The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-14
Health Rules in Building.

A New York paper, devoted to real
estate interests, says: In all com
pactly built towns, but particularly in
our larger Western and Southern
cities, the air on the plane of the
second or third stories Of ordinary
dwellings is more agreeable and
healthy than that in the basement or
ground floors. Where yellow fever
prevails it is recommended by physi-
clans to sleep and live, as much as
possible, in elevated apartments. The
air held within an area of crowded
buildings, being INSTRUCTED as to its
natural average motion by walls and
fences, is prevented from a free ven
tilation, and is stagnated in streets,
alleys, yards and courts, to every de-
gree of closeness. There is no chance
Tor a free surface ventilation, and
during close weather, in such sltua-
lions for many days at time, the air
which is retained is but little changed.
1t is to be regretted that our knowl-
edge concerning the emanation OF
gases and air from the crust of the
earth is not more certain. That the
earth does perform function some,
what analogous to human respiration
is most probable; that is, the air pene
trateS the soil and water to certain
depth, is there changed, as in ANNA
| lungs, and is again eXhaled or expired
through the pores of the earth Of
water. How much the expired air Il
changed in different situations is al
ways a subject for scientific inquiry
1t is reasonable to suppose that sucf
| atmospheric changes may be excited
into action by laws similar to thos'
which govern the motions of the air a
different temperatures. Whateve
may be the causes which originate, Of
the laws which govern terrene emo
tions, their existence cannot be ques
toned. In alluvial soils cellars art
damper and more unpleasant than il
primal formations, and obtain and re
tain an air which gives life to mould'
and various air plants.
| Now, instead Of springing thu
houses out of the ground in such stu
ations by digging cellars, and continu
ing the communications with thu
houses above by solid walls, it i!
suggested to build arches as the foun
| dations for the houses, so that ;
stratum of air may be interposed be
| tween the interior of the dwellings, an(
| the earth.
What advantage may be expected
by such a change from the presenI
style of building? AS already said
surface ventilation of the air would
be one prominent advantage. Clean
illness, surface drainage, convenience
in city life, an abatement of certain
nuisances, and consequent increased
healthfulness, would be Other advant
ages. 1t is not necessary to enumer
ate all the machinery which can nov
be so easily procured for carrying ou
the details Of this desirable object. 1
is well known that such appliances ar,
now at hand. Substitutes for cellar
are being invented and put on tn
market; manufactures for asphalt
and artificial stone are being estab
lished; convenient receptacles TO
holding the refuse and effete matter
of a family are already made, so tina
such refuse can be readily transporte,
to a distance without ordor. Indeed
every detail for carrying out the con
veniences for this principle of arch
buifding ee: aG now be obtained at mod
crate expense, for even the 1arges
cities