Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/61

 Jan. 12, 1872. THE BUILDING NEWS. 45 ART y. SCIENCE. Srm,—A short time since I had a conversation with a friend on art v. science as applied to architec- ture. The other day I received the following in continuation of our discussion :— “Whately’s definition of art and scierce.—An art is a collection of rules for something that is to be done. A science is a collection of principles for something that is to be known. ‘Every true art (or set of rules) is based upon some science (or set of principles), of which it is the practical application. Thus the art of dyeing rests upon the science of chemistry, the art of organ-building upon the science of acoustics, the builder’s art upon architectural science, and the art of the druggist upon the science of medicine. Now, the rules of an art are designed to apply to all ordinary cases and exigencies; but exceptional cases and unprecedented circumstances will occur at times in every art, and the higher the art the more numerous the exceptions.’ ” I wish to know on what grounds I can reply to this communication? Ruskin says:—“ Architecture is the art which so disposes and adorns the edifices raised by man, for whatsoever uses, that the sight of them may contribute to his mental health, power, and pleasure.” I should be glad to see this subject taken up and answered clearly and fairly.—I am, _ &e., Art, HOT-WATER PIPES AND FIRES. Str,—I have seen some questions and replies in the Burtpine News of late as to hot-water pipes being dangerous when in contact with wood, and in a number some time ago it was asked if the Crystal Palace was not set on fire by hot-water pipes. I believe the pipes at the Crystal Palace were hot-air pipes, which are dangerous, but why in- surance companies should refuse to insure a house heated with pipes of hot water in contact with wood, Tcannot understand, and should much like to see the matter discussed, as at present hot-water pipes seem to be in contact with inflammable materials such as paper, hair feli, canvas, wood, &c., but I never heard of any injury caused by them. I should much like to hear if it is possible to get hot-water pipes so hot that they would char wood, as I have just received a refusal from some insurance offices to insure a house because the hot-water pipes passed under the boards of a bedroom floor resting on the joists, this bedroom floor being 60{ft. away from the kitchen boiler, from where the pipes received their heatfrom a cistern on Braby’s principle, containing fifty gallons of water.—I am, &e., eli, EXETER CATHEDRAL. Srr,—In 1866 you visited the above, and in a leading article upon the subject shortly afterwards gave those concerned in the restoration and decora- tion of Bishop Oldham’s Chapel in tiis cathedral such a lashing that I really believe their ears tingle to the present day. Permit me, sir, to draw your attention, and that of the architectural public gene- rally to the abominable manner in which the unique and exquisitely-carved corbels to the vaulting shafts in the choir are now being smothered with decora- tion of the coarsest and vilest description. The strongest remarks used by yourself in regard to the vandalism of 1866 is in every respect applicable to the present instance, and without one single excuse, for whereas the former was executed entirely by local men, the corbels in question are being daubed professedly under the direction of Professor G. G. Scott, R.A., although in reality by his clerk of works and Messrs. Clayton & Bell’s foreman. I am glad to hear that the Dean and Chapter haye, during the last few days, stopped the license of these vandals, -and given orders that under no circumstances is anything more to be done in this matter until Mr. Scott can find time to come down himself, and give his personal opinion as to whether it is positively essential for a series of the finest decorated corbels in England to be utterly spoilt in this ruthless manner. The lovely little capitals in the triforium, which, for their delicacy of treatment and charming delineation of natural types of foliage have always afforded a delightful treat to the adventurous student who may haye ascended so high, are also undergoing the same daubing process. Will not some lover of our beautiful cathedrals undertake the four and a quarter hours’ journey from London, and take this matter up? Left entirely to subordinates, our cathe- dral is in great danger of being ruined by this so- called restoration Surely Mr. Scott could afford occasionally to send down a clerk from_ his office, if the pressure upon his own time renders per- sonal attention to such trifles impossible.