, 1877-11-10
POPULAR Science Record.

Popular Science Record.
FIRE -PEooF DWELLINGS. prize hav-
ing been offered for the erection of a fire
proof dwelling house of moderate cost, a
model fire proof house has been bmlt IN
Chicago, and was recently filled with
furniture and tested with
fire. The furniture and part OF the
window framing was consumed, and
portion of the wall -plasterins fell; but be
yond this, the building was not serlonsi y
injured, either by fire or water, and, IN
the opinion of the COMMITTEES OF experts
who conducted the tests, the builder Was
entitled to the prize. The dwellings erect
ed on the same plan as this tested house
are Of the cheapest possible construction
consistent with protection from hre, and
some account IF their mode of construc-
ton may be of value. The foundations
are of stone, laid In concrete, and the walls
are Of brick, 40 centimeters ia mcheg)
thick at the lower story, and % cen
timeters, the floor beams and rafters for
the flat roof in each case resting on pro-
iectins shelf These beams and rafters,
though of wood, are rendered fre-proof
by bedding them in concrete of 40 parts
sifted cinders, % parts mortar, and 20
parts plaster OF paris. Wired netting,
nailed to the under side of the beams
serve for a support for the plasterlnSS-
Above the plastering, the concrete Is
poured IN between the beams 3. 8 cen
timeters deep, and when it sets, it forms a
I, Il a. fhn md
inclosins the lower sides of the beams
Rough floor boards are laid over the beams
and on these above each beam Is nailed
down a beveled strip of wood 3.S centme-
tiers thick aud placed with the narrow end
uppeImost Between these strips concrete
is poured in the form Of a pasty mass till
the floor IS covered to the top of the strips
A stream of water from hose is used to
temper the concrete ard smooth it down,
and when it sets it gives hard, white
stone-likefloor. Finishing floor boards are
then laid over the concrete and nailed
down to the strip ps. The roof is also cover
ed in the same way, except that the TIN
roofing Is laid down over the concrete.
The partitions are made either of hollow
brick or of concrete laid up against iron
wires. The plastering is spread over tins
and against the brick walls Of the house
The stairs are of brick, laid in cement and
the tiues in the chimneys are lined with
clay pipes. Houses built on this plan,
two stories high, entirely finished with
out and within, provided with gas and
water pipes, bathroom, etc, and with
garden in the rear, marble door steps, and
terra Gotta window-caps, have been erect
ed for $1,000. Smaller houses, containing
kitchen, parlor, pantry, hall, cellar and
three chambers, have been built for $500
and one e-stcry houses with Eye rooms can
be erected fer $500. These houses more
nearly represent cheap fire-proof houses
than anything yet erected IN this country,
and are valuable rs illustrating some o.
the mere recent applications of concrete
in domestic construction. In this con-
nection solid wood floors would be cheap
er and stronger than the bean floors, aad
very nearly rs fire-proof, even without
concrete. Such floors cannot bura-ex-
cept very slowly, because the air camnoi
reach them, and, even if burrei faT ?
long tie, won't iall till almost completely
destroyed Iron rails (secoa&- hand from
the Tailrcad) have also been usett fcf lire
proof floors III iris city. Hhcy ar3 lid
about sixty contjmet,rs apart, and lie
fastened together by roGs passing through
them and secured 20 the walls at front
and back OF the building 4 table IS rails
ed Just under the rails, and this concrete
(Gnders-or powdered cohe-mortar and
plaster Of -paris) Is poured a between the
rails. When it sets, the tables from be-
low are emoyed, ald the aoor may be
plastered belor and boarded above
Thorgh only ten or twelve centimeters
thick, il is sufficient to resist fire and sus-
tain the load on the floor.
EFFECTS OF COMPRESSED AIR. From
Bert's researches it appears that meat
does net oxodize and putrefy IN compress
ed air merely undergoing = change of
color, consistency and taste. But, on the
other hand, muscular and nervous exeita-
bihty disappear very rapidly In compress
ed air Thus the conditions of the two
phenomena are different. ASain, certain
lamentations may be arrested by oxygen
at high pressure; the micoderma of vine
gar IS destroyed or killed by the action of
compressed cir 1t is necessary, then, to
distinguish lii fermentation various phen-
omesla belonging to chemical actions, and
those belonging to the action of fermenis,
properly SO called. N. Bert ADDS that
compressed rir s;ops tee putretrction Of
meat even Nhen the latter has been in
pregnated with putrid germs
-oN|~NNON~-SOS-~~~~O~
GENERAL Howard AS MISsIs GUMMIDcE.
General Howard is certainly an rlnlucky
man. His recent Indian campaign brought
hirl only obloquy. The victory was snatch
ed out of his hands, and the laurels were seiz-
ed and worn by Gen. Miles. And then, or
returning to Chicago, he is just in time to
receive tremendous rap over the knuckles
from Con Sheridan, because one of his staff
took copy OF his report to the press before
1t bad Eeen transmittal To the General Cer-