The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-03-14
For tue Gate City
Gravel or Grout Houses.


dwelling house, built Of what is termed
gravel wallis" composed Of gravel, sand.
lime and broken stone, or stone chips
While it was in process of erection, and
down to the present time, / am constantly in
CURED of and written TO upon the subject,
for my opinion of their utility, cost, and
process Of building. To answer these nu-
merous inquiries is the object of this COM
munication.
While ] have always been free and frank
to answer all inquiries upon this subject, |
have sometimes been annoyed BY hearing the
remarks Of persons who claim TO have good
sense, and some science upon other subjects
very remote from the cohesive properties
composing the chief materials in brick or
stone walls.
Suffice it to say that my house is two sto-
ries high above the basement, and has stood
the rigors Of two winters, imperyous to wat
er, uninjured by frost or any other element .
and | hazard the opinion that 1t will stand
the ordinary rayages Of time, long after
those who have predicted otherwise shall
have passed off the stage Of action, and be
forgotten.
| wish it distinctly understood that do
not intend to write a book upon the subject,
or that expect any pecuniary benefit for any
information possess, neither am candi-
date for any Office, therefore do not expect to
make any political capital. 1t costs you
nothing, and therefore it is full as cheap as
you can obtain it in any market. | tried the
experiment upon my own responsibility, un-
der my own direction, and it has succeeded
my most sanguine expectations and if
wished to build again for myself, would
employ the same materials, unless should be
obliged to sacrifice time or money to obtain
them.
Ny only object in making this statement,
is solely to diffuse this acknowledgements ex-
tensiyely than | could otherwise do it, and at
the same time contribute something to the
comforts and happiness of my fellow men,
which claim we owe to each other, and
should be mutually exchanged.
This class Of houses can be erected all over
the country, much cheaper than either brick
or wood, and need not ask how much more
beautiful would our rural districts appear
with these neat white cottages dotted all up
and down the praries, taking the places of
the rough log cabins, which, in many instan-
ces, cost almost as much. If you take health
INTO the account, (and does not sickness cost
money as well as pain,) there is no compar-
son in the ultimate cost. While the rude cab
in constructed Of logs laid upon the ground
begins to decay and decompose from the first
commencement of their erection, generating
disease from this decomposition and amaga-
nation with the mother earth, these mixed
walls will be always dry and clean, imperv-
Gus to the changing elements, aud perfectly
comfortable and healthy at all seasons Of
the year. As the family cluster about the
hearth stone, after the tolls of the dav are
over, what conduces to their happiness so
much as health, comfort and cleanliness.
There is scarcely streamlet winding it's
way through the prairies or timber that does
not furnish the most Of the material necessa-
ry for the construction of these houses. IL
You have not the time or means to plaster
your house inside, you can whitewash it, and
renew il as often as you wish to have your
walls neat and clean. Any farmer with the
help of one man or boy can put him up
good house without employing mechanic,
except for his doors and windows, and put
ting down his floors. Indeed, as we now
have in most If our river towns manufactur
ing establishments where doors, windows and
flooring can be obtained, it needs but little
mechanical skill TO finish the house.
Were upon the prairie, remote from any
stream, should have no hesitation to take
the best material could get near me, for If
you can only get the walls up and protect
them until dry there is no danger Of their
falling down.
1t was not my design to give the details of
the mode OF construction, for these have
been published by several authors, and can
be found in most book stores. | will SAT,
however, that if any further information is
necessary, ali are free to ask, and will free
ly impart all possess as cheap as have
given this, and if our newspapers will pub
lish it and you.take the papers YOU will get it
all very cheap. VIM. BROWNELL.
kookuk, March, 1856