—I am, &e., Exeter, January 9. ais CONCRETE AND BETON WORK. Srr,—Would you allow me a few words on con- crete and “ béton,” mode of making, using, Gc.? In what follows I use, for distinction’s sake, the word concrete when the cementing materials are not made into mortar before mixing, and ‘‘béton” when they are. I find concrete defined as a species of rough masonry of small materials, as gravel, broken stones, &c., mixed with lime. I think this very defective. It should be called an artificial conglomerate; and the nearer it is made to imitate the natural ones the more perfect the concrete will be. An examination of the Kirkby Stephen conglomerate (pudding stone, locally) led me first to turn my attention to the matter. This pudding stone is composed of pieces of a grayish limestone, mixed with red sandstone. The pieces are of all sizes, from the size of a pea upwards, the larger pieces generally limestone. These are mixed so that the smaller ones fill up the interstices between the larger, till we get down to pieces not larger than peas; the whole is thoroughly flushed with sand. Through this the cementing material has filtered, rendering the rock as solid as those out of which it was formed. It is true, we cannot arrange our material so well or so symmetrically, yet that is no reason why we may not try. The things I want particularly to note are the arrangement and quality of the material, and that all interstices are filled and each piece cemented to all those contiguous, thus forming a solid mass. The concrete should imitate this in so far as it may, just using so much lime as, or very little more than will put an envelope round each separate portion of the materials from the smallest sand grain to the largest, and fill the interstices. Thus a solid mass is formed, more or less tenacious, according to the quality of cementing material. If Tam right in what I have said, just a certain quantity of lime is necessary, the quantity to be regulated according to the nature of the materials. I believe that an addition of lime to the right quantity makes the concrete worse instead of better; cement is another affair. But evenin the case of cement, if a certain quantity of cement make the concrete as hard as more could do, using more (both cement and lime) is a waste of valuable materials. Ihave tried lime. I said that the lime should form an envelope round each and every particle; it should adhere firmly and cohere in all the parts. Water, of course, is re- quired, and water I would use in such a quantity as to render the lime adhesive, and no more. How- ever, if the lime be in a proper state, there is no danger in any reasonable quantity of water. There is much more danger in the dry system, where the stones lie merely buried in the cementing material. When I treat on making, I shall speak of limes. I have written this more in reference to what I mean to say about concrete blocks, when I shall point out the bad workmanship, In many I have seen, one-third of cement is thrown away. I shall, of course, note the remedy. I shall close this by remarking that architects seem not to have studied this subject very scientifically, or we should never find a specification saying so much gravel or broken stones, and so much lime, in many cases before knowing anything of the materials, or whether they are such as would make concrete proper or not, or whether more suitable for béton. I shall draw at- tention to a mode of making facing-blocks which will stand weather.—I am, &e., C. A. WEDDLE. 37, Hyde-street, Winchester. DRAIN-PIPES, TAPS, &e. Srr.—The writer of a letter signed “ Plumber,” in your last week's issue, is evidently from the North, and did not understand the technical terms used by the gentlemen whose letters he criticised. I will try to enlighten him. Thos. Chas. Sorby means a simple gutter cesspool—that is, a square box about 12” 12” 6”, with a 4” lead pipe in bottom, made good to R. W. P., and not a trap (as they understand by acesspool in the north.) I think “Plumber” will agree with G. H. G.” that waste pipes should be trapped ; bending the pipe to a syphon-shape is, per- haps, better than metal yalves. There is nothing new in “ Plumber’s” system of drainage and trapping drains, so it calls for no ex- planation; but I should be glad to know what a jaw-box is, as it is a new term to me. I should be also glad to have his twenty years’ experience of pan-closets, containers, and D traps, and if he has not found as a rule that the container, after a few years’ wear, is coated with soil, and the dip pipe, from container to the D trap so coated that it can never be an effectual trap. This is my experience of them, and I think an ordinary sanitary pan (if a valve closet cannot be afforded) far preferable, and a Beard and Dent’s cast-lead S trap much better than the D trap, as it is easier flushed or cleaned than the old- fashioned D with its angles and recesses. I am, &e., CierK or Works. MR. FERGUSSON AND GOTHIC. Srr,—Many thanks for your article in last week's issue on ‘‘Damnatory Art-Criticism” as applied to the