The Washington herald., 1911-05-14

Exploited in the daily press and in the
scientific periodicals of two continents,
the comparatively recent invention of NJ.
Dana Morrill,. the Washington architect.
for the construction of poured cement
houses is attracting wide attention.
Steel-molded concrete houses, as they
are named n the construction pa
pers, nre proving exceptionally popular
throughout this country and Europe.
Particularly is this true where one COM
pany or corporation intends to erect a
large number OF houses for the use of
employees and officials. The use of steel
molds instead of timber effects a marked
economy in the construction of a large
number of houses as the steel molds
may be used any number Of times, while
the timber molds. after use on one house.
are practically a dead loss as far as fu-
tUre operations along the same lines are
concerned.
Steel Moulds Popular.
An instance of popularity of steel
nodded concrete houses is seen in the re-
cent announcement that 200 of these
dwellings will be erected at once by the
American Sheet and Tin Plate Company,
a subsidiary concern ot the United States
Steel Corporation, at Gary, Ind. The
houses will be used exclusively for the
housing OF employees of the company. 1t
is anticipated that the cost will not eX
ceed that of frame buildings and that the
ultimate saving in maintenance and in
surance will be a very considerable item.
The particular type of steel molds in
vented by Mr.. Morrill, has attracted no
slight comment from the English press.
In an article, illustrated by drawing of
the mold, the Builder. London construc-
ton journal. has the following to say:
The sketch on this page is a per-
speCtive view Of the steel mold de-
signed by Mr.. NJ. D. Morrill,. architect,
Washington. for the economical con-
struction of sanitary dwelling houses
at Virginia Highlands. The panels
shown are twenty-four inches square,
made of No. L gauge steel, sheet
bent over along each eGge to form
fianges, which are pierced at three
points for the insertion of wedges for
fixing purposes. The panels are used
in sets OF three or four. two tiers high.
the tiers being hingel together by YER
tiCle rods in such manner that while
the upper tier remains in position the
lower tier can be swung UP to its new
place. and then the tier which was
formerly the upper one is swung up
in turn. The molds are also employed
in floor construction, the bottom series
of panels being supported by posts to
avoid sagginS. After concrete has
been poured to the required thickness
upon The bottom of the mold, the up
per set of panels is slid into position,
striking off surplus material and form
ing a level floor surface.
Efficiency Proved.
The efficiency of this method of con-
struction has been fully demonstrated by
the popularity the type has met at Vlr-
ginia Highlands, where an attractive col
ony of poured" houses is going UP. AL
ready the subdivision has taken on an
aspect of Arcadian attractiveness and the
construction work is progressing all too
slowly to meet the demand for suburban
homes at figures within the reach of the
average business or professional man.
The idea of concrete homes did not
originate with Mr. Morrill,. Thomes A.
Edison stood sponsor for this form of
construction several years ago. But il
remained for Mr.. Morrill, to think out
the most economical plan for the erection
of these houses. The main difficulty to be
overcome was the expense of lumber for
molds.
Mr. Morrill, overcame this when, IN 1909.
he invented a steel mold that could be
used time after time. Mr. Morrill, was at
that time developing plans for model
homes for workingmen. The economy of
this method was at once apparent, and 1t
was on the strength of this cost-reducing
device which made the construction of
his model home possible within a given
figure that Mr.. Morrill, was awarded the
first gold medal for his plans by the re-
cent international congress on the pre-
Vention Of tuberculosis