NEW METHOD OF SLATING. 267 



more than one in three, or as in the proportion of 18 to 11 ; Ne * mod e of 

 and which, together with the diminution in their length bribed. *' 

 above-mentioned, while they combine in a system of far 

 greater strength and duration, will incur a saving in the slatr 

 ing as aforesaid of about a fourth part, and in the raftering 

 of considerably more than half. 



C C, figs. 1, 2, Wall-plates in substance considerably in? 

 creased ; viz. to six inches square. 



D D D, figs. I, 2, Foot-beams, firmly inserted in the wall- 

 plates, by means of dove-tailed joints, at six feet distance 

 from each other; one of which joints is seen at fig. 8, laid 

 open, to display the operation of the wedge; as, should ijfc 

 inadvertently be driven in on the inside of the plate, and 

 where floors, partitions, &c. as before hinted, on any occa- 

 sion, are to be suspended on the roof-timbers, it would ne- 

 cessarily draw, and derange the whole of the superstruc- 

 ture *. 



E E E, figs. 1, 2, First-piece, of peculiar shape an(J 

 strength, being two inches thick, and nine deep. 



F F, figs. 1, 2, Purloins, or side-pieces, let in, and spike- 

 oailed to the queen-posts, at right angles with the rafters, 

 and at equal distances from their extremities. 



G G, fig. 2, Plate-rafters, let into the wall-plates at their 

 lower ends, screwed at their centres to the purloins, and 

 firmly fastened by an appropriate joint (see fig. 3) to the first 

 pieces. Thus in these is more distinctly seen the peculiar 

 and singular stability of the system. As each of the foot*- 

 beams, together with its sustained and sustaining rafters, 

 king and queen posts, &c, forms an arch, or rather a series 

 of arches, of such permanency as not to be subdued, while 

 their parts remain uncrushed, the wall-plates C G, fastened 



* Should it at any time be foreseen that a more than ordinary weight 

 will be found in floors, partitions, &c, thus suspended on the roof-tim- 

 bers, it will be only necessary to enlarge the size of the latter, and they 

 may therein be adapted to any scale required. If, however, there 

 should be a probability that an alteration in the upper chambers may at 

 some future peiiod take place, and wherein a removal of the partitions 

 may become necessary, although it would be far from being impractica- 

 ble, the method may, notwithstanding, *all things considered, perhaps 

 not be found the most eligible. 



