CONSTKUCTION AND FIRE PROTECTION OF COTTON WAREHOUSES. 59 
case it is desirable that supporting piers of masonry extend up to the 
floor timbers as this eliminates framing and bracing which con- 
tributes to accumulation of trash under the platform with the conse- 
quent fire hazard and general unsightliness. For this reason, also, 
the space under the platform should be inclosed by boarding. 
Sheds should not be used in courts between buildings unless the 
warehouse is of slow-burning or fire-resistive construction. Even 
then the shed should not extend within 25 feet of the warehouse. 
Shedded courts combined with "wood-end" buildings, while pro- 
tecting the cotton under the shed, tend to make the whole plant or 
large sections of it a single fire risk. 
Sheds of the open type used over platforms or independent of them 
may be of fire-resistive, slow-burning, or iron-clad construction. For 
most situations the use of the shed does not justify the cost of fire- 
resistive construction. The slow-burning construction is generally 
most suitable for this use. Sheds covering more than 25,000 square 
feet should be divided by fire walls so that no area will exceed this 
amount, Fire doors in such a wall should not be used unless inclosed 
by a vestibule as described previously. Division fire walls for this 
use should always terminate with the T end, which should be 20 
feet long. 
CLASSING ROOM AND OFFICE. 
A properly lighted room for grading the cotton samples is very 
desirable for many plants. Such a room is shown by the photograph 
in Plate XXIX, figures 1 and 2. The lighting here is excellent for 
the work as the windows and saw-tooth skylights are turned to the 
north so as to maintain a uniform intensity and diffusion of light 
as far as possible. Windows and skylights should be of ribbed glass 
and walls should be painted a light grey in order to minimize the 
glare. The tables shown afford ample space for handling of samples. 
Racks or tables for the boxes containing copies of the Official Cotton 
Standards of the United States may be placed for convenient 
reference. 1 
A file room for retention of samples of cotton stored is desirable 
and frequently is necessary. Some plants used an entire warehouse 
compartment for samples, but a detached building with the file room 
adjoining the classing room is preferable. Shelves should be so 
placed as to insure quick location of any sample. 
1 See U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Markets Service and Regu- 
latory Announcements No. 6, 1916, and No. 41, 1919. 
