CHAPTER XXXIV 

 STRUCTURAL STEEL 



475. Uses of Structural Steel. Within the last genera- 

 tion, steel has been increasingly used for structural and 

 ornamental purposes. Under the head of ornamental work 

 comes the manufacture of inside and outside stairs, fire 

 escapes, grillwork, elevator enclosures, balcony railings, 

 fences, collar caps, vault lights, and all forms of metal-work 

 which are decorative in character. Cold-rolled steel is 

 always chosen for work requiring sharp corners and clear 

 lines, such as balcony railings, doors, and grillwork, while 

 iron is generally selected for rougher work and for jobs 

 that do not require sharp edges. Castings are sometimes 

 used in such cases. 



476. Ornamental Steelwork. Before an order for a piec? 

 of ornamental steel is sent to the factory, detail drawing- 

 are made in the drafting room and checked; they are th M 

 sent to the foreman of the ornamental department, who 

 allots the work. Some men can do one class of work better 

 than another, and the foreman picks the specialists for their 

 particular lines. A mechanic, called the layer-out, selects 

 the iron of the proper size and kind, lays out from the drawing 

 the proper lengths of stock, marks off the rivet holes, half- 

 lap joints, drill holes and all other laying out necessary 

 for the information of the helpers and other mechanics. 



After the stock has been selected, cut, and laid off, i i. goes 



415 



