Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-01-12
BUILDING FOUNDATIONS
How to Tcst the Soil Whore Any D0ul
OF Iss Flrsnness Exiats.

BUILDING FOUNDATIONS.
How to Test the Soil Whore Any Doubt
OF Iss Firinness Exlsts.
Too much care in this portion of the
ediice.i is an impossibility. A lack OF
substantially in the foundation will
endanger the safety of the building
and its occupants. producing settle
ments and cracks in the walls. defects
that are incurable after the structure
is finished. except at great expense.
The house may be built upon a rock.
but it may rot be on the right kind OF
a rock to insure durability to the
structure. A knowledge of the geo
logical formation in the vicinity is nee
essary, to enable the builder to select a
proper site. A place that for surface
elevation and surroundings may be
very eligible to build upon. may have
a soil too loose and sandy to the depth
to excavate and build upon. Or, the
site may &c of rocky formation; but if
the rock, upon exposure 10 the tools CT
the workmen, or the influence of the
atmosphere. is likely to crumble into
atoms within few years. it is better
to select ground in less agreeable
but more substantial situation.
To test the foundation soil, where any
doubt of its firmncss exists, holes should
be bored at several points, and to such
depth AS will guarantee perfect immo-
bility to the structure when completed.
All ''made- ground" is to be mistrusted.
rs of too loose a texture. for all ground
that has been deposited by man, or
upturncd by him to any material
depth. will require ages to gain the
firmness of an original formation.
Land permeated by natural springs is
to be avoided, unless they arc definite
ly located and substantially arched
over. Clay, gravel, or even sand. may
make a solid foundation upon which to
build, if the excavation reaches to the
original beds. and no running water is
found to weaken them. The great city
of London is built upon sandy gravel.
and the foundations have proved dura-
BILE when properly built.
The depth of foundation can not
be regulated by any general rule. as
much depends upon the weight and
strength of the building to be erected
and the character of the ground. The
old rule was to make the excavation
equal IN depth to one-sixth of the
height of the structure. If this depth.
by boring, indicates instability in the
soil, trenches may be dug until firm
ground is reached. In laying the
foundation of the Third Presbyterian
Church in Chicago, great irregularity
of depth was required. and some of the
''mudsills" were laid many feet deeper
than others. At the bottom of the
basement. the ground was leveled. and
the construction from that point was
perfected without further difficulty.
The irregu!arity in the walls below the
basement insured perfect permanence
to the building. The trencl,-system
may be used with similar good effects.
If possible, however, the ''mudsills"
should be upon the same level.
Wherever, at a proper depth. = reqi-
site frmness of the earth is lacking,
piles may be driven in the line
of the proposed walls. and upon these
oak planks alone may be betl,led i'm the
but large stones are prefera-
bic. In case of narrow pit of loose
made ground. lying in the line of the
rs will sometimes occuE
piles may not reach the bottom; bat |
by digging trench through the pitt
from side to side. about two feet deep.
and filling it with concrete. a cover is |
when the concrete hardens-
that will prevent the mud beneath
from rising, and make firm support
for the foundation stones Concrete
IS formed by mixing pebble stones and
gravel with enforcement, the whole
mass becoming like stone when it I
lries.-HIFs National Builder.