Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-04
NEWS AND GOSSIP
IN REAL ESTATE

ganizations are well expressed by the name,
only they include something more than the
mere expenditure of dollars and cents A
recognition is made of the commercial
value of beauty whether II is found in
city street or in art gallery, and IN
these days men and women who have many
demands upon their time give the latter
freely in order that the physical appear
ance of the neighborhoods in which they
live may be improved in appearance.
In Omaha. Neb., for example, a Ive.y
war is being waged by fhe city improve
ment league against the erection of bill
boards on vacant lots throughout the city.
The activity of the membership is not con-
fined to this one subject, but goes in every
direction in which it is thought the well-be
ing OF the city can be advanced
Care Of the Lawns.
In this city the citizens associations gem
orally devote their attention to matters
which are to come before Congress, so that
the special needs of the various sections
of the city shall not be neglected and
that the legislature of the District have
information as to what is wanted and why
1t is wanted The public spirit which is
created by service of this sort is not con-
fined to any limits, but finds express on
whenever the need arises. 1t therefore
need not be surprising that the Columbia
Heights Citizens Association has offered
prizes for the best lawns to- be found in the
territory within the province of the organi-
zation.
The lawns have. of course reference to
the parking, which is the space between the
fronts of the houses and the sidewalks
and in pursuance of this policy commit
tee has been appointed whose duty 1t will
be to inspect what the various householders
have done and then come to a conclusion
as to which one or ones have achieved the
best results. The task is not easy one
for the committee. slight inspection
Of the lawns in front of the average house
in this city will demonstrate, for good
deal of care is lavished these plots. as
well money.
Systems of Firepreofng.
'The term 'f1reproof as applied to build
ings is used every day without much
thought to what it meant" said a man
who has given the subject a good deal of
attention. 'In a general way it signifies
building that will not burn up or fall down
when attacked by fire from without or
within. Many think that all that is neces-
ssry is to build of materials that will not
burn. Engineers and arckitects know that
more is needed than this; for though ma
terials will not burn, some will weaken
under the action of the heat and give way.
So. not only must the materials be incom-
bustible at the temperatures reached in the
fires, but they must also be so protected
when needed that they will not weaken too
much
Two distinct systems are used in the
construction of the modern Office building.
One system is to erect skeleton of steel,
post and wall columns, girders floor and
roof beams This steel skeleton carries all
the loads of walls, floors, wind, etc 1t is
then protected from the heat by properly
surrounding or incasing it with terra Gotta
thing. The floors are made of arches of
terra Gotta properly placed between the
steel i-beams, care being taken to cover the
lower hange of the steel beam with a lib
eral thickness of terra Gotta. Partitions are
of terra Gotta. while the walls are of brick.
By the Use Of Concrets.
''The other system is to construct walls,
posts, girders, floor beams, floors, partitions
and roofs of concrete or suitable ingredients
and proportions with steel rods or cables
properly imbedded in 1t. These small-szed
steel pieces are usel to take the forces
which produce tension, as concrete is not
strong enough to resist much of pull. In
this form the concrete and the steel act to-
eether to carry the loads, the steel helps
the concrete where it is weak, in tension,
and the concrete in its turn protects the
steel from weakening, under action of fire.
These two systems are also combined
frequently by making a steel skeleton and
protecting 1t from fire by concrete properly
arranged and making the floors, carried by
the steel beams, of reinforced concrete or
of reinforced concrete and terra Gotta thing.
Most of the sky-scrapers In this country are
built by the first system or by the combina-
ton system.
Totten & Rogers, architects, have pre-
pared plans for alterations to house for
J. b. Henderson, corner Erie and Mess
more streets. The house is to be en-
tirely refinished inside and succeed on the
exterior, making 1t harmonic with the
large house Senator Henderson is build
ing on the other end of the block, de-
signed by the same architects
The same architects are designing CO.
lonial house for Lieut.. Kittelle Of the navy,
to be built on California avenue near god
street. The exterior is to be of dark red
brick, laid in Flemish bond. with white
limestone trimmings A unique feature of
the plan Is the direct entering from the
main doorway to the large living room
They have designed the grand staircase
fountain and terraces to be built by the
government on 22d street near street.
bids for which are now being advertised.