August, 1906 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



89 



blocks were made of Atlas 

 Portland cement and coarse 

 sand in the proportion of 

 one of cement to four of 

 sand, and although the 

 building was unoccupied for 

 several of the winter months 

 no water or moisture has 

 presented itself on the inside 

 of the walls, whether ex- 

 posed to the weather or be- 

 low grade in contact with 

 the soil. In order to take- 

 no chances, however, the 

 owner has had the exposed 

 walls treated above grade 

 with a double wash, some- 

 what similar to the Syl- 

 vester process. The ma- 

 terials in the washes are en- 

 tirely different, however, 

 and the resulting action is 

 said to be more waterproof 

 and lasting, and does not 

 discolor the stone in the 

 least. 



In the preparation of the 

 blocks high-class labor was 

 not employed; only the fore- 

 man being a first-class ma- 

 son. This one man directed 



the making and seasoning of the blocks, and later, the laying 

 of them in the walls. It was found that the cheaper laborers 

 were just as efficient as higher paid men, for their principal 

 work was in the carrying and distributing of the blocks, and 

 the interest which they took in the new form of construction 



— A Simple Staircase with Mahogany Rail Rises up to a Broad Landing from Which Windows 

 Open on to a Balcony Inclosed with an Ornamental Iron Railing 



being productive of better results than would have been the 

 case had the work been entrusted to men disposed to treat 

 the blocks as a form of construction inferior to brick or stone 

 masonry. The floors are supported by 3 x 10-inch concrete 

 beams reinforced with "Kahn" bars, and over these is laid 



a concrete floor in one con- 

 tinuous slab, having em- 

 bedded in it nailing strips 

 for the finished floor, which 

 is of wood. Where parti- 

 tions occur in the second 

 story other than over first- 

 story partitions, they are 

 carried by reinforced con- 

 crete girders, which show 

 below the ceilings of the first 

 story. Some of these are 

 shown and are treated as a 

 feature of the room, as 

 shown in Figs. 9 and 17. 

 The absolute fireproof qual- 

 ities of the building are 

 worthy of imitation. As a 

 matter of fact, why should 

 not every dwelling be fire- 

 proof? In the basement of 

 a residence, for instance, a 

 fire burns for about six 

 months of the year. \Yh\ 

 should there be a large 

 quantity of woodwork ex- 

 posed to accidental flame 

 fro m the furnace, or 

 a spark from the ashes? 

 The ordinary cellar some- 

 times has a concrete floor, it 

 is true, but the ceiling is 

 often of open wood con- 

 struction, with the exposed 



1 1 In the Dining-Room is a Fireplace with Black and Gold Facings and an Old Colonial Mantel 



The China-Closet Placed in One of the Arches is a Good Feature 



of the Room. The Furniture is of Mahogany 



