House and Garden 
Figure 17 
beam from cracking. In addition to this, 
other stresses (called shear) are produced 
within the beam, which have to be resisted, 
hence, the adoption of stirrups running from 
the bottom to the top of the beam. Figure 
9 shows an isometric view of this construc¬ 
tion in which the girders and beams are 
exposed to view below. 
Figure io shows the interior of the offices 
of the Forrest Laundry where the beams are 
enriched. The enrichment is in plaster of 
Paris and applied to the ceiling when the 
plastering is performed. 
If a flat ceiling is desired, 
a combination construction is 
used in which terra-cotta tile 
or plaster of Paris centres are 
used to fill in the space be¬ 
tween the beams, which are 
set much closer together and 
need not be so deep, thus 
saving head room. Figure 11 
shows one type of this con¬ 
struction. 
There are several other long 
span systems of reinforced con¬ 
crete, spanning from wall to 
wall, giving a flat ceiling in 
the rooms that employ only a 
concrete slab reinforced on the 
bottom with a webbing of 
metal strengthened with wire 
cables or other method of 
reinforcement. 
Walls.—The use of concrete 
for walls is becoming more 
common; in fact, entire build¬ 
ings are now being erected of 
this material with astonishing 
results, which promises a de¬ 
parture in the style of decora¬ 
tion, so that what has hitherto 
been regarded as the standard 
of excellence in design for dwell¬ 
ing houses and like buildings will 
but little influence this work. 
I do not refer to the hideous 
and lifeless decoration which we 
see flaunting us at every turn 
where concrete blocks are used. 
1 deprecate the advancement 
of this form of construction 
as much as the present tin or 
cast iron fronts; but I speak for the con¬ 
struction which makes of the walls a mono¬ 
lith with the decoration incorporated with 
the construction. Where richness is desired 
the introduction of colored mosaic or tiles 
in the decoration will be found to lend to the 
design a beauty and fullness that rivals any 
other method of decoration. A number of 
buildings are being built of this construction, 
notably the Blenheim Hotel, Atlantic City. 
Figures 12 and 13 show illustrations of a 
house built at Allentown, Pa., in which the 
Figure 18 
160 
