THE USES OF WOOD 



425 



EXAMPLE OF HEAVY MILL CONSTRUCTION 

 The factory shown in the cut affords a good view of the interior of a building of large size where wooden 

 beams and pillars take the place of steel. The structure is very strong, pleasing in appearance, and the 

 hre risk is very low. Photograph by the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association, Chicago 



on centers. These girders are 

 supported by wood posts or 

 columns spaced from 16 to 25 

 feet apart. This type is often 

 referred to as "Standard Mill 

 Construction." 



2. Floors of heavy planks 

 laid on edge and supported by 

 girders which are spaced from 

 12 to 18 feet on centers. These 

 girders are supported by wood 

 posts or columns spaced 16 feet 

 or over apart, depending upon 

 the design of the structure. This 

 type is called "Mill Construc- 

 tion with Laminated Floors." 



3. Floors or heavy planks laid 

 flat upon heavy beams which are 

 spaced from 4 to 10 feet apart 

 on centers and supported by 

 girders spaced as far apart as 

 the loading will allow. These 

 girders are carried by wood 

 posts or columns located as far 

 apart as is consistent with the 

 general design of the building, 

 bodied in modern city building ordinances, though time has ..A spacing from 20 to 25 feet is not uncommon for 

 developed some improvements and has brought changes, columns in this class of framing when the loading is 



The mill construction style of 

 building has gained in popu- 

 larity, and at the present time it 

 is in special favor owing to the 

 extraordinarily high cost of 

 structural steel and the rela- 

 tively low price of wood. The 

 use of large wooden beams is 

 increasing. They answer all 

 practical purposes as well as 

 steel, within certain limits. The 

 walls of mill construction build- 

 ings are of brick. Wood is not 

 necessarily visible on the ex- 

 terior, but it is employed for 

 floors and their supports, and 

 for the supports of the roofs. 

 Architects have solved the prob- 

 lems of using enough wood to 

 give the requisite strength with- 

 out occupying too much space 

 or creating dangerous fire con- 

 ditions. Three general types of 

 mill construction framing are in 

 use and are indorsed in the 

 literature of the National Lum- 

 ber Manufacturers' Association. 

 Descriptions of the three types 



follow: EXTERIOR VIEW OF MILL CONSTRUCTION BUILDINGS IN CHICAGO 



1. rlOOrS 01 heavy planks These rows of modern factories furnish a good example of mill construction as seen from without. Floors, 



laid flat UPOn lartre cirders pillars, roofs, and all supports are of wood and the rate of insurance is very low. The walls are of 



... , brick and glass. This style of building is now popular. Photograph by the National Lumber Manu- 



Which are Spaced from 8 tO 11 f actU rers' Association. 



