No. 144.] 399 



many of this kind of cheap tenements for the poor, which he can 

 rent for half the usual charge on a brick house, and still make 

 more money. 



Mr. Robinson said that he was delighted to have such an en- 

 dorser for his balloon story as the intelligent gentleman from Ca- 

 lifornia, Mr. Youmans. I told the good folks of Illinois, if they 

 wanted a strong jail, to build it out of boards, and fill them full 

 of nails, and there would be no cutting out of it. 



Dr. Waterbury observed, that when these wooden houses are 

 plastered, he has seen that by the expansion or contraction of the 

 wood the plaster comes off. 



Paul Stillman reminded the Club that plaster very commonly 

 peels oif from brick walls also. 



Chester Coleman, of Brooklyn — I have seen balloon houses put 

 up, and was very much surprised at the facility, quickness, and 

 strength of them— their timbers being only about two or three 

 inches; by four inches square. I watched the building of a dwell- 

 ing house in this way. It was two stories, strong, looked as well 

 outside as any frame house, and it cost but about three hundred 

 dollars to build it. It was a very good demonstration of the 

 value of the new idea. N"© tenons or mortices for the first farm 

 edifices of our forest land. The house I have referred to was 

 built in a week! 



Mr. Robinson — To make a cheap, tight roof, they use very 

 coarse paper, saturated with hot tar, and then well sprinkled 

 with sand or gravel. When done a second coat it is good and 

 cheap. 



Paul Stillman — Jlnd will burn very easily! 



Dr. Austin Church hud recently seen some houses on the bal- 

 loon plan at the West. They look well, and are strong, but I 

 doubt their durability. 



Solon Robinson — Sir, we are Christians, you know, and there- 

 fore we take no thought for the morrow. 



