The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-30
ADOBE BUILDINGS.



now the western Farmer May Ecopemixs
Buflding Material.
As compared with brick, stone, con-
crete and frame buildings. those built OF
adobes have many advantages. They
cost less, are as durable, cooler in sum-
! mer, warmer in winter, and let there be
incessant rains for weeks at time, the
walls will never "sweat" or show q
particle Of dampness.
In Western villages lack of conven
lent clay-beds has induced the settlers
to make adobes of common earth OF
loamy soil. On western or southern
exposures, cottages of such adobes soon
look very much battered and worn. the
material not possessing power to resist
the beating rains. p.
Adobes require to lie well protected
by projecting cornice, and founda-
ton high enough to keep the drip of
the caves from splashing up against
the walls. When the hign foundation
IS objectionable, the first foot or more
above the foundation is frequently con-
structed of hard brick. Should troughs
be fitted To the caves, the wear on the
sides of the walls and the splashing at
the base are entirely obviatcd. When
only inferior material can be obtained
for making adobes, they are frequently
laid so as to be plaStered on the out
side. by not filling the outer joints with
mortar. Another plan adopted in some
localities is TO dovetal the edge of each
adobe by piece secured in the molds.
Another still is to drive large nails in
the outside walls, about two nails to
each adobe, leaving the heads project
ing about three-eighths of an inch. In
either case the plaster is clinched on
the walls securely. Adobe walls are
laid in clay mortar, composed Of two
parts of sand, and one part of clay, by
measure. This, when dry, adheres so
firmly as to make an almost solid wall.
AS this clay mortar, containing
so large a proportion of sand.
washes badly when exposed to
to lay the outer tier of adobes with lime
mortar, or to point the exposed joints
with good quality lime mortar, which,
drying smooth and white in well struck
joints, adds much to the beatty of the
building. In plasterinS outside walls
the first two coats are applied with clay
mortar, rs lime mortar will no. adhere
to adobe walls. The last, or finishing
coat. is applied with lime mortar, pre-
pared for outside wear. The first and
second coats for inside plastering are
nj of al Ert-
white coat of either lime or plaster of
Paris. The mortar adheres firmly
enough on inside walls without any spe-
cial preparation of the surface. Rarely,
an adobe cottage is painted of a brick
color, with the joints laid off in white
paint. AdoGeS are always in demand
among the farmers, US the common
kinds can be made by any one at the
place where wanted. The common blue
clay that underlies the sub soil of many
large districts in the prairie State,
would no doubt yield excellent adobes,
if made in the dryest part of the sum-
summer, and thoroughly sun-baked.
As laid in the walls with clay mortar.
adobes are capable of supporting great
pressure.
A wall in the basement of large
brick building, the second story OF
which has long been used as theaier
and dancing-hall, has supported the
pressure of a central post that sustained
the center beam of the upper floor,
under all the weight and springirg of 4
wears. This wall is only the
length of one adobe in thickness
about eleven inches, vet it remains firm.
The church in Payson, Utah. struc:-
IRE forty-iive by seventy-iive feet. with
walls twenty-four feet high, supporting
a heavy roof and belfry. appear as Sc
cure as any brick building of the same
These walls are two feet
thick. on firmly groutcd wall which is
surrounded with several layers of brick
and Il tone watcr-tabie.
Besides the uses already mentioned,
atobcs are much in demand for backing
the brick walls of dwellings, stores aud
public buildings of that material, and
are frequently used for the back walls
of stores, being Joined to the brick.
Three courses OF adobes equal in height
four courses of brick. AdobeS are also
much used as lining for frame houses,
being laid up edgeways in clay-mor.ar
between the studding. When so used the
laths are placed farther apart than usual.
When adobcS are used for backing brick
walls, it is customary to tie the adobcs
and bricks together when the courses
ONE even. with light straps of iron laid
across every two or three feet.
In the Far West adobes are used for
all kinds of buildings, especially on the
farm. They could be safely used in
nearly all the Mississippi Valley by
taking the precautions that have been
here mentioned. Many farmers could
construct all their smaller out-buildin.ys
OF this material. and thus add much to
the comfort of their animals. and to TIE
pleasure and profit of agricultural pur-
-dgricuitnriSt.