NOTES CHIPPINGS LOMBARDIC COLUMNS. Among the characteristic peculiarities of the Lombardic style, the following may be enumerated as the most obvious and most general: Columns with cylindrical shafts, and varying greatly in their proportions, some being of the average height of the Roman orders, others extremely short, either in proportion to their diameter or their capitals, or else exceedingly tall, and when attached to walls elongated into a mere rod, or vertical convex moulding, surmounted by a capital. Instances of fancifully-shaped or decorated shafts are by no mean unfrequent, some being zigzagged horizontally, or polygonal in plan, or embossed with sculpture, or either twisted or cut into spiral grooves and mouldings. Equal diversity - not to call it extravagance-prevails in the capitals, which, as far as general mass and outline go, bear some analogy to the Corinthian. If, however, some capitals are much decorated, others are nearly plain, and these are frequently in the form of an inverted cone, cut in such manner as to present four flat sides or faces, which again are occasionally more or less ornamented. In bases there is much less variety, they being for the most part only a series of mouldings in rude imitation of the common attic base. But one very great singularity in this style connected with columns is that of placing them upon the backs of couchant animals or other figures, which serve as pedestals to them. Whimsical as it appears to us, it may very probably have originated, not altogether in caprice, but have been occasioned by employing materials and fragments taken from ruined edifices, where columns, being found too short for their intended situation, were raised or stilted up by being set on other fragments, for which purpose remains of sculpture may have been adopted, either because they chanced to be at hand or because considered more ornamental and as adding richness to the column itself. Upon the same supposition we may easily account for the great variety of columns and capitals in the same building, namely, that they were ornaments collected at random from the remains of other structures, and that the irregularity thus occasioned in the first instance grew by degrees to be a matter of taste, and was adopted out of choice. Columns of the kind just specified were, however, by no means very usual, and are chiefly to be met with in those forming porches or decorating the chief entrance to a church, as in that of San Ciriaco at Ancona, and in San Zeno at Verona. Although not invariably so, columns are to be understood as accompaniments to arches which spring from them, and arches applied in different ways are very predominant features of the style. Besides giving the form to doorways and windows, they were employed for decorating the faces of walls in very nearly the same manner as in the kindred Norman style. The Architect. THE KNIBBS-VALVE PATENT SUIT. A judgment against the city of New York for $818,074 32 for damages and interest on that account since May 14, 1897, was entered in the United States Circuit Court this week by Benner & Benner, attorneys for Christopher C. Campbell, assignee in trust. The action was the outcome of litigation that has been going on since 1877, over the alleged infringement of a patent by the city. In 1864 James Knibbs patented an appliance for shutting off the water in fire-hose without doing injury to the hose or damaging the engine. Before Knibbs invented his valve, the flow of water was checked at the nozzle, and this resulted in an undue strain on hose and engine, causing frequent breakages of both. Suit was begun because the city adopted the new appliance without obtaining any license from the patentee. In May, 1897, Judge Wheeler fixed the damage at $818,074.32. He decided that the city had saved more than $182,000 by the preservation of hose by the appliance, $28,000 in wages to machinists, and more than $600,000 by the lessening of the number of men that it was necessary to employ. The rights of the various persons involved in the case were several years ago assigned in trust to Ruel Philbrook, of Boston, but soon before Judge Wheeler's judgment he died, and this was the cause of several years' delay in the entry of the judgment. George L. Crum, who is connected with the Equitable Life Assurance Society, was finally agreed on by all interested to succeed Mr. Philbrook. It is said that $300,000 of the city's funds has been spent in fighting the claim. The city's offers of compromise were always refused. Mr. Crum contends that on an appeal over $1,000,000 will be added to the amount of the judgment through the recognition by the Appellate Court of certain claims for damages which were refused by Judge Wheeler. The case on appeal, it is said, will consist of ten thousand pages, and cost the city $10,000 to print. - N. Y. Tribune. PRESERVING SOME OF THE PARIS FAIR BUILDINGS. - A project which may be said to have at once secured public favor has for its object the retention for a number of years of twelve out of sixteen of the edifices on the Quai d'Orsai which formed the Rue des Nations, and to employ them as museums of a different class to any existing in Paris. The first question which had to be considered was whether the buildings