results from the prominent projection of the stories over one another and the profuse decoration of the horizontal sections formed by the string-pieces and their supports. Three distinct constructive periods are discernible. In the houses of the beginning and middle of the sixteenth century, the Gothic traditions of a decoration consistent with, and determined by, the construction are heeded; rounded forms are avoided; the horizontal timbers are cut at right angles, and are supported on beam-heads forming corbels. This period is found particu
larly well-represented at Brunswick; we cite, as an example,
the Sack palace, constructed in 1536 (Figure 45). Toward the close of the century the decorative system became indepen
dent of structural requirements and bent the wood to its own caprices ; curved lines appeared ; the string-pieces were cham
fered off and sumptuously decorated. We give, as specimens of this period, two details from a house in Hoxter (Figure 46). Figure 47 reproduces the town-hall of Schwalenberg, which belongs to the same type, and numerous other examples
Fig. 48. Wooden House at Hildesheim.
of it may be seen at Halberstadt. The third period is characterized by a very rich style, in which imitations of stone constructions abound, most of the decorative elements, at least, being borrowed from these sources; the profiles are of the an
tique order, and are decorated with denticles, eggs and darts. The string-pieces are not chamfered off, but serve as friezes, which are embellished with inscriptions or ornamental designs.
It is at Hildesheim that this school can be best studied (Figure 48).
[To be continued.!
American Woods of Great Specific Gravity. — There are 413 species of trees found within the limits of the United States and Territo
ries, 16 of which, when perfectly seasoned, will sink in water. The heaviest of these is the black ironwood (Condalia ferrea), found only in Southern Florida, which is more than 30 per cent heavier than water. Of the other 15, the best known are the lignum vitas (Guaiacum sanctum) and the mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). Texas and New Mexico lands, full of queer, creeping, crawling, walking and in
animate things, are the homes of a species of oak (Quercus grisea) which is about one and one-fourth times heavier than water, and which, when green, will sink almost as quickly as a bar of iron. It grows only in mountain regions, and has been found westward as far as the
Colorado desert, where it grows at an elevation of 10,000 feet. — Invention.
THE MANAGEMENT OF AN ARCHITECT’S OFFICE.1— III.
(i). S UPPLIES. — These form a considerable item
of the architect’s expenseaccount, and should be purchased at the closest figure attainable, and in such quantities as to pre
vent delays at all times. They should also be furnished in liberal quantities as the attempt to economize in their consump
tion almost always costs more in the draughtsman’s time than the value of the material saved. At the same time a sense of responsibility should be encour
aged in the draughtsmen, so as to
prevent waste. To accomplish this, office-boy No. 2 is given charge of all supplies, and it is his duty to see that they are furnished in proper quantities. He delivers to each assistant-superintendent all that are needed for his room, and replenishes the stock from time to time from the store-room, charging all that are issued to each room and turning in a quarterly statement to the civil engineer, who compares the supplies issued to each assistant-superintendent with the volume of work done, and warns against waste if necessary. After such a record has been kept for six months or a year, the civil engineer can judge of the
probable amount needed for a year, and can then invite proposals for furnishing, as needed, a year’s supply.
Usually this will result in an economy of from ten to fifteen per
cent in price, and a saving of from five to nine per cent, which is worth trying for.
Orders are sent out for sufficient supplies for six months, and when received are stored in the store-room, and a record is kept by officeboy No. 2 of all supplies going into store-room and issuing therefrom.
An office employing twenty-five men will use in this way, in one year, about as follows : —
O ) Bookkeeping: — Perhaps as many different ways exist of keeping books as of preparing drawings; requiring from an inap
preciable amount of time each month to three or four days a week by a regular book-keeper. In all cases, however, the end aimed at is the same; to keep the accounts between client and contractor so as to know at all times the cost of work ordered to date, and the amounts paid thereon ; to keep the accounts between architect and client so as to know at all times the amount due from client to arch
itect for disbursements, and on account of commissions for various
works, and finally to know that all amounts due are properly charo-ed up, collected and expended.
The management of the office also should be such that the actual cost to the office of any work, can be ascertained if desired.
Purely business transactions may be taken to be as follows : —
(1) Commission from client to prepare plans.
(2) Contracts signed. (3) Additional work.
(4) Payments to contractors.
(5) Payment of office-bills. (6) Payment of wages.
(7) Petty cash disbursements.
