‘Marcu 29, 1872.
‘into the mysteries of nature’s laws. What, for example, would be of greater popular interest and scientific value than an elaborate series of experi- ments to determine the action, on different kinds of ‘vegetation, of various kinds of artificial light? It is not to be supposed that anything of this kind will be extensively attempted at any unremote period, but that some day the unused house-tops of our great cities will have another purpose than merely to shed water from the rooms below we consider as greatly probable. W. E:
BUILDERS’ BOOK-KEEPING. Sir,—T for one beg to thank C. A. Weddle for his intention to send papers on * Builders’ Book-keeping,” and shall eagerly look for the productions of so practi- eal a person as your correspondent proves himself to
be.—I am, &c., L.S. pa eraer Intercommunication, QUESTIONS. [2517.1—Cost of Town Surveys.—Will some brother reader kindly inform me as to the usual cost of town surveys, for large scale plans, per acre or otherwise ?—X. [2518.]—Surveying.—If any practised surveyor would answer the following queries he would much oblige. 1. Is the theodolite to be trusted for taking angles in impor- , tant surveys to be laid down on paper to ten feet to an inch scale? 2. In a survey of a road the survey lines were according to the annexed figure, ought not the interior angles taken with the theodolite (when added together) in por- tion a, amount to 12 L, or 1080° ; and in portion b, amount to 6 L, or 540°? 3. At the present time what isthe variation of the magnetic north from the true north ? ‘What is the best work, and the price, to learn how to take out quantities for cutting and filling in making railways and streets ?—YOuNG SURVEYOR. [2519.]—Building Construction. —Will any of your numerous readers kindly tell me which is thebest illus- trated work on building construction, and whether “‘ Bartholomew’s” specifications would be of any use for that purpose? TI shall feel obliged by any one answering this.—A. H. T.
REPLIBS.
[2482.]—Reservoir Construction.—The follow-
ing is what I should recommend to our friend ‘* Der-
mod:” AB C is the plan or top view, F and G section,
E and D are arches turned upon the top, as shown at
H, with this difference ; E is a wall carried right down,
and separates the filtering bed F from the reserve
tank for use; it is built thus to resist the thrust or
weight of earth, as well as to facilitate the covering of
it over, and I have never known this form to fail.
When built with flat sides I have seen the pressure of
earth destroy the tank. The section shows the filtering
tank inclined; the bottom of this is covered over with
bricks on edge (herring-bone). Those are covered
with flat bricks, the others are layers of 1 gravel washed rather coarse, about Gin. or Sin., the next finer, the next finer still, &c., up to fine sand, until about two feet six inches thick. For the inlet see its construction at 1 2 3 B, which is not the place for it. But at X it isa box built, and perforated tiles top and bottom 1 4, the space between filled with some coarse powdered charcoal; the water is made to pass through that, up, and following the arrows down through the bed, out at Tinto the reserve tank for use. For area and depth suit your own convenience; you must know most of that being upon the spot. Build with Roman cement and sand equal parts, and line with same, Yin. work. You will find it all you require, and the filter- ing bed can be removed and replaced when wanted cleaning.—Jack or Aut TRADES. [2459.] Book on Weights of Wrought and Cast.Iron.—A very little useful work ‘on tables, showing the weight of different lengths of round, Square, flat, bar, and cast-iron, steel, brass, copper, lead,
THE BUILDING NEWS.
