<Ibc RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
1823 
4 
Why the Chimneys Lean 
Regarding leaning house chinmeye, as 
mentioned by W. S. on page 151S, and 
the answer to his inquiry by R. II. S.. 
who suggests that that condition is not 
general, as W. S. states, I wish to say 
that here in this seaport town practically 
all the square 8-inch flue and 8xl2-inch 
flue chimneys lean very much toward the 
east, as do many of the old 3G-inch chim¬ 
neys on colonial houses, though most of 
the latter are topped very near the roof 
and consequently there is little chance for 
them to lean. Practically every one of 
the small-flue chimneys must be rebuilt 
from the roof every six to 10 years. The 
prevailing winds here are from the east 
and often smell strongly of the seas. It 
has been suggested by a chemist that the 
action of the salt air on the mortar causes 
it to shrink somewhat aijd the bricks on 
the east side are thereby brought nearer 
together, making the easterly side of the 
chimney shorter than the opposite side 
and thus causing the leaning position. 
Eventually the top bricks become loose 
and fall off if not attended to. The rea¬ 
son that factory chimneys are not affected 
is because they are several bricks in thick¬ 
ness and the outer layer of brick pro¬ 
tects the layers immediately inside, and 
their mass is sufficient to hold the chim¬ 
ney in the upright position. Common 
house chimneys are only one brick thick 
in this locality, but all have their founda¬ 
tions in the cellar, bracket-supported 
chimneys being permitted only for sheds 
or outbuildings, and then on the outside 
of the building only. F. J. M. 
Newburyport, Mass. 
Slope of Chimneys 
Referring to question by W. S. on page 
1518, concerning inclination of chimneys, 
will say what I have noticed from obser¬ 
vation.* By making a close examination 
of a chimney one will find that the mortar 
between the bricks on the east and also 
the south side is worn away by the 
weather, i. e., rain, freezing, sunshine and 
thawing. I have seen chimneys, also 
brick buildings, where from one-fourth to 
one inch of mortar was gone from the 
joints. Brickmasons say that heat and 
gas fumes from furnaces warp chimneys, 
but missing mortar, heat and cold on 
opposite sides cause unequal expansion. 
The only time wind has any effect is 
when it blows a chimney over, 
will not bend a solid without 
it. but expansion will. 
Danielson, Conn. 
for wind 
breaking 
J. A. R. 
Trouble with Chimney and Cellar Wall 
I would like a little help on the follow¬ 
ing: About every week when we have 
rainy weather and the wind comes from 
the east. I must take down the pipe from 
the kitchen stove. Sometimes there is a 
bucketful of soot in the pipe, and as much 
in the stove. It will burn for a few 
days well, then it begins to smoke, and 
unless taken down the smoke comes out 
around the stovelids instead of going up 
the chimney. The chimney is built from 
the cellar rip. There was a place for two 
kettles there, and this part was removed 
but the openings are not closed tightly. 
On the first floor the chimney has open¬ 
ings for three stoves, and on the second 
floor for one. The chimney is several feet 
higher than the comb of the roof, \\ hen 
tin' wind comes from the west it draws 
well. In the attic it leans a little toward 
the east, as the bricklayer did not get it 
exactly in the center, or could not. Also, 
what can be done with our cellar wall. 
The frost moved it a little so there are 
some cracks in it. There is a spring in 
the cellar. A drain pipe from the kitchen 
does not quite reach the dram, and the 
water falls through that open space. 1 
am inclined to think that caused the 
trouble, as the pipe was not always short. 
There are six windows and quite a good 
bit of wall is exposed. In very cold 
weather the frost has been getting in tor 
some years. 4 E - R - 
Pennsylvania. 
This .is a complication which we would 
like to put before our readers for discus¬ 
sion. _ 
Poplar for Building Use 
I have a few poplar trees that have 
reached maturity. There is not enough to 
make it worth while to send to the ex¬ 
celsior mill. I wish to build a small binld 
ing and want some sheathing and stud¬ 
ding. Would the poplar answer foi th.u 
purpose? Would it make good outside 
finish if kept painted? I have plenty o 
pine but would rather cut the poplar ,f 
it will answer the purpose. A. H. R. 
Poplar lumber shrinks and cracks badly 
upon drying, and it swells to as great an 
extent when soaked. It warps and twuts 
when alternately exposed to the sun and 
and it soon decays if placed upon 
. ground or exposed to the element*, 
might answer for outside finish it tlioi- 
oughlv dried before using, and well 
painted with a good oil paint and then 
kept painted. But there will come a time 
when this last factor will be neglected, 
then disastrous results will follow, 
this reason I should advise against 
u*iug it for outside work. But. in my 
house, built nearly 20 years ago. most 
the heavy timbers, studding, stringers 
lining boards are of poplar, and I am 
satisfied with it. However, it is not "S 
strong as spruce or pine, and it is mo**e 
springy. Hence larger timbers must be 
used iii places where they are to support 
considerable weight. 
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FOR YOUR SPARE TIME THE RURAL NEW-YORKER , Dept. “M,” 333 West 30th Street , N. Y. 
