, 1865-12-27
Clay sIouses In France.
Editors T,ibune:

N'-@1NO.AA-t
In reply 10 IN inquiry for Information as to
the building Of clay houses, in your paper of
few days ago, I take the liberty of stating to
you the process which have seen in opera
ton in paris Of France where tho farmers
houses nre mo:tly of this character, and which
enlbles them 10 exist comfortable md very
sood-looling buildiugs-aud to all appear
ance, durable oncs-ycry simple md chcaply.
The clay ia prepared by sreaain@ Until II Is
rendered very tenacious and Of eauable con-
sistencc, so as to BE- lhlcd easily with shovel.
II Is then mixed with chopped straw and Is
ready for the building. The building Is made
Tor rather the walls orc madel by laying down
q wooden box or frame, four to hix feet long,
two feet wide, aud eighteen inches llsh, with
out bottom rtop, and with one end taken
ont, after the end brick is laid ito be replaced
again when wanted), This box Is laid on the
ground where the corner of the building is to
be commenced, and Is filled with the pre-
pared clay, which is pressed down solid1y In
tic box the box Is then moved, the end taken
ont and PLACED for tAc ne1t brick, and again
filled with clay until the course is laid. For
the second course, small sticks arc placed
ac1oss the tricks already laid, the bog placed
on them aud again filled with clay, tile boz
being moved along as before The sticks are
left In the wntl and serve several purposes,-
the ends being cut of tlush with the wall
one purpose evidently being to nall the lath
10 for Inside plastering-thoneh these pur-
poses are mere conclusions Of my own, rs
have not seen any more Of the operation than
the building OF the walls and the laying Of the
roof. The roof 70 generally made Of straw
matched with wide caves.
These houses are plastcrcd outside with
rough castine, which seems to stand the
weather rcry well, and the comfortable and
c1canly appearance inside, with the neat and
picturesque outside, adorned with pure white
wash and covered with creeping plants, TO
say nothing Of the bospitable porch and
hngs cider cask Standing thcreat, Pre- 1oso
view 10 the pedestrian travelling The roads in
Normandy, hot and dusty as he undoubtedly
will be; and dotted over the country, eu-
powered In orchards or surrounded with
patches Of ye1low-foweSing colin, really Gu
chant the traveller, as from the "banquette''
Of the diligence lie surveys the scene around
him.
# Illinois only needs these clay houses to
complete picture parallel with the plains of
"{a belzt Aormdndit," hope they will be
built before visit tie interior OF your State,
ns the view Of one Of them would recall
many pleasant scenes past and gone probably
forever.
/ need not say that hare merely given the
simple principle on which these houses nre
Gpilt. the dcinil us to putting in door and
window frames, &C., Is 80 simple that any one
Who has handled q sns1 or n hammer would
reed no Information to enable him to do that
rart Of the work.
The preparing Of the clay, the building Of
The walls and the outside finish arc the main
requirements, as understand
might soy thGt ! do not remember 10 have
seen a house Of this kind in state of 1slnpi-
crecpers, go carefully trained over the walls,
,vonld furnish eflecttlnl protection against the
weather.
Creeping roses, OF, ought to sag, climbing
roses wculd grow Us luxuriautly in Illinois, !
should think, as in Europe
a coacl:malzcr's ni,csnn,a.
PnA1E1E Cr1y, H., Dec. a.
Editors Tribune:
NUlyou please inform me aud many friends,
through the TRIBUNE, concerning the Rcre-
nuc law on the following point am coach
maker; buy SIS worth Of materials, (which
las paid tie revenue In the hands Of the
Wholesale Dealers, and put them Into coach
I sell the coach for Sle5, allowing myself SO
for uly Labor. Now, does the Revenue law
contemplate that ehall pay rcycnrc on the
whole amount, or only on the $50 which I
realized tor my labor. II pay revcnne on
TIE whole amount pay reycnne on SIS The
second time.
Again, I now take the SIS Of the slas, and
purchase materials for the second coach, and,
when completed, sell it for sl25. Must
cow pay revenue on the whole amount again
You Eec The dilemma; can you help me onte
1sQrIRER.
ASswEn.-This inquiry should be addressed
to the Commissioner Of internal Revenue.
Water Communication Between CHI
caso nn6 Richmond, Va.
EN{tors T1huua.