267
and tin, by Samuel Penn, published by James Hagger, 67, Paternoster-row, would, I think, answer “ In- quirer’s ” purpose.—W. Fox. [2503.|—Magnetic North.—At the present time the true north is about 213° east of the magnetic. For all practical purposes in land surveying at any time it is sufficient to show the magnetic north as taken by a theodolite or large size compass and the true north at about the angle above mentioned, The second ques- tion will be best answered by referring to any of the works on the yariation of the compass, or on nautical astronomy.—W. G. Cookr. [2511.J—Damp Walls.—Three coats of boiled oil applied to the exterior will waterproof the wall—but at the same time darken the bricks—or three coats of the transparent petrifying liquid, manufactured by the Silicate Paint Company, of Fenwick-street, Liverpool, will waterproof the wall without injuring the colour. —A. Z [2513.]—Vegetation on Plain Tiles.—Three coats of the transparent petrifying liquid will do all you require.—A. Z. [2514.]—Belfry, Ifs—‘M. B. A.” asks about the spire at Ifs. The pinnacles differ from each other in entasis, the nearest in sketch and that -to its right being the most marked, I believe the spire itself has an imperceptible amount; but as my sketch only ex- tends as high as the lithograph, I am obliged in this to depend upon memory and a most untrustworthy French view of the church.—F. C. D. eee WATER SUPPLY AND SANITARY MATTERS. Hawes.—An order from the Local Government Board has been issued, calling upon the ratepayers of Hawes, near Barnard Castle, to construct a thorough and efficient system of drainage, and also to provide for the inhabitants a pure water supply. Typhoid has raged with some virulence in the town for some time past. Sra WATER FOR SEWER FLusuine.—The New- castle Chronicle says that something quite novel in the way of sanitary improvement has been under- taken by the borough of Tynemouth Corporation. Mr. Adams, contractor, of Darlington, is making a reservoir ina field in Hawkey’s-lane, near the former town, 49ft. square, 6ft. deep, and to hold 52,000 gallons of sea water, which the Corporation intend to supply from a pumping station on the Low Light Shore. There will be two services of pipes, and it is anticipated that the Turkish and public baths will be supplied with salt water. The water, however, will be principally used for flushing the sewers, watering the streets, extinguishing fires, and general sanitary purposes. Private houses and hotels, no doubt, in the line with the pipes will be able to con- tract for a supply of salt water for baths. PonTErract.—A meeting of the Pontefract Street Commissioners was held on Thursday week, for considering the sanitary state of the town. A copy of the report of Mr. Harrison, the Government In- spector, was read, anda letterfrom the Local Govern- ment Board, requiring the corporation to show cause within one month why they had not acted as the sewer authority. After a lengthened dis- cussion as to which was the sewer authority, the Street Commissioners or the Corporation, the former having always acted as such, it was considered advisable that the Street Commissioners should still keep the power in their own hands, as they would derive a large income from the sale of the coal in the park. It was resolved “ That the Street Com- missioners agree to carry out the alterations re- quired for the completion of the sewerage, and ventilation of the same and to make such additional sewers and drains as may be required for the drain- age of the town.” It was also resolved to appoint the committee, with full power to employ such professional assistance as may be required to carry out the necessary works. It was stated that the course decided upon would be satisfactory to the Corporation.
———__ 4 A further dividend of 2s. in the pound, making 10s. 6d., is payable to the creditors of Messrs. Mans- field, Price, & Co., contractors, at the offiges of Messrs. Barnard, Clarke, M‘Lean, & Co. The street lamps of Gittingen were lit simultane- ously, for the first time, on Saturday, the 16th inst., by electricity. Messrs. O. W. Brierly and H. Clarence Whaite were elected Associates of the Society of Painters in Water-Colours on Saturday last. The premises of Messrs. Woolley & Sons, whole- sale and retail chemists, Market-street, Manchester, were damaged by fire on Sunday, the 17th inst., to the extent of £20,000. An interesting discovery of Roman pottery was made at Papeastle, near Cockermouth, the other day, while some excavations were being made. ‘The chief of the fragments were fine bright red Samian ware, and were discovered about 6ft. from the surface. Slate-coloured shale from the coalpits is being used in South Staffordshire for the manufacture of bricks. The bricks are said to be of excellent quality.
