The Washington times., 1907-12-15
CHINAMEN
As HOME
BUILDERS
CCORDING 70 a recent report
from Consul ". 7. Gracey. at
Esingtau. the average China

LLOhDlNtf 70 a recent report
N from Consul ". T. Gracey. at
"A Esingtau. the average China
man IS ercerraIn that he WIZ
have hcme after. storm or a severe
rain. While tie Lelesfials are pioneers
N some fields. their methods OF build
ing remain extremely primitive. as the
following article. translated from 4
German newspaper by the consul VII
show:
1ne Chinese get along with very
little and have few desires, especially
when II comes 10 a house 10 live IN
II must be admitted that the native
architects can put up solid, and. 70 q
certain extent. beautiful structures.
but these are the rare exception and
not the rule. The dwellings are gem
orally primitive ana not durabls.
The Chinese DO NOT understand the
building OF arches. The most they at
tempt is a simple arch in bridges or
doors. but even here It Is necessary
for Them 10 first erect q mud-brick
support for the arch. the fcrmer be-
ing torn away when the latter ls com
pleted.
the poor binding between the outside
layers. there clten being hollow spaces
IN the middle, which are only filed
with loose dirt or rushed rock Il they
are nlled al all When IL rains this in
terror filling gets wet, il settles. and
t@s -lll is Wedged apart from the bot
tom.
IL thus often happens that the outer
walls OF 4 house collapse. while the
inner ones. which have not been vet.
remain standing.
The usual preventive for coIlapslnE
houses is 70 rest the beams and roof
timbers on wooden posts, which are
built into the walls and completely
surrounded by the masonry. Thus
when the walls give way these pillars
heB- up the roof and keep the whole
house from coming down on the oo-
cupants
In the case OF two-story bulldlnrs
these wooden framsworks are always
bt,4t before the masonry work Is start
&C. The use Of mortar - also verY
FAULTY. The commonly used mortar
consists OF finely Elsked lime. with no
a0oiuon whatever OF quarts sand
out for cases or economy the line ..
often adulteTated with very ana rivs-
sand
The mason tests the soundnsss Of
every brick by hitting Il with hiu
knife-shaped troEel, and. Ike every
Oriental tradesman. works slowly.
Where stones are used, they Ara A.
ways htted into proper place On the
outside and are brought to rest IN tbs
proper place By having little stones pu,
underneath them As in the case OF 4
mud wall. the hollow part between
the two outside layers II nusd with
stone Only the outside sdres an
nlled with mortar anS the danger Of
collapsing IN time In slWAys present.
Solid houses OF burnt brick are usu.
ally not found in TIE country, but IN
the cities and larger market Villages
because only the wealthy can Arforc
them. The great masses Aro oontept
in stable-looking dwellings. whose hool
il the earth. whose walls are mud and
whose roofs are straw. Ths usua
house IS divided into three equal part,
by two beams eroE1ing It hor1sontaIIJ
on top ef the masonry walls. In The
case OF houses with straw roofs, Q
light framework Il placed en- thss.
beams To protect the roof fron
wind. II IS often weighted down with
large stones.
In the great plains the farmhouse,
are made entirely OF mud with IA
roofs Here the crossbear1a rest ~
two main dividing beams On top o.
this is placed a layer OF sorghum
straw, and that Is then covered owe
with lOess- Such roofs need yearly
renewing. They are built so that thel
can be used 70 defend the farms ~,
walls being some three feet hiEha,
than the roof, so IN times OF need thi
men can go on to them armed, ant
thus fight from sort OF parapst. Be
cause the rains are very disastrous q
these walls. they are often strengthen
ed with layer OF tiles on the olt
side