Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-10-02
GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE.
HINTS TO YOUNG ARCHITECTS.
u. stten f1r the Tribune.

as IaIllllaf rs possible VIII tne pidiis
and other drawings of the building to be
constructed. Nothing is of SO much ser
vice in rendering the labors of the super
i%ntendent valuable to his employers and
himself as Il thorough understanding Of
the projected builiing which will enable
him to foresee the consequences Of every
manship Of each part Of the editice, while
in progress of construction, with refer
ence to its final use and finish. His duty
is only half fulfilled if he blindly trusts
to the accuracy of the pins. He should
examine, compare and correct them nj
nutely, thoroughly, and frequently 1t is
impossible in the architects office to
avoid all mistakes in drawing OF figuring,
but such as escape the eye of the busy
professional man can easily be detected
by a little care in comparing them with
the work Oh the ground, and this duty
clearly belongs to the superintendent
Not only should lie make sure Of the ac-
curacy of the plans, but he must look
oQt beforehand for other points which
may affect or hinder the construction
when once begun. If, for instance, the
drawings show stone and brick work
bonded together in elevation, it should be
his duty at once to procure bricks of the
kind TO he used in the facing, md lay
them up in mortar joints of the usual or
specified width, in order to ascertain with
certainty the height which a given III
Der Of courses of bricks will lay. 1t is
common in such work to assume that five
courses OF brick will lay one foot in
height, and the detail drawings for the
stone work are often made and figured
accordingly. If, then, as often happens,
the particular brick used is a little thick
er or thinner than the standard, the stone
once cut from an imperfect assumption
will fail to bond properly, and, if it can
not be recut, must either be thrown away
Or inserted as best it may, the wide joints
and irregular lines bearing witness to the
i~neompetency Of the one who directed
the work.
Even supposing the plans to be correct,
the superintendent will find many oppor
t%unities for saving both contractor and
owner from the annoyance and expense
caused by .he carelessness of workmen.
1t is impossible to get the ordinary me-
chanic to concern himself aboutthe future
matters which will depend upon his work,
and a little foresight in supervision will
prevent many careless deviations from
the drawings or specifications, which, al
though the contractor would be bound to
correct them, he will be glad to have de
tected il season to save him that expense
and will show his gratitude by special
endeayor TO please. Another important
point il efficient supervision is, after in
specting tile materials delivered, to make
sure that those rejected arer.moved from
the premises. If they are marked for re-
lection, rs they should always be, let the
mark be OF the fase of the cracked or thin
stone, OF en- the ripper side Of a "waney''
foor-boarl, 50 that it can be recognized
ii it should be afterwards putin the work.
If such pFecau1ion is not taken, and if
the marks are not made in such a manner
that they cannot be rQbbed OF planed off,
materials once discarded will be SNUG
gled into the building ia spite Of the in
functions of the superintendent or CON
tractor.
1t is impossible to be too thorough in
each periodical inspection Of the build
ING. It will not do to examine one portion
day one and another the next; the prop
er way is to 60 all over the structure at
each visit. Wherever q man is working
OF has been working since the last inspec-
ton, go and see what he las done. In
this way it will be possible to gain that
definite knowledge Of every portion of
the structure, which is the only security
against concealed vices of workmanship.
One other %precaution must be observ-
ed: let not the young architect put too
much faith i'll what Workmen say to him..
The best of them dislike to pull down or
change what is already done, and if adj
v~ertence or temporary convenience has
led them into palpable violations Of the
specifications, they will often stretch the
truth considerably in their excuses and
explanations. Some are much worse
than this, and will deliberately avail
themselves of the credulity and inaxperi-
ence of the young architect under whose
authority they come, to obtain from him,