Ou Oftice Table. Dariiweton New Fryer Hosprrar. — The Hospital Cammittee of the Darlington Town Council, having examined the plans sent in in this limited competition, recommended that the first premium of £30 should be awarded to Mr. G, G. Hoskins, and the second premium to Mr. Pritchett. The recommendation of the Committee has been adopted, and Mr. Hoskins will carry out the work, Mr. Hoskins estimates that his design, which will provide for 32 beds, can be carried out for £5,050. The estimated cost of Mr. Pritchett’s design is £4,500. The Town Council have resolved to advertise for tenders. Corrrr Gas-rires.—The Journal de UV Heclairage notices an accident which once more proves the danger of using copper gas-pipes. On the 21st of April last year, a workman having, with a triangular file, cut almost through half the diameter of a gas pipe of red copper of gin. interior diameter, which supplied the Liege station, was removing the tool when an explosion similar to the report of a rifle ensued, and the workman was much burnt. A similar incident happened the other day, with less intensity, however, and the workman, who was not injured, did not{report the circumstance. Some gas- pipes having been taken down, they were found covered with a blackish coating, and they showed evident signs of corrosion from ammoniacal conden sation. The black matter was analysed, and was found to consist of an acetate of copper, which exploded between 203 and 248 deg., producing water, copper, carbon, carbonic acid, and traces of carbonic oxide. Socrmery FoR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE Fine Arrs.—Mr. Gilks, the well-known wood en- graver, delivered a lecture at the rooms in Conduit- street, [21st March, on ‘‘ Thomas Bewick, and the Revival of Wood Engraving in England.” J. A. Houston, Esq., R.S.A., in the chair. There was also an exhibition of chiar’-oscuros, by Baptiste Jackson and Goltins; some large Durer cuts, some choice large cuts by Bewick, five por- traits of him, and most of his works on the tables. Mr. Gilks began by a retrospective glance at the low state of the art in Europe, and especially in England, just/anterior to Bewick’s advent. The lecturer then alluded to the birth, education, love of art, and apprenticeship of Bewick—his first cuts, his visit to London, 1776—the few persons he found then practising the art. Mr. Gilks laid great stress upon Bewick’s intense love of Nature; he also drew an apt analogy between Michael Angelo, the sculptor, who was called ‘the master of live stone;” and Bewick, who certainly was a ‘“ master of live wood,” and he showed clearly that not eyen Durer or Hol- bein had so faithfully interpreted Nature as Bewick did. He described Bewick’s industry and his various works, led the audience gradually up to his ‘‘ British Birds,” in which his fame culminated. Mr. Gilks referred to Landseer’s ‘“ Life of W. Bewick the Artist,’ and the light it threw upon the engraver’s estimation by the literary world—how, one evening alone was devoted at Abbotsford by Sir W. Scott and his company to legends of the Bewick family. The lecturer critically examined Bewick’s modus operandi, and showed how he attained superior re- sults to the modern mode. Mr. Gilks said in con- clusion that “ Bewick struck a chordin the popular heart, which vibrated throughout the length and breadth of the land, and would continue to do so as long as humour is relished, and Truth pictorial is appreciated.’’? An animated discussion then took place in which Messrs. J. G. Waller, T. Reed, Palmer, Saddler, Capt. Britten, the Chairman, and Hon. Sec., Mr. Browning, took part. With votes of thanks to lecturer jand chairman, the proceedings terminated. Daneerous Srrucrures.—On Monday, at Bow- street, Mr. Napier applied to Mr. Vaughan, on be- half of the Metropolitan Board of Works, for an order under the Dangerous Structures Act for the removal of the inhabitants of five houses in Adelphi-terrace. Mr. Hayward, the surveyor, de- posed that the houses were all in a very dangerous condition, owing tothe sinking of the vaults under- neath, known as the Adelphi Arches. The inhabi- tants had been served with a notice informing them of the danger, but they had not quitted the place. The staircase in No. 2 had, by Mr. Hayward’s order, been propped up or it would have fallendown. Mr. Vaughan granted the order. Tue Roya AcApEeMY Exurerrion.—The state- ment that hasappeared to the effect that the Royal Academy Exhibition will be opened on Thursday, May 2, and that it will be closed on Wednesday, July 31, is entirely devoid of foundation. The
