Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-03-19
Architectural Engineering.

as being distinct, and in one sense
they are distinct but there is a class
of building which, while it gives scope
to all skill in design which the finish
ed architect possesses, also involves
considerable knowledge Of civil and
mechanical engineering.
We allude to the designing of build
ings, and works for manufacturing
purposes. In many kinds of manu-.
featuring, long established and sys-
tematized, there exists regular meth
cd for building SO far as interior ar
rangement is concerned, never modi-
fed except in unimportant details
The exteriors of such buildings vary
greatly in the degree of beauty and
appropriateness of their designs but
n large number are totally destitute of
either, being simply stiff and ungrace.
ful masses of masonry, which, if not
without form, are certainly destitute
of comeliness. Others would be good
designs we're it not for their inappro-
priateness. 20
But it is not of exterior designs
that we are about to speak. There is
a field in which the highest success
can only be reached by uniting the
special requisites of skill in mecbani-
cal and civil engineering with the
skill of the architect. In many in
dustrial establishments strict adhe,
renee to one type of building is Meth.
or requisite nor desirable. Circum-
stances connected with the location,
the materials available for the erec-
tion of buildings, the character of the
site, and other particulars not neces-
sary To be enumerated, must, in some
cases, and may, in any case, render
more or less change necessary.
As an illustration of this fact, we
have in mind case where large in
dustrial building, recurring very heavy
walls to support the machinery, was
erected on the side of clay hill
work was about two-thirds completed
when it was found that the building
and its foundations were gradually
but surely sliding down hill. OF
course, nothing was left but to tear
down, and either begin over again
upon better foundation, or change
the site of the building. Here was u
grave error committed by an archi-
.tect Of no mean reputation, simply by
not taking into proper account the
effect likely to be produced upon the
clay basis by such q great weight as
was necessary.
Our readers will doubtless recall
some instances of terrible disasters
arising from want Of proper strength
in manufacturing buildings, of which
the fall of the Pemberton Mill, at
Lawrence, Mass, was a most notable
and lamentable example. We have,
in our observations of different indus.
trial works, often wondered that more
such disasters did not happen rather
than SO few. 1t is common to meet
with errors in building arising from
obvious ignorance of the practical
working of machines, and their effects
upon buildings in which they are pla.
-ced, together with total disregard Of
the effect likely to be produced by
rhythmic movements and their attend
ant vibrations. We have seen power
printing presses placed in positions,
on top floors, where the Ultimate de-
struction of a building, by their Of.
fects, would only be q work of time
and drop presses placed upon founda.
tions so weak that they could not, by
any possibility, bo expected, by an
expert, to remain in stu more than Q
week at the outside. LF n
We believe that there ia now. ant
has been for some time, a reouiremcn,
for a special D, ofessiop of arcbitectu
raj engineering.
Because a man can build bapdsom,
churches design n snlendid front for
bank building, or erect an elegan
villa It docs not follow that he is com
petent to build or superintend tn,
buildino ofa crist. mill. or even saw
mill rf TTt