were capable of enduring for a period of, say, ten years. The advice of M. Lewis Bonnier, the architect, was sought, and he concluded that with the exception of those representing Italy, Spain, Turkey and Servia the pavilions might be considered as of sound construction. Spain happens to be in the middle of the row, and its removal will make a gap. But the Finland pavilion, which is interesting, is to be removed and take the place of Spain. In most cases there will be no purchase-money necessary. In any case it is assumed an outlay of 1,000,000 francs may take place. In utilizing the buildings it is proposed to establish a Museum of Comparative Education in the United States building. In the Austrian Palace will be an exhibition of international exhibitions between 1798 and 1900. The Hungarian Pavilion will be assigned to the history of civilization. The Belgian Building, which was a reproduction of municipal buildings at Oudenarde, will probably be used as a museum of public art. The Norwegian Pavilion will contain objects relating to navigation and marine explora tion. The German Building will be illustrative as far as possible of learned societies. The Swedish Building will be converted into a museum of manual instruction, and Greece, if it can be retained, will be a fitting place to exemplify recent discoveries in Classic archæology. Irony is strong among Frenchmen, and it has dictated that peace should have a special exhibition, for which the Bosnian Building is supposed to be eligible. Finland will be appropriated to geography, and Monaco to oceanography. Great Britain's mansion is to be reserved for sanitary science and bacteriology, and the great work initiated by Pasteur and Lord Lister can there be studied. The Architect. THE BAPTISTERY OF ALBENGA. - The baptistery of Albenga was incontestably the most ancient Christian monument remaining entire in Liguria, and among the most ancient of Italy, even after the modern criticism, that is always finding the ancient buildings less old than they were generally believed to be, had assigned it to the end of the eighth century at the earliest. Important restorations now going on for once confirm the popular belief in a greater age-i. e., of the fifth century. Removal of the existing pavement has disclosed the ancient pavement of precious marbles with remains of the primitive baptismal-font and the ciborium that covered it; while simple cleaning about the altarniche has laid bare mosaics similar to those of the mausoleum of Galla Placidia at Ravenna, which dates from A. D. 440. The earth about the removed, uncovering several tombs, Roman as well as Christian. Rebaptistery, which had gathered to the depth of 8 or 10 feet, has been mains of painting and sculpture, the pierced marbles filling the windows, a feature of great rarity, and the construction - now, for the first time in centuries, made evident - render the building of great interest to the archæologist. The restorations (by the Ufficio Regionale for Piedmont and Liguria, corresponding to the French Commission des Monuments Historiques) are being conducted with intelligence and conscience. — N. Y. Evening Post. COUNT VON WALDERSEE'S ASBESTOS HOUSE. A description has appeared in the Centralblatt der Bauverwaltung of the asbestos house which has been shipped to China as the field headquarters of Count von Waldersee. It was made by the firm of Alfred Calmon in Hamburg, from the plans of Mr. H. Hagn, a German civil engineer. When first assembled eight hours were necessary to put the house together and three hours were needed to take it down. This time was apparently considered a trifle long for military operations, and the designer was induced to prepare a "carefully worked-out plan of setting up," which was followed when the house was put on exhibition in Bremerhaven, resulting in a marked reduction in the time required. The beams, timbers and similar long pieces of the structure can be made up into bundles, and the asbestos plates, doors, windows and the like can be packed in 150 chests, each provided with four handles "for easy transportation." The house has a length of 55 feet, a width of 37 feet, and a height to the top of the walls of 114 feet and 15 feet to the ridge-pole. Internally it is divided into five rooms of 195 to 450 square feet floorspace each, for the field marshal and his adjutants, a bath-room and a room for two servants. The timber framework is made of selected fir put together with screws and mortises so as to be easily assembled and taken apart. The floor-girders, which are laid on the levelled surface of the ground, are three in number and carry sixteen cross-beams on which the flooring is laid and to which the timbers of the walls are bolted. The framing is further strengthened by guys of wire rope. The asbestos plates are very light, water-tight and incombustible. The outer walls are double, with a 14-inch air-space between them, while the partitions consist of but one thickness of these plates. Each is held by a light wood frame which fits into the framing of the house. The plates for the roof are held by clips. The planks forming the floor have been given an asbestos protection on their lower side in order to keep out the cold, dampness and vapors from the ground." