The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-15
MARBLE FOR THE WALLS,
A New Scheme to ConStruct
Buildings Of That
Material.
THE AFFILIATED COLLEGES.
The Faculty Is Considering Plans
for Their $25O,OOO
Structure.

1t is among the possibilities of the inn
mediate future that the affiliated colleges
of the State University will have marble
building.
The last Legislature appropriated quar-
ter of million dollars to the building of
the affiliated colleges to be erected in this
City; and, though no site has as yet been
secured, the joint committee of the sew
eral faculties has had several building
plans and designs up for consideration.
Among them was one for marble struc-
ture.
The plans so far have been merely sug-
gestive, including that of J. G. Pelton for a
marble building. The only thing of the
kind in the State is the Stockton Public
Library, the exterior appearance of which
is that of solid marble.
The question as to whether marble
building can be constructed at reasonable
cost Architect Pelton thinks has been
satisfactorily answered in the Stockton
structure, to which reference is made. 1t
is claimed that the method of construction
invented by Mr.. Pelton has solved the
problem of cost, durability and strength
com bined with external beauty. The walls
are of brick and steel, with a marble
the outside.
When the twenty-eight plans for the
Stockton library were submitted those for
the marble building were looked on with
uncertain ewes. The trustees liked the idea
of the marble, but were timid about &C
cepting the plans, as the system was new
and INFESTED. Governor Budd, who was
chairman of the trustees, was instrumental
in overcoming the opposition to the new
idea" and the plans were accepted. The
building was erected and is one of the
| handsomest structures of the State. 1t
! cost $50, 900, which it is estimated is 20 per
| cent cheaper than that Of marble build
| ing of the same dimensions constructed on
the old system.
According to Mr.. Pelton the system of
| construction has many advantages. A
wall fourteen inches thick is sufficient for
building of five stories in height. The
| steel frames, as well as the outside marble
| slabs, give the same strength as three or
! four feet thickness of brick At intervals
between the steel frame work are slotted
/ cleats, which extend four or five inches be-
yond the brick. In these are set the marble
slabs, the joints being filled tight and
smooth. Between the brickwork and the
marble exterior there is an interstice OF
two inches, which, il is claimed, acts as a
protection against dampness, heat, cold
and fire. There is free circulation of air
! between the marble and brick. Among
the other advantages claimed for the new
system of construction is that of economy
in space. Where real estate and walls are
high the difference between walls
fifteen inches and forty-two inches
in thickness is appreciable. 1t is
estimated that in the Croker building
| there is 16 per cent loss in space and in the
| Mills building II per cent. The new sys-
TEN would save from one-third to half,
depending on the height of the structure
| With a rent roll of $20,0 the difference
would equal $1100 or $1,000.
The exterior of building constructed
on this system is that of solid marble, and
in durability it is claimed to be equal. If
a slab should become injured in any way
it can be taken out and replaced at small
expense, leaving the surface the same as
before.
Those who have looked into the matter
are convinced that it will have a revolu-
tionary bearing on the architecture of the
future. For public buildings it subserves
the ends of strength and beauty, and &C.
complishes an immense saving in wall and
floor room.
The faculties Of the affiliated colleges are
much impressed by the idea of marble
building, and their further investigation
Of the proposition will be attended with
much interest.