THE USES OF WOOD 



423 



able later saving by preventing subsequent failures ' of 



the structures. The intelligent builder knows the woods 



which he proposes using, and he takes their differences 



into account, particularly their variations in strength, 



stiffness, hardness, and 



durability, and by putting 



each where it will serve 



best, a high-class building 



is secured at a moderate 



cost. 



Wood in building was 

 not always used so wisely 

 as it is now. Many early 

 houses in the eastern states 

 used too much wood. Some 

 of them were even weak- 

 ened by the well meant at- 

 tempts of the builders to 

 make them extra strong. 

 A lavish use of massive 

 timbers, in some cases, 

 increased the weight of 

 the structures until their 

 stability was endangered. 

 Though the limit of 

 safety might not be actu- 

 ally passed, it was quite 

 common to make joists, 

 rafter, sills, and other 



timbers much larger than necessary. That condition 

 is found in many old buildings yet standing. In reason, nearly all town and cities have prescribed limits 

 addition to employing too much wood, frequently little inside of which wooden buildings may not be erected, 



A SHANTY CONSTRUCTED OF RED SPRUCE BARK 



This bark roof is held on with poles after the manner of the clapboard 

 roofs of former days on the frontiers. One might suspect that Daniel 

 Boone built this cabin as a hunting lodge, but, in fact, the West Vir- 

 ginia Geological Survey had something' to tio with it. Such a camp will 

 stand ten years. 



judgment was shown in the choice of the woods used. 

 A strong one, like oak, might be put in a position where 

 only a small load had to be carried; and, where the 

 strain was severe, a weak wood, like white pine, may 



have been given a place. 

 At the same time, the em- 

 ployment of large timbers 

 lessened the danger of 

 failure. Some old churches 

 in the eastern part of the 

 country had roof timbers 

 heavy enough for cathe- 

 drals. A study of some of 

 those edifices is apt to con- 

 vey the idea that the build- 

 ers were very generous 

 with wood ; and they could 

 afford to be, for they had 

 plenty of it. 



Some of the fire ordi- 

 nances in cities are in- 

 tended to restrict the use 

 of wood for building pur- 

 poses. Experience has 

 demonstrated that when 

 houses are crowded to- 

 gether, fire is likely to 

 gain headway if it makes a 

 start ; and wooden build- 

 ings catch fire readily from sparks and heat. For that 



A MILL YARD THAT NEEDS CLEANING UP 



. , . . . j +:, t v arH cleaning Material for many a building has come from places like this 



This plant ,n the Adirondack, is perhaps too busy to spend time ^' J?" 1 , c but what has been left behind is worth little in comparison with what 

 where logs, lumber, and waste are mingled in about equal proportions, but wnat nas oeen leu 

 has been hauled away to build houses and barns. 



