PRACTICAL PAPERS—FIRE-PROOF WALLS, ETC. 
325 
CHEAP FIRE-PEOOF WALLS AND FLOORS. 
From the Oflacial Report of 
JAMES H. BOWEN, 
United States Commissioner to the Paris Exposition of 1867. 
One important subject to the interest of the citizens of the 
United States is, that some plan shall be adopted in the mode 
and manner of constructing buildings to prevent, in a mea¬ 
sure, the burning of such an immense value of property as 
is annually consumed in America. No country suffers so 
severely, and we cannot afford it. 
The reporter would respectfully suggest that all buildings 
shall be constructed with a view to prevent such vast destruc¬ 
tion of property. The use of iron beams, with brick arches 
turned, undoubtedly are the most safe; but, as they are some- ^ 
what expensive, the following mode of building is commended 
to the special attention of all Americans. It is one of trifling 
expense compared to its advantages. It is a system that has 
been thoroughly tested. Lay a floor of seasoned hemlock 
boards upon the timbers, or floor-joists, and then lay'a coat of 
cement, a large proportion of which may be sand, entirely 
over this floor, from wall to wall, of one inch thick; then let 
the cement become thoroughly dried, over which lay a floor 
of matched boards, nailed with forty-penny nails. If there 
are wood partitions, there should be laid two courses of bricks 
between the studs, and plastered to the base-board, to prevent 
all circulation of air. A floor laid as above will resist an im¬ 
mense volume of flame in the room for one hour before break¬ 
ing through the cemented floor above; and the expense of 
cement is only ten to twelve cents per square yard—a trifling 
matter compared to its value. 
