Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-12
BUSINESS BLOCK
BU|[lOF CEMENT
CONSTRUCTOR METHOD IS
NEvIN WEST
EXTENSIVELY USED IN EAST
Addition to Hone LsughIIn Building
ExnItea Intere, Aroonn RttiIdera
EXTENSIVELY USED IN EAST
Addition to Honr LauqhIIn Building
ExcItes lntere, Among Builders
and ownersf Down Town
Real Estate

The addition beg erected to the
Homer Laughlin hiding at Third
street and Broadwe will extend that
building through frn Broadway to
Fill street.
The style of constction of the adj
dition is new to Caornians and the
west, the addition ing constructed
almost exclusively oEement, combin-
ing the three essentts of stability,
fire proof and adornnnt principles OF
modern construction.
The style is being us, extensively in
the east, but has nevt been used In
the west to any great 4ent, and it is
expected that the Hoer Laughlin
building addition will atact much in
terest from property ow,rs who con-
template future neutrality-suspicious..
The use of steel girderss absolutely
dispensed with, the cemeI girde.s in
which are encased steel res to supply
elasticity, taking their Pile. Wood
work is unknown in the obstruction,
except in the forms, which se removed
Immediately after the cemei sets.
The great Baltimore fir demon
strated that steel girders andupposed-
Jy steel construction of busirss blocks
for fire proof purposes constitutes no
fire protection, as the girds were
burned and twisted all out shape.
1t is said that in this particur alone
cement construction far excs steel
| construction and in the elennts of
stability and adornment ther is no
competition of steel with cemnt, the
latter method being admitteoy the
most desira BILE and satisfactory,
In constructing the Laughlinadd
ton, the girders are of cemen and
inside the cement is imbedded net
work of steel rods. This methd of
construction gives elasticity t, the
girders and is especially ADVANTAGEOUS
In the construction Of swinging fors.
The proportion of mixture is our
wheelbarrows of sand to one ofce-
ment in the girders and pillars and I've
to one in the floors.
The elimination of wood in the en-
struction Is another factor of graf
consideration, the only wood necessity
being in the temporary forms encs-
ing the cement until it sets proper,
when the woodwork is removed.
The consideration of vibration in d
large business blocks is great an
most necessary one. This Is especialf
true in this portion of the country
where the earth tremors are more per-
cement construction is far more satis-
factory than any other form Of con-
struction. In steel constructed build
ings the effects Of vibration is a seri-
Gus consideration, as it affects the life
of the building. causing the crystalliz-
alton Of the steel, as shown in car
wheels after certain period of use.
making them worthless.
The Engels building in Cincinnati,
which is a sixteen-story structure, and
the Pugh building In Indianapolis. ten
stories in height, are instances of ce-
ment construction. The latter build
ing is used as a power and printing
plant and the element Of vibration is
a serious factor. 1t is said that the VII
bratlon of the building caused by the
huge presses and machinery is great,
but that it has satisfactorily met every
test made upon it.
Experiments so far made prove that
buildings of cement construction out
last all others. The fact that rust and
fire do not affect it is an argument
which cannot be met by any other
style of construction and recommends
cement as the most satisfactory solu-
ton of these problems.
1t therefore is a satisfaction to know
that Los Angeles is to have a build
ing of this construction, an example
of the modern art in building, and 1t
is the opinion of building experts that
the new Laughlin addition will not
only meet all expectations, but will
have the effect of causing very radi-
cal change in methods of construction
of business buildings in the city in the
future