New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-30
NETWORK BUILDERS.
-urv ARE OF NECESSITY MEN OF VAST
AND VARIED KNOWLEDGE.

.,,rv ARE OF NECESSITY MEN OF VAST
AND VARIED KNOWLEDGE.
FACTIONS OF THE BUILDING LAW DEMANDING
SUPERIOR WORK IN ALL INsTANcEs-FuT-
IRE REcLAssIFICATIoN OF con-
srRUCT1vE PRESENTATIONS
INVESTED
Tho ar, Of building has been defined by the
.rrcvclopaeda Britannica" as comprising the
,ract,ce of civil architecture. or the mechanical
n,erations necessary to carry the designs OF the
nbi,ect into effect. 1t Is not infrequently
called practical architecture; but the adoption
a, this term would tend only TO confuse, by
rendering II difficult to make the distinction
generally understood between architecture as
a fine or liberal art, and architecture as me-
chanical art. The execution of works of archi-
tsc;ure necessarily includes building; but build
ing Is frequently employed when the result Is
not architectural. and a man may be a COM
netent builder without being an architect.
.c,entifc knowledge OF the principles or ma
sonry carpentry. !oinery. etc. and or the quail
ties strength and resistance OF materials. must
he attended by a minute acquaintance with
great variety Of less ambitious details. This
greatest possible degree Of convenience on the
.nalles. space. and at the least expense: its
transserence to the ground. the preparation and
formation Of foundations. the arrangement and
construction Of drains. sewers and vent shafts.
81. varieties OF walling with stone and Of lay
inc bricks In br!ckwork: the merit OF the varl-
ous modes Of bonding and tying walls. the ar
rangement Of cutters on roofs to get suflclenS
fall. and to conduct the water to the least IN
convenient place. for fixing trunks to lead II
,own. the arraneement and formation Of fues;
the protection Of walls from damp. OF timber
from moisture and stagnant air. and or metals
generally from exciting causes the cost OF ma
,e-,ais and labor, and the quantity OF each to
produce certain resulto Together with these
the builder should be practically ACQUAINTED
with all the modes Of operation In all the
trades or arts employed In building ana 10 oe
able 10 minutely estimate beforehand the apso-
,r.e cost involved in the execution OF pro-
posed structure
Bn,ldine includes what is called construction.
which is the branch Of the science OF architecture
,e,ating TO the practical execution OF the works
-couIred TO produce any structure. Create. SCI
enti0c knowledge of the nature and properties
., materials has given the modern workman
immense advantages over his older nrother
c-,ftsuen and caused many changes In the de-
tails az the trade. or art Of building. although
stone. brick and mortar. etc. form now the ele-
mont OF the more solid parts Of all edifices.
Bujldjng work OF late years has received much
c,osar attention and is being understood ana oe-
yaloned in a much more thorough manner 80
,rat Il is beginning to be more on par III THESE
resnects with some other great Industries OK 'he
time and the owners Of buildings Will WISH 10
nront thereby There IS little DOUBT tha' ou''o-
to-. vii, soon he divided into classes-ordinary
construction. partial nreproof. freprooI' ano
strictly freproof-and that insurance companies
will soon begin TO take notice as REGARDS 'ie 'ea'
meaning OF the words freproof as appreo 70 .ne
construction Of buildings Fire losses III 'hiS
country have been computed TO amount 10 nearly
* no, cent of the net profits Of an ordinary eood
business year. and many political economists
consider It a greater burden than the country
80, continue TO stand. whether IN direct loss or
-, ,ov,oent Of rates New York. by virtue OF
30 yas. interests Of every kind. the enormous
value ~ building sites. and the unusual conol-
,,ors which frequently have to be overcome IN
the construction OF buildings, IS the most 1ertiie
field for the exercise OF the skill ana rorethoush'
Of architects and builders TO be founo anywhere
IN the world Land space is enormously Na'ua-
Ne ard the task Of creating structures that VIII
ali, % the beautv Of the city. but that In their
Construction sacrifice none OF the eiernehto VI
,.vi,v or convenience has caused new era OF
huudinr trades has advanced study ana
,bourht. and has brought to the front men pos
eass,ng the requisite skill and knowledge 70 meet
every emergency. The modern tendency Is 10
convert the builders art into grea. manuiact-
rr,ng industry and instead OF trying to mo
out how little money can be made to proVioe pro-
,ectjon and comfort, men seem to be struggling
nov, 10 learn how much money may be Judlclous-
" invested in truly architectural exter.ors ana
artistic interiors.
On a particularly bright and pleasant morning
Mr. New-York determined to walk TO his office.
and the beaten path TO the cabe-car was avoid
al Within a few blocks Of his home he missed
=, familiar building that he was sure stood there
the dav before; a fence surrounded the vacant
L., and a small sign gave the name OF hrm
n, builders: only that and nothing more The
r.siaent Of every large city daily meets with
s,ch loss of an old landmark. and calmly pre-
rores 20 find a superb building on the site the
nov. morning he walks that way. He thinks he
,,or,s ol about the work Of the building firms,
odd no leaves the edihce 10 grow. There are few
.-a5es of which probably so little Is known as
that - the builder Of the present day. Inc
Growth Of the industry In the United states DUR
10 tv,en.v. 1--WE years has been one Of the re-