Evening star., 1896-02-29
A Good Demand for Brick Report
ed by a Manufacturer.
MATERIAL BETTER THAN WORKMANSHIP
Some Problems That Confront the
Average Suburban Community.
ERECTION OF BUILDINGS

I'VE have orders for brick that will re-
quire three months of steady burning at the
fullest capacity of our kilns to ILL., said
one of the largest brick manufac turers in
this city. 81 know of another brickmaker
who has orders for about 100000 brick,
and he has only about 100000 on hand.
The demand at this time of the year is
very good one. and from present indica-
tions there will be a good deal Of building
going on during the year. The outlook is
certainly much more favorable than it has
been for some time
AS brick Is SO generally used here as a
building material. and as the above state
ment may be taken as representing the
conditions of that industry here, it can be
concluded that the coming season will wit
ness good deal of activity in the building
line. All the brick used for building pur-
poses in this city, with the exception of the
varieties made of clay Of fancy colors. Is
manufactured in this vicinity, and, as Is
we'll known. the article turned out from the
brick yards CT the District is equal to
similar product in any part of the country.
and superior to that which is made in a
great any localities.
Substantial Buildings.
1t is found that the clay in this locality
is Of superior character for brick-making
purposes. and there is no reason why build
ings constructed of this material should not
be substantial AS far as the brick is con-
cerned, all structures in which 1t is the
principal material would stand the test of
time If the other material were of equally
good quality and the workmanship was
first-class AS 1t is, it is extremely diff
cult to destroy the average brick wall, and
In spite OF the himSieSt construction, walls
are found to maintain an upright position
for a surprising length of time, and under
conditions which would seem to make any
other fate than collapse impossible.
There Is no reason why the residents of
handsome louses should find it impossible
to keep comfortable indoors during extreme
weather except the carelessness and the
dishonesty of the builder. When the Geld
knows that 1t does not come through the
brick, but through the aperatures which
the shiftless workmen have left. The same
CO uses which render a house uncomforta-
hot weather 1t is fact that house that
Is cold In winter is also warm in summer.
A Pure Water supply.
or more than usual interest was the dis,
cussion at the last meeting of the board of
trade Of the subject of public health and
sanitation. Elaborate statistics there pre-
sented. and the conclusions based upon
them, all pointed to the Importance of the
purity of the drinking water used by a COM
munity. One of the speakers, who has given
the subject of public hygiene much atten-
tion, went so far as to say that if a good
supply of water could be secured the uues-
lion or sewer system was of secondary i'm
portance.
1t was no doubt surprising to a good many
people when they read this statement, for
the general idea is that a system of sewer
age Is essential to the public health 1t must
be acknowledged that in thickly settled
community that is practically the case. but
in places where the houses are not very close
together the opinion seems to be that sew
age disposal is not matter of prime i'm
portance.
On the other hand, people have come to
understand that it is impossible to keen
pure what is known as local water supply
there is sewer system or not
tions becomes filled with impurities which
corrupt the water that is drawn immedi-
ately from it. When, however, the water
supply is obtained from a source where
there are no local communicating influences
and is conveyed to the homes of the con-
sumers by pipes then 1t is certain that the
community Is free from the greatest of
modern dangers. 1t is quite evident that,
with an independent water supply, a COM
munity could become quite large center of
before a sewer system would be
an absolute necessity. There is local i'm
portance in all this, as the small communi-
ties which are scattered throughout the ex-
ter sive suburbs of this city are now in many
Instances considering the subject of mu-
nicipal sanitary measures. and it is i'm
pc ortant that there should be clear knowl-
edge of the evils that threaten and Of the
correct solution.
Some improvements.
A fourteen-room house will be erected on
avenue between 9th and 1otb