(8) Cash receipts.
(9) Disbursements to firm.
(10) Disbursements for investment.
1 Continued from No. 819, page 149.
Sassanide Horsemen. From ltLa Vie
privee des Anciens.”
larly well-represented at Brunswick; we cite, as an example,
the Sack palace, constructed in 1536 (Figure 45). Toward the close of the century the decorative system became indepen
dent of structural requirements and bent the wood to its own caprices ; curved lines appeared ; the string-pieces were cham
fered off and sumptuously decorated. We give, as specimens of this period, two details from a house in Hoxter (Figure 46). Figure 47 reproduces the town-hall of Schwalenberg, which belongs to the same type, and numerous other examples
Fig. 48. Wooden House at Hildesheim.
of it may be seen at Halberstadt. The third period is characterized by a very rich style, in which imitations of stone constructions abound, most of the decorative elements, at least, being borrowed from these sources; the profiles are of the an
tique order, and are decorated with denticles, eggs and darts. The string-pieces are not chamfered off, but serve as friezes, which are embellished with inscriptions or ornamental designs.
It is at Hildesheim that this school can be best studied (Figure 48).
[To be continued.!
American Woods of Great Specific Gravity. — There are 413 species of trees found within the limits of the United States and Territo
ries, 16 of which, when perfectly seasoned, will sink in water. The heaviest of these is the black ironwood (Condalia ferrea), found only in Southern Florida, which is more than 30 per cent heavier than water. Of the other 15, the best known are the lignum vitas (Guaiacum sanctum) and the mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). Texas and New Mexico lands, full of queer, creeping, crawling, walking and in
animate things, are the homes of a species of oak (Quercus grisea) which is about one and one-fourth times heavier than water, and which, when green, will sink almost as quickly as a bar of iron. It grows only in mountain regions, and has been found westward as far as the
Colorado desert, where it grows at an elevation of 10,000 feet. — Invention.
THE MANAGEMENT OF AN ARCHITECT’S OFFICE.1— III.
(i). S UPPLIES. — These form a considerable item
of the architect’s expenseaccount, and should be purchased at the closest figure attainable, and in such quantities as to pre
vent delays at all times. They should also be furnished in liberal quantities as the attempt to economize in their consump
tion almost always costs more in the draughtsman’s time than the value of the material saved. At the same time a sense of responsibility should be encour
aged in the draughtsmen, so as to
prevent waste. To accomplish this, office-boy No. 2 is given charge of all supplies, and it is his duty to see that they are furnished in proper quantities. He delivers to each assistant-superintendent all that are needed for his room, and replenishes the stock from time to time from the store-room, charging all that are issued to each room and turning in a quarterly statement to the civil engineer, who compares the supplies issued to each assistant-superintendent with the volume of work done, and warns against waste if necessary. After such a record has been kept for six months or a year, the civil engineer can judge of the
probable amount needed for a year, and can then invite proposals for furnishing, as needed, a year’s supply.
Usually this will result in an economy of from ten to fifteen per
cent in price, and a saving of from five to nine per cent, which is worth trying for.
Orders are sent out for sufficient supplies for six months, and when received are stored in the store-room, and a record is kept by officeboy No. 2 of all supplies going into store-room and issuing therefrom.
An office employing twenty-five men will use in this way, in one year, about as follows : —
O ) Bookkeeping: — Perhaps as many different ways exist of keeping books as of preparing drawings; requiring from an inap
preciable amount of time each month to three or four days a week by a regular book-keeper. In all cases, however, the end aimed at is the same; to keep the accounts between client and contractor so as to know at all times the cost of work ordered to date, and the amounts paid thereon ; to keep the accounts between architect and client so as to know at all times the amount due from client to arch
itect for disbursements, and on account of commissions for various
works, and finally to know that all amounts due are properly charo-ed up, collected and expended.
The management of the office also should be such that the actual cost to the office of any work, can be ascertained if desired.
Purely business transactions may be taken to be as follows : —
(1) Commission from client to prepare plans.
(2) Contracts signed. (3) Additional work.
(4) Payments to contractors.
(5) Payment of office-bills. (6) Payment of wages.
(7) Petty cash disbursements.
(8) Cash receipts.
(9) Disbursements to firm.
(10) Disbursements for investment.
1 Continued from No. 819, page 149.
Sassanide Horsemen. From ltLa Vie
privee des Anciens.”