STrDIP:s ON MUSEUMS AND KINDKKl) INSTITUTIONS. 431 



TO<'('i\o(l th'^ folloAvino- infornuition from Mr. Patton, whoso acqilaint- 

 aiu'o 1 liad ma(l(> at the Fnion Loa^-ue CM) of Chicago: 



\s to the materials of coiistniction, the iri)ii i-oluinns are covered with porouw 

 a cotta and finished \)y i)lasteriny witli Keene's cement upon the terra cotta. 

 Tiie fireprooting of the imildiiig in general is effected by application of hollow tile 

 known nmler the name of "soft tile," or "porons terra cotta." They are prepared 

 ()i ;■ Hiixtnre of clay with sawdust in the kiln. The sawdust is destroyed and the 

 clay becomes porous or spongy by this process. 



The floor arches are of 6 by 6 inch tile, segmental in form, and of about 11 feet 

 span, an<l resting upon iron beams which run from the outside piers to the corre- 

 sponding columns of the interior. 



The plaster is laid directly upon the under side of the tile arches, so that the 

 ceilings consist of a row of arches. 



The roof is constructed of iron supports which, like rafters, run up and down the 



;'e at intervals of about 5 feet. On the upper side of these rafters T supports, 2^ 

 ini > broad and of the same height, are laid horizontally at intervals of 2 feet, upon 

 V rest hollow tiles that have the form of books and therefore are called book tile. 



•ook tile form a continuous surface upon which the roof tiles are laid. First 

 i..e book tile are covered with a waterproof mass and then the so-called "Si)anish 

 style" of roofing is applied, where the roof tiles are nailed directly down upon the 

 book tile that let the nails enter easily and also hold them firmly, as they are of 

 pv s clay. All parts of the iron frame of the roof are made fireproof by a cover of 

 plastered hollow tile; there is no uncovered metal in the whole building. The 

 security against fire of the vaulted ceiling over the central hall of the museum is 

 effected in the following way: This ceiling is made of a steel frame covered by 

 expan<U'd metal lath, and plastered from l)elow with hard cement mortar. After 

 this plaster has become hard, the exterior (upper) side was plastered the same way, 

 so that the ceiling consisted of a solid mass of plaster about 2 inches thick, in the 

 midst of which the expanded metal is embedded. Thereby it was made so solid 

 t' I person could walk on it. 



ine interior walls of the building are covered with vertical wooden furring 18 

 inches apart; this is covered with expanded metal lath that is plastered. Here the 

 wooden furring would not allow a fire to spread, because it is inclosed in front by 

 the plaster, on the back by the brick wall, and above and below by the fireproof 

 ceiling. 



The staircases are of iron. 



In many buildings colunms are treated as disagreeable necessities, which are spaced 

 as far apart as possible with little regard to anything except to make them incon- 



' nous. In this building the columns are treated as the most important feature in 

 ii-.- interior architecture. The design of the building proceeded from the interior 

 outward. In the first place, it was determined what should be the proper dimen- 

 sions of the cases in which exhibits are to be placed. It was found that 8i feet was 

 the most economical and effective width for the double cases, and that 60 feet 

 between the cases gives an ami)le width of alcove; therefore it was arranged so that 

 there should be a case against each pier, and the piers are to be placed 10 feet on 

 centers, and the columns are to be exactly opposite the piers. To this arrangement 

 the exhibition cases fitting in between the columns and the piers on the outside 

 walls, form a part of the architecture of the building; and the windows coming, in 

 every case, in the alcoves l)etween the cases give a most perfect lighting to the speci- 

 mens. This arrangement of columns will give to the interior an effect of size much 

 greater than reality, and will iirovent tliat appearance of emptiness which mustMun 

 buildings are apt to have. 



.\s we predict that the exterior of the building will be a prominent landmark in 

 Chicago's architectm-e, we venture the assertion that the interior, small though it be. 