New Law Courts, and likewise to Mr. Charles Boutell for his letter anent the same. Amid the conflict and din, it is well to hear the clarion ring out a certain sound. I was forcibly reminded while reading Mr. Fergusson’s article of the remark I once heard a little man make, ‘“*That is an asseveration, but an assevera- tion is no proof.” I would desire to sit at the feet of the leaders in art and learn; but against some of Mr. Fergusson’s theories I would most earnestly set my face. I never could be persuaded that the Gothic was a dead style, while I could see in it truth, nerve, and beauty. I remember the unsatisfied feeling with which I finished reading some years ago Mr. Fergus- son’s “ History of Architecture.” I thought it a sorry “*come-off” if one of our best styles (the Gothic) was to be totally disused, seeing nothing better proposed to put inits place. Certain principles are eternal, and some of these principles, certainly, are embodied in Gothic architecture; and ‘‘a thing of beauty is a joy for ever.” ‘Trusting you will excuse these remarks, I am, &c., GEORGE MARTIN. Seaton Carew, Jan. 9, 1872. THE SEPARATE SEWAGE SYSTEM. Srr,—Will you allow an old subscriber and admirer of your yaluable journal to make a few remarks respect- ing the criticisms on a pamphlet by a Mr. J. B. Waring in your publication of January 5th, and in justice allow me to state a few facts. As manager of Mr. D. J. Bostel’s patent dry-earth closet system, I beg leave to state that Mr. Waring’s ideas are not new, that the deodorising material for the last three years in our system is always thrown first, contrary to Moule’s, and in accordance with Mr. Waring’s theory. 2nd. That at the Leeds Sanitary Exhibition in October last we exhibited a closet, which was seen by thousands, and which was the only trapped closet there, and had a reversible bottom to the pan. 3rd. That we modelled a pan on the principle, which was sent to Stiff’s Lambeth Potteries in the early part of October last, and of which we received a manufactured supply in December last. Judge, then, of oursurprise when we saw an application for letters patent for a pan identical with our own by J. B. Waring. We give these facts for the consideration of the public, and although we feel indebted to Mr. Waring for his advocacy of our system, yet his idea of patenting another man’s inven- tion is too bad.—I am, &c., D. CARTER, 86, Islingword-road, Brighton. PRESSURE OF GAS IN DRAINS, SEWERS, AND SOIL-PIPES. S1r,—Many of your correspondents vaguely assume the existence of sufficient pressure to blow out the water from the syphon-traps of closets and sinks. It would be very valuable information if some of them who have the opportunity would put this assumption to the test by fixing upon an unyentilated soil-pipe or other position an ordinary gas pressure gauge, a cheap instrument which is exceedingly simple to use and understand; they would then be able to express the amount of pressure if any existed, thus as being equal to a column of water five-tenths or ten-tenths of an inch high, the same asthe pressure of the ordinary gas used for lighting purposes is stated. I am glad to see your correspondent “ Plumber” is writing again, as I remember that his letters are always sensible and well written; they bear internal evidence of being the work of a Scotchman; but allow me to drop him a hint. Many English readers do not under- stand what he means by a cesspool, using that term to apply to a covered water dip trap, or open syphon water dip trap; in like manner, few South of the Tweed will know what his ‘‘ jaw-box” is. Q. R. Se Guascow.—At the last past monthly meeting of the Water Committee a report by the engineer was approved of, recommending, in view of the yearly- increasing consumption, that a new high and a new low main should be laid from Mugdock reservoir to Canniesburn. The cost was estimated at £50,000. At the same meeting it was stated that the total quantity of water sent into the city and suburbs during the preceding fortnight was 32,080,000 gallons per day; and that on the 25th of December the collection of assessments for the year 1871-2 amounted to £74,300 5s. 54d., being an increase of £13,208 8s. 6d. beyond the sum collected at. the same date last year. At an ordinary meeting of the Town Council, held on the 4th inst., Councillor Lang intimated that at the next meeting he would submit the following motion: That, with the view of protecting the health of the citizens and promoting the purification of the river Clyde, the Town Couneil resolve to take steps to obtain powers from Parlia- ment (so far as not already possessed) to compel proprictors and occupiers of heritages to provide and maintain air and water-tight receptacles for fuilzie, and wherein it shall be deodorised, such fuilzie be- coming the property of and being periodically re- moved by the authorities.