The Washington herald., 1909-02-09
BUILDING AND MATERIAL.
By FREDERIC J. HASKN
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

The National Builders supply Associa-
tion meets in convention to-day at Louis
vile. Ky. The progress OF the trade dur
ing the past year VII be talked over,
and there viii be q general discussion OF
matters pertaining 10 building and build
ing materials There viii be an exhibit
IN connection with the convention, in
which new materials and methods OF con-
struction viii be demonstrated. The re-
suit Of the exchange Of ideas along these
lines wiu probably be shown in further
advancement II the trade
OnA of tbs most important questions
which win be considered by the eonven-
ton IS the building OF earthouske-proof
houses. The recent catastrophe in Italy
has demonstrated the necessity Of the
general adoption Of some system OF con-
struction by vhich- buildings in the earth
quake zone in this and other countries
can be made reasonably safe. IN the
United States there has been an impres-
sion that structural steel VIII meet al
most any earthquake test This impress
sion grew out Of the san Francisco
earthquake and FIRE, from which num-
comparatively good condition
In other countries, however, steel Is not
the favorite. Japan finds frame or BAN
boo construction the safest Heretofore
Italy has used stone and brick almost
exclusively in building construction
These materials have been weighed in
the balance and found wanting The
United States government IS instituting
an innovation in Italian building opera
1ions Half q million dollars are being
Fpent for lumber and other materials for
frame buildings. Half dozen ships are
carrying these articles across the ocean
American boss carpenters are superin-
tending the construction Of 25e0 frame
buildings in the eaTthGUake-stricksn dis
trfcts around Messina and Reggie
How the Italians VIII Ike these wooden
houses remains 70 be seen They are
absolutely unlike any dwellings they or
their ancestors have lived IN for hun
dreds Of years. or ever since the denuda-
ton OF the Italian forests. There is res-
son 70 believe, however. that II Messina
and Reggio had been built Of wood IN
stead OF stone the loss Of life would have
been less appalling
A German inventor claims 20 have per
fected an earthquake-prOOf house. The
structure looks much like any other
house. but Il is erected on sort OF plat
form. sunk 10 the level OF the surround
ing ground. but detached therefrOm, ex-
cept a. the center. where there Is q sort
OF pivot upon which the platform and its
burden viii rock and sway. maintaining
its center OF gravity during seismic dis
turbances. That is what It ought TO do.
Il e. - -
the scheme has ever been demonstrated
practically.
The builders supply and building trades
in America have shared in the prosperity
that, until the panic OF 1907, vas general
throughout tie country for ten years, and
which bids fair to be revived and cor
tinued indefinitely hereafter Building
materials used IN the United States are
costing the consumer not less than half
q billion dollars annually. This includes
lumber. hardware. &C, which are not in
cluded IN the trade term builders sup
plies" That term means only stone,
brick. cement, and other materials used
by mssons, but. properly speaking. build
ing materials should include everything
used IN house construction
A few items in the list OF purchases Of
the American building owners each year
are more than e,Ooo 600 bricks. 40.0oo,eOo
barrels Of cement. 40.eo0 200 feet Of lum-
Der, and many million dollars worth OF
roofing and finishing materials. These
purchases show tendency to increase IN
iii one Is tempted 10 ask when is the con-
structiOn Of buildings in this country go
ing TO stop or come 10 e standstiu. as Is
said 70 be the case in European countries
at this tine. The answer is that building
construction viii not stop increasing here
until the increase Of American population
ceases Even then construction operations
probably viii continue on a large scale
until many buildings Of a more or less
temporary character are replaced with
substantial ones.
There IS this difference between build
ing in America and II Europe In the
former country 4 structure IS expected 70
last for a few years. or, at most. for a
generation or two. while our European
cousins build houses that VIII last for
centuries.
American builders are fond Of speaking
Of their improved materials and methods
but they can produce no brick that IS bet
ter than that over SoOe years Of age which
has recently been dug Up IN the ruins Of
Babylon Nor can modern building meth
DDS produce results that viii excel those
attained 400 years ago when Pharoah
built the pyramids. However. for Or
dinary purposes. American methods and
materials SUIT the time, the Place, and the
people better than any other system. an
cient OF modern. Our system IS n a class
by Itself. The skyscraper is an example
Of this fact The last building OF this sort
that New York Is 70 permit has lust been
begun
American builders are record breakers
Take the case OF the East ST. Louis con-
tractor, who recently built a foIr-room
house, from excavating for the, foupde-
tions. TO painting and finishing the struct-
uTe throughout. In one day. A bride and
bridegroom were in q hurry 70 20 20
housekeeping, so, after getting ali the ma
teriaiss on the ground and labor engaged.
the builder promised to complete the lob
in a day He started at o'clock one
morning laying lines for the foundation
Meanwhile carpenters were saving boards
for the superstructure. During the ex-
terror construction ths masons turned
their attention TO a chimney Plumbers
painters. roofing experts, GLACIERS. and
ptlieE WIZ hliieA AeAfiy lIco On SaCn oIneT s
heels A few OF them worked over the
eight-hour schedule but after fourteen
hours. during which 1l.0o0 feet Of lumber
had been used. 120oo shingles. 5000 laths
and SO yards OF plaster had been put on,
and 500 nails driven. 70 say nothing Of
painting. plumbing. &c, the happy couple
moved IN that evening. and. after having
cooked supper on their own gas stove. en-
tertained their friends al q dance Could
any European builder. ancient or modern,
beat that record2