1^44.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



36^ 



IRON HOOPING FOR BOND. 



Sir — As iron hooping is much used now instead of bond timber, I 

 venture to point out to the consideration of the building profession an 

 objection to it which seems to have been overlooked. I allude to the 

 chemical action which is nearly certain to take place when iron is 

 buried in cement; the bad effects of this I have seen in numerous in- 

 stances, and I particularly remember one in the Rotunda of the Bank 

 of England, where a large piece of stone was forced from its position 

 by the operation of the action alluded to. Apart from this, proper 

 attention is not paid to the protection of the hooping from atmospheric 

 effects, as I have frequently noticed the ends of the hooping left pro- 

 jecting at the extremities of new built walls to the extent of three or 

 four feet, and this for weeks together, the consequence has been that 

 the hooping so left exposed has been covered with rust, and rendered 

 unfit to be inserted in the walls intended to be built, and tied by this 

 very hooping to the newly built walls already erected. 



I am induced to request your insertion of this, in hopes that some 

 of your readers may point out a substitute for the iron hooping, which 

 would be less liable to the operation of the chemical action. 

 Your's, &c. 



Thos. J. Pring. 



Bouverie Street, Fleet Street, 

 September i, 1844. 



A FEW MORE HINTS ON DECORATIVE ARCHITECTURE. 



The sticklers for architectural "unities," are somewhat like their 

 brother sticklers for dramatic proprieties. The latter-named gentle- 

 men contend immensely for unity of time, place, and action, each of 

 them being absurdly unnatural, but totally neglect that one little thing 

 needful, the unity of nature. They will not allow a change of scene, 

 a lapse of years ; a difference between a bed-chamber and a banquet- 

 ting hall; but have no objection to a bravo talking like a hero; or a 

 waiting-maid like a countess. And the prior named sticklers are 

 enormously severe upon intercolumniation (regulated by theoretical 

 proportion, and not the strength of the material I) and such like points, 

 but totally overlook minor discrepancies, which to uneducated people 

 really do appear important. Look for instance at an assembly-room, 

 a town-hall, or a court of justice. 



Columns ornament the vf alls ; frescos decorate the panels ; elaborate 

 cornices surround the windows and doors; the ceiling is enriched with 

 panels, roses, Vfreaths, and all the pride and glory of Bielefeld's 

 papier-mache ; but alas for the architectural " unities," the bewildered 

 spectator casts his eyes, dazzled by the magnificence of the scene, 

 down upon the ground, and behold, a vacant dreary area of Norway 

 pine or Baltic timber, unadorned save by the straight lines of the 

 joints, that run on in endless and tiresome perspective. An idea 

 rushes through his brains of Beau Brummel in a bad hat, or George 

 the Fourth in Bluchers, and he precipitately retires, a wiser but a 

 sadder man. 



In a private residence, the same incongruity prevails, architectural 

 taste and elegance are lavished indiscriminately upon the walls and 

 ceilings, but the " poor floor that we tread upon," has got its naked- 

 ness disguised by a Turkey or Kidderminster carpet, the beautiful 

 texture of which becomes disgusting from the hideous discord of the 

 colours, and the insipid absurdity of the pattern. Now as every per- 

 son, however reckless, must more or less look before they leap, and 

 even before they step ; and as people in general do not walk with 

 their eyes in a heaven-ward position, it is pretty certain that the floor 

 has greater claims upon the attention of the architect than the ceiling 

 or even the walls. 



In churches, thank God, a better taste begins to show itself, and 

 that portion of the floor, not disfigured by pews, is well ornamented 

 in the ancient style by deviced tiles ; except in halls and corridors, 

 however, this method is not applicable for general purposes, and a 

 substitute must be sought elsewhere. 



In the late Government exhibition in St. James' Street, of decorative 

 works, there was a model exhibited which seemed in a great measure 

 to supply the wants — it was a combination of wooden tiles or blocks, 

 of the richest colours, and admitting of course of every possible variety 

 of form and pattern. It is the patent of a Mr. Austin, C.E., and on a 

 late visit to the Royal Exchange, we were told it is to be laid down 

 in the library of that building. If it should be found to possess dura- 

 bility, it will certainly be a valuable acquisition to architectural re- 

 sources. 



Something must be done; a Napoleon of Kidderminster, or a Turkey 

 Newton must arise, or else (would indeed it were so) the profession 

 must leave oft' twaddling about unity of style, and classic severity ; 

 Christian art and masonic rules; German jEstheticism and English 

 Puginism; and turn their attention to those unconnidercd trijies which, 

 whatever they may think, are worthy of their sapient consideration. 



A. H. Patterson. 



Westminster, Sept, 3, 1844. 



THE ORDNANCE ESTIMATE OF THE EXPENSE OF SURVEYS. 



We have thought it our duty to give the followini; document, for the in- 

 formation and consideration of our professional readers. We are not amongst 

 those who would bolster up raonopolies, or attempt to make a vested inte- 

 rest of public rights, and we therefore feel the less diftidence in denouncing 

 this measure. It must be evident to every one tliat the estimate in question 

 is entirely fallacious, and does not represent the real cost to the public of 

 such surveys. Take, for instance, the case of officers of the Ordnance alone. 

 We have here no allowance for their education, sick or non-effective pay, or 

 retiring pensions : we have no account of the pay, lodging, clothing, allow- 

 ances and pensions of the subordinates employed. Every one will therefore 

 see that, as a mere matter of figures, the estimate is a delusion ; we have, 

 moreover, strong reasons for believing that, even as the figures stand, they 

 do not make due provision for the duties to be performed. It will be seen 

 that the estimate for surveying, at the highest rate, is only about a penny or 

 twopence a house, figures which carry their own refutations with them. 

 Were this estimate, however, a true one, the grand objection against the 

 whole plan remains untouched. It proposes a dangerous and mischievous 

 interference, not merely with existing private enterprise, but with the future 

 interests of the public. We sincerely deplore, as all must, the neglect of the 

 necessary surveys at present, and the ignorance too often to be witnessed in 

 local surveyors. But how are we to have this remedied, if professional men 

 do not have the means of improvement allowed to them, and if they do not 

 receive the reward of proficiency. All these plans for putting local surveys 

 into the hands of the Ordnance officers, amount to neither more nor less than 

 this, — defrauding the localities of competent resident officials, and it is on 

 this ground we take our stand, as thereby not only would no economy be 

 effected, but continual and sure losses be inflicted on the public. 



With regard to the officers of that eminent service, the Ordnance Depart- 

 partment, we cannot but think that, to call on them for such reports and 

 such services, is to place them in an inviduous position with regard to their 

 civilian brethren. While we should be among the first to deprecate the in- 

 terferance of professional civihans with the officers of the Ordnance, so do 

 we feel regret when we see duties so unpleasant imposed ou the officers of 

 Government. We now proceed to give Captain Tucker's Report to the Ord- 

 nance Department. 



Report. 



In obedience to your order of the 22nd February, 1814, 1 have the honour 

 to submit the following estimates for the Health of Towns Commission, plans 

 on the scale of five feet to one mile, showing countour altitudes, or altitudes 

 marked at equal vertical distances, in the streets of towns, contour lines 

 without the towns, sufficient to be serviceable for the sewerage and drainage 

 of them, and including the expense of ascertaining sewers, water-pipes, and 

 gas-pipes, arranged under the folowing heads : — 



1st. Of towns of which the survey is completed. 

 2nd. Of towns of which the survey is in progress. 

 3rd. Of towns of which the survey has not been commenced. 



No. 1. Towns Surveyed. — In the estimate under this head the expense of 

 the surveying and levelling already done is not included, as I have considered 

 them to have been performed for the Ordnance Survey, therefore I have only 

 charged the additional expense of marking contour altitudes in the streets, 

 and contour lines outside the towns, ascertaining sewers, water-pipes, and 

 gas-pipes. 



The cost of making copies of the plans is inserted, to which the additional 

 cost is added to show the cost of copies of the plans with the additional in- 

 formation for sanatory purposes. 



No. 2. — Totons in, progress for the Ordnance Survey of England. — The 

 estimate for levelling and marking contours in the streets is for the levelling 

 which will be necessary for the improvement of the sewerage and drainage of 

 towns, supposing it to be done for that purpose. 



The cost of copies of the plans is the same as for Class No. 1. 



No. 3. Towns of which the Survey is not commenced. — The surveying, 

 plotting, and drawing are charged, showing the cost of levelUng, contuuriug, 

 ascertaining sewers, water-pipes, and gas-pipes, as in No. 2. 



The expense of fixing points is not included in the estimate. 



The expense of surveying varies in proportion to the size or population and 

 the compactness of the town. 



The area or extent of the close or compact part of a large town being 

 greater in proportion to the whole area or extent of the town, than the com- 

 pact part of a small town bears to its whole area or extent, the cost of sur- 

 veying will be greater in propqitioa to its area thau the cost of a small town 



