CONSTRUCTION AND FIRE PROTECTION OF COTTON WAREHOUSES. 45 
such as frequently occur in the exterior wall, which support the 
ends of floor or roof plank, should be lightly anchored to the wall 
by bolts for the purpose, although the bearing should be directly on 
a ledge formed by an offset or corbel. 
Timber ends supported by posts should have a direct bearing over 
the post and have a supplementary connection from an iron cap or 
wood bolster such as is shown by figures 4 and 5 of Plate XXVI. 
Where a floor is supported, the post above this floor should be tapered 
and carried between the ends of the timbers of the floor below to a 
firm bearing on the column bolster or cap ; the ends of the abutting 
timbers should be beveled so as to secure a direct bearing. Such con- 
struction is shown by Plate XXVI, figure 5. The timbers are secured 
by lag screws connecting them to the bolster which is in turn spiked 
to the post. This bolster is of further value in stiffening the timbers 
against deflection under load. The iron cap of suitable design may 
be used in place of the bolster. Use of the iron cap is to be preferred 
for one-story buildings where the use of power trucks is contem- 
plated. In such cases the post should be securely framed to reduce 
the likelihood of its being knocked out by the truck. Posts support- 
ing the roof should be secured to it in such manner that slight lifting 
of the roof by wind would not allow the post to fall. The post which 
is supported at the first floor should always rest on a cast-iron plate 
in order that there may be no penetration of moisture from the pier 
into the wood to cause decay, and to equalize and distribute the load 
over sufficient area of the pier. (The pier should, of course, be of 
substantial masonry such as was described for use under ground). 
The lower end of this post should contain a hole about 1J inches in 
diameter and of equivalent depth which should fit over a lug, or 
knob, formed on the bearing plate. This gives stability against dis- 
placement by blows from trucking. The framing described is simple, 
economical, and is most satisfactory in behavior when subjected to 
fire. Timbers should be dressed on all exposed sides and have cor- 
ners chamfered, or beveled, and splinters removed. 
For preservative and fire retardant treatment of wood, see the 
concluding paragraphs under " Semi-slow-burning construction." 
FLOORS. 
Planking for floors above the ground and for the roof should be 
thick. All exposed sides should be dressed and edges should be well 
matched by being tongued and grooved or splin«d, preferably the 
latter. (In splinecl construction the edges of the 7 jblank provide a 
deep, wide groove into which a wooden strip is fit' Rightly.) This 1 
construction insures a close joint, which prevents tne, ready passage 
of flame and retards the leakage of water used in extinguishing fire. 
