12 BULLETIN 801/ 17. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of this with other methods of storage. Again there must be con- 

 sidered the cost of platform, shed, and yard hydrant piping, 

 as . well as the land area, all of which unduly increase the cost per 

 bale capacity where the plant is too much expanded or scattered. 



Generally speaking, 100 feet may be considered the best length 

 (between exterior walls) for the warehouse compartment. The 

 height of the compartment, while limited by the floor area as re- 

 gards allowable volume, should be such as to give a minimum of 

 18 inches between the surface of the cotton and the under side of 

 overhead beams. Where the sprinkler system is installed, the story 

 height should permit the placing of the spray head at least 18 

 and preferably 36 inches above the cotton as well as a suitable 

 distance (as later specified) from the ceiling. 



It is desirable that the compartment be sufficiently light to allow 

 for reading the tag numbers on the bales of cotton. This is one 

 strong influence in favor of the single story compartment, as sky- 

 lights can be used to good advantage. Where there are a number 

 of stories, compartments not lighted from above should not exceed 

 100 feet in length unless lighted by electricity. 



The above 23rinciples are applied in the accompanying plans. 

 Fig-ure 1 shows single storj^ compartments 50 feet by 100 feet in 

 size having a story height of 13 feet, this being a proportion well 

 suited to any type of construction. Compartments suitable for 

 fire-resistive construction are shown in figures 2 and 3 having story 

 heights of 8| feet and 13 feet respectively. A rather unusual pro- 

 portion for the compartment, and one which may be justified only 

 by extraordinary limitations of the site, is shown in figure 4. It 

 is worthy of note that this building may be constructed free of 

 columns, with compartments 30 feet wide by 170 feet long. In 

 the case of two-story compartments, which may be applied advan- 

 tageously to slow-burning construction, the entire volume between fire 

 walls should be considered as a single compartment from the stand- 

 point of fire hazard. The total volume for two stories is slightly 

 in excess of the preferred standards where floors are 50 feet by 

 100 feet with a story height of 8^ feet, though this particular ar- 

 rangement involves but a slight penalty from insurance rates, and, 

 where sprinklered, there is less hazard than in a single story com- 

 partment where the bales are tiered. 



Where funds for the investment are limited, it often may be desi- 

 rable to build compartments of such area as will give a volume two, 

 three, or even four times the preferred limit of 72,000 cubic feet. In 

 such case it may be well to construct the compartment with a di- 

 mension of 100 feet between exterior walls and space division fire 

 walls at such distances that additional walls can be built in later at 



