Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-11-13

AROUND BUILDINGS IN WASHINGTON.
IGansard or French roofs since the Boston con-
fagratiOn, a reporter OF The STAR was dis
patched TO Mr.. Adolf Cluss, a member Of the
hoard of public works, and one OF our most
prominent architects, to get his opinion on the
subject. MIR. Cluss was apparently deeply en-
crossed in the study of large number OF maps
and drawings relating to architecture, but cOur-
teously suspended his labors to answer the que
lies of the reporter.
"well, Mr.. Cluss, a great outcry against
them?"
"No, sir; 1 condemn their abuse, but not their
use."
what do you mean by their abuse 2"
I" i mean that as nine-tenths of the French
roofs are constructed in this country, they are
NOTHING BUT MERE SHE'LL
q facing of slate on a wooden frame. They
may be called veneering. Under this slate
tarred paper is placed, and OF course that feeds
the flames and accelerstes the demolition Of the
"What would you suggest as a remedy"
"French roofs, even if constructed of wood,
can be comparatively secured by putting be-
tween the rafters a counter ceiling filled with
mortar, the same as a floor which has been
deafened."
"Would this be radical remedy?v
90, no. The great objection to such roofs is
that they burn up like finder. Now. what is
wanted is to strengthen the roof In Its constIuc-
ton so that 1t can withstand the effect OF che
fire until help arrives
show about iron in the construction of tbesa
rocfs?p ''0
"ITon Is very good and can be furnished with
but little additional expense. ! would recon-
mend, however, even if iron be used that the
counter ceiling and mortar be put in as in the
case OF wood. My idea is that
WOODEN CoRNICRs
are more dangerous than the present French
TOOLS. Ihese cornices should be made of gal
yanlsed iron, and so should the dormer windows
in French roofs which are generally made Of
wood" -
s.Soypethiuo n as haap soid oI,oy,. .bo ,,zo -.
IRON COLUMNS IN BUILDINGS
that they break from the heat and burning
buildings tumble down in consequence"
II hat Is very true where single hollow cast
iron columns are in use. But double columns
should be Invariably used such as are specified
BUILDING REGULATIONS
OF the board of public works, section q saws:
All linteis OF stone fronts, returned over cor
ner opening, shall be OF iron OF the full breadth
OF the wall TO be supported, and shall be made
safe as above detailed; any support at the corner
shall he of brick, cut stone, or iron, und il of
iron, " shall be the shape of a double column
tnetis an outer and inner column and the inner
column shall be Of ficent strength to sustain
safely the whole weight, and the outer column
snail be made of sufficient size to allow a space
OF at least one inch between it and the inner
column, which space shall be solidly filed with
plaster of paris, or some other non-conducting
material which lie equally secure The Phila-
deiphia Ledger building is carried up five stories
on such iron columns. You see the outer iron
columns may break, but the inner ones will
easily Sustain the weight of the entire building
The outer columns in all casss should be of
wrought iron, which will not break so readily as
cast iron ones"
g on have referred to the building reguls-
tons OF the board Of public works. Do they
mention ?" 'ON
go, yes. For instance. they prescribe the
thickness OF all walls specify that thin AshIar
facings shall not be counted in determining the
thickness OF walls; among other things theS saw
that in corner buildings the walls on streets on
VI hnayx h &c.
than the other walls very necessary precau-
tlon. They also forbid the construction of any
KIND OF recess in nine-inch partition walls.
heretofore the excavation OF recesses In such
walls for fire places has been a fruitful source of
hres, y frequently parties building alongside
have run in joists i'm close proximity to the fire
places, and fires have resulted in consequence.
heretofore III many
ROWS OF HOUSES BUILT FOR sPECULATIvRPU R-
POSES,
the party walls have. in defiance of law, been
stopped at the ceiling jOiSts, so that if a nre
breaks out it will be carried through the entire
row. row of this very kind is now going up
Of the beard OF public works to inter fere i'm be-
nall or the community. Among the safe
guards the board has established in the center
which no wooden buildings shall be erected.
ana besides, they forbid the use OF any
but nom com bustible roofs in the cities of WASH
say that no wooden building shall be erected in
range Of more than 40 feet frontage without the
intervention OF brick party wall, which, as
well as all similar walls, must be carried a o six
inches above the surface OF the roofs. In the
past buildings have been put up in a very reck.
iess manner In Washington, and it is clearly the
onty o. the authorities to do all they can here
AFTER TO prevent the erection of cheap unsafe
dwellings, simply for speculative PURPOSES.
u ,000 FOR BREACH OF PROMISE SUIr.-
IN the Circuit Court at Stanton Va ON
saturday, the jury in the case Of Mrs Sarah j.
Oal Der vs.. David Meyers, for breach of PROMISE
sH aIded the plaintiff 1900 damages She
Claimed $1,000.
close run.
counterfeit postage.stamps have attained
Q large circulation.
81 Major j. 8. Hay Is about to start a new
evening paper in st. Louis.
Jews Downing, principal chief of the
Cherokee nation, died on Saturday.
~LoIg Island farmers clean BROOKLYN gut
teIs gratis for the sake Of the fertiizing matter
obtained.
ga female ghost is fitting around Vim
eennes, Ind, with q revolver and bowie knife
SEEKING LOT an old enemy In the flesh.
~ Little girl OFFS was lately chased by two
DO, at Leslie, Mich, and so overcome by frteht
and exhaustion that she died.