficient, but they should be insisted on, especially the latter, as it affords at a glance a better idea of the general effect of the building. This was fully obvious in your last compertition.—I am, &c., Hi. LIBERAL PREMIUMS TO COMPETITORS. Sir,—I enclose you instructions to architects, issued by the Victoria Hall Company, Limited, Exeter (who wish to obtain plans in competition for their proposed new building) for the perusal of your readers.—1 am, &e., Joun Gro. BLAND. Unity Buildings, Temple-street, Birmingham, June 25, 1872. Instructions to Architects Competing for the Premiums of £10 and £5 for Plans for the execution of certain work in Queen-street, Exeter, in connection with the Victoria Hall. The proposed New Building in front of the Hall is to comprise on the— BASEMENT.—Kitchen, and appliances for cooking, and heating the large room on the first floor; with Lift for conveyance of food to either ground or first_floor; urinal, water-closet, &c. ON THE GROUND FLOOR.—Entrance way to the Victoria Hall, Shop in front, Lobby, Cloak and Waiting Rooms, &e., Lavatory, Water-Closets, Pay places, and the psual adjuncts to a place of public entertainment. ON THE First FLooR.—A large well proportioned Room for public entertainments, picture exhibitions, &c., in which acoustics will be considered, so arranged that it may be used either distinct from, or in connection with the large HaJl at the back; with convenient ante-rooms. The cost of building, including heating apparatus and gas-fittings, not to exceed £1,500. Plans are annexed showing the site for building, and also what portion is already built on. These plans are believed to be accurate, but the Directors do not hold _ themselves responsible for any errors therein. The part of the Basement marked on the plan (bonded Stores) being already built and occupied, must not be dis- turbed, and due provision must be made for continuing the existing ventilation therein. Submitted plans to be drawn to an eighth scale, on ordinary drawing paper. Lights muy be obtained at the east and west ends. Due regard to be paid to lighting and ventilation throughout the building. A means of access to be provided to the interior of the roof of the large Hall adjoining. (See Section marked D.) The present frontage may be used wholly or in part. No elaborate ornamentation, but a simple, tasteful design required, combining effect with economy. The description accompanying plans to give an approxi- mate estimate of cost, which will be considered in award- ing the premiums. Westleigh or South Devon limestone to be the walling material, and the estimate to include the necessary gas-fittings and heating apparatus. Plans to bear the author's name, and be sent to Mr. F. pollara, 1, Upper Paul-street, Exeter, on or before July A premium of £10 will be given for the most approved plan, and of £5 for the second, provided that five plans are submitted. If the author of either design is employed, the amount of premium will be deducted from his com- mission. The set of plans for which the premiums are awarded to become the property of the Directors. The Directors to be entitled to a copy of any set of plans sub- mitted and not obtaining a premium on payment of one guinea, The Directors of the Victoria Hall Company (Limited) will constitute the tribunal by which iums Wi eae y which the premiums will That portion of the Victoria Hall under the Orchestra to be remodelled, in order to make more convenient Waiting Rooms and a Property Ro i Aches perty Room, with the necessary [Who will say after this that architecture and architects are not appreciated in ancient and historic Exeter? We should feel obliged if some correspon- dent would inform us of the names of the com- petitors, and we should like to publish them as a literary curiosity.—Ep. ] THE QUARTERLY REVIEW ON ARCHITECTS AND OPERATIVE MASONS. Srr,—Eureka! Eureka! The grand secret of archi- tectural success has now been discovered, and we can only wonder at its simplicity. Our architects have simply to transform themselves into operative masons, Dik Presto ! the thing is done. At least, so says the eee, Review, and probably thousands haye re- Gemcciee Why, however, the operative masons decived onare not managed to afford what is only the old ‘a; : ri i ry Over again. ‘‘’Tis distance lends enchantment tv the view,” for the opera- tive masons i ve mn ons of six humtreq or four thousand years ago were no more gods twa gre the operative masons of our own day. We have often been told that it was to the old operative masons we owe our twelfth and thirteenth century Gothic architecture, but for my own part inquiry into the subject led me to say, Not so, but to the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church, and, after reading the interesting remarks upon the subject by Messrs. Wyatt & Scott, at pp. 474 and 477 of your columns, I cannot but consider that on many points our Quarterly reviewer is wrong. Looking at the state of Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centu- ries, I cannot see how the rise, progress, and grand onward march of the architecture of the period could have been either initiated or maintained by the opera- tive masons of the time. As it appears to me, it was the clergy who, taking the matter in hand, guided things into the proper channel, and gaye them that impetus which produced such noble results, Of course, after the child became a man it began to be more in- dependent, and to do things more in its own way, or to please itself; but this only heralded its own down- fall, for when operative masonry threw aside the “trammels” of clerical supervision, it also cast out its soul with it. As it appears to me, the old ecclesiastics had galleries set apart for the different classes of work- men, which they lovingly and dutifully superintended, and owing to the system of communication existing amongst the different monasteries, &c., whenever one struck out some new idea, or made a step in adyance, it soon became common property, not, however, to be slavishly copied, but to be duly developed in a thou- sand varying forms and phases. In short, it seems to me that while the old operative may be likened to the chisel, the ecclesiastic deseryes the honour of bemg called the head which directed it. In these old days this “head” got due time to think over and work out its problems, but now-a-days, as an architect lately observed to me, ‘* We haye far too much to do in the time, and for the money given,’—I am, &c., June 15,. B. SCHOOL PLANNING COMPETITION. Srr,—I haye with much pleasure seen your excellent idea of a school competition, together with your generous offer of prizes in connection therewith. In accordance with your request for further hints on this subject, I would venture to suggest that each com- petitor should subscribe a sum of (say) 3s. to be added to the prizes kindly offered by yourself. This increase would, Lam sure, produce a corresponding increase in the number of competitors, and also induce the elder members (‘the masters of our art,” if I may so speak) to compete in the contest. Obyieus advantages arising from this arrangement would be that the designs sub- mitted would be of a superior kind, and of course, by their publication, increased benefit must result. I hope this suggestion may meet the approval of yourself and readers.—I am, &c., Lipra. MR. NORMAN SHAW AND MR. MACLAREN. Sir,—I thought Mr. Shaw complained only of Mr. MacLaren’s gables and chimneys and their planning ; but as you very truly say in your note, my letter “does not touch Mr. Shaw’s complaint” if Mr. MacLaren copied his plans. I should say that could scarcely be the result of coincidence. If Mr. MacLaren can, why does he not boldly say what he knows and thinks in this matter ? His countrymen are not so bash- fulas a rule.—I am, &c., J. L. STEWART. 1, Wellington-street, London-bridge, S.E., June 22. eee Crysrau Patace Narronat Music Prize Com- PETITION.—The directors of the Crystal Palace Com- pany having determined to give a challenge prize, value £1,000, to be competed for at the national music meetings which commenced yesterday, archi- tects were invited to send in their designs. There were two premiums of £50 and £25 respectively for the successful candidates, the judges being Sir M. D. Wyatt and Professor Poynter, A.R.A. Eighteen designs were sent in, and are now on view in the nave of the building. The first prize, the design of which is drawn at two-thirds of its original size, has been awarded to Mr. 8. J. Nicholl, 38, Grove-road, 8. John’s-wood. It is of a Mediwval character, and with pedestal and cover over 3ft. in height. The cup is 10in. across the bowl and 104in. high, sur- rounded by very elaborate filigree and repoussé work, there being four medallions in the centre, two of which represent King David and S. Cecilia, while the two others will bear a suitable inscription. The cover is of a conical form, 18in. high, adorned by memorial shields, on which the names of the present and past holders willbe engraved. It terminates in a triumphal wreath, in which the shield of the winning society will be suspended. The stand is a square pedestal with a kind of gate running round it, ateach corner of which will be a miniature statue of some eminent composer, such as Mozart, Handel, &e. The second successful design is by Mr. Owen Gibbons, of 36, Moore-street, Chelsea. It is of an antique description, and also consists of three parts, Viz., cup, base, and cover, which latter bears at its summit a figure of Apollo surrounded by a ring of shields of successive competitors. It is intended to be executed in embossed silver. A third design by Mr. William Wise, of 20, Sussex-street, Warwick-square, was highly recommended. SImtercommunication, —~— QUESTIONS. [2594.]—Moresque Style.—Would any reader kindly tell me how to obtain picturesque designs of the aboye style? Is there not something published in England or elsewhere that contains, among others, designs of the kind?—A MASTER SUBSCRIBER. [2595.)—Packing.—Can you oblige me with the name of the patentee or maker of a kind of packing used for packing manholes, steam and water pipes, &c.? Itis composed of flax and white lead, with a bit of iron wire down the centre.—J. E. REEVE. (2596.]—Concrete Building.—Will any of your correspondents who haye had experience in concrete building oblige by answering the following questions. 1. What proportions of cement, sand, and gravel pro- duce the best concrete? 2. Explain the best mode of building the walls by means of moulds—i.e., the con- crete being poured between moulds in a liquid state. 3. What is the best way of forming the windows and other openings? 4. The best way of forming round, pointed, and flat arches.—F. J. YATES. [2597.]—S. Simon Stylities.—Will any reader oblige by explaining, through the medium of this column, the celebrated pen-aud-ink sketch known as above ?—GoTH. REPLIES. [2591.]—Foundations.—li a layer of bog or quick- sand exists at the depth given—viz., 6ft. or 7ft. below the surfaee—it would not be safe to lay the foundations at the depth stated—viz., 18in. below the surface, By bog I understand peat saturated with water; and by quicksand, sand saturated with water. Hither, if dry, may be built upon ; but the danger in building above them in their saturated condition is that at some future time these strata may be drained, whenasettle- ment of the ground above them would follow. If in this case they can be at once drained in a manner that will insure the permanency of the drainage, then the footings may be laid in the manner stated in the ques- tion ; otherwise the foundation should be carried down below them.—C. S. [2592.])—Colouring Portland Cement. — I would refer ‘‘ Colourist ” to the Burnp1NG News for June 9, 1871, wherein is printed a paper by Mr. Row- land Plumbe ‘‘ On the Architectural Treatment of Port- land Cement.” In that paper Mr. Plumbe said that all kinds of colour will not mix with cement; some kill it, and others are themselves destroyed by admix- ture with it. As arule, mineral colours will stand best. Some specimens of coloured cement work were exhibited. One of them, a dark red, was made of one- tenth part of purple brown (oxide of iron), two parts of sand, and one of cement, all mixed dry before making up for use. Another, a light red, was made with Venetian red, in the same proportion ; another, a blue, was made of German ultramarine, mixed as before ; another, a green, was obtained by the use of green ultramarine in the same proportion ; a specimen of yellow was also shown, made of cadmium yellow and Thames sand. Good blacks may be made with black manganese mixed in the same proportions. All these colours, said Mr. Plumbe, can be varied by alter- ing the proportions and by using different coloured sands. The admixture of colours with cements will no doubt give different results as regards setting and colour, varying with the cement and sand used ; before employing the same direct experiment should therefore be made. In the discussion which followed the paper it was urged that a great difficulty in using stained cements was that the colours so often washed out, no matter how many times the cement had been turned over before using. This was said to be especially the case with the iron colour (purple brown) used for red cement. This, when washed out, often caused long gory stains down the facades. In reply to this, Mr. Plumbe said that the ‘trunning” of the colouring materials was owing to the improper texture which was given to the surface of the cement. If the surface was finished with a steel float or trowel (instead of with a wooden float), and afterwards ‘“‘dabbed” over in order to obyiate a too-highly glazed surface, there would be no fear of the colours running if the cement was properly mixed. Metal dies with polished faces would, according to Mr. Plumbe, give the best results for stamping patterns on a cement surface ; the stamp- ing should be done as the cement is setting.—L. J. D. ——— Drinkinc Founrarns.—Some information as to the cost of these public conveniences was disclosed at the meeting of the Metropolitan Drinking Foun- tain and Cattle Trough Association held on Tues- day. There are more than 300 troughs and foun- tains under the care of the society, and all are visited, cleaned, supplied with cups, and reported at the office every week. The cost of the fountains for repair and water supply averages nearly £10 a year each, but the cost of the cattle troughs varies with their size and locality. The small dog troughs are supplied entirely with the waste water from the fountains, but for the larger troughs the water-rate alone is in some cases as much as £30 per annum, more than 1,200 horses, besides other animals, fre- quently drinking at one trough in twenty-four hours.
 * “e left to inquire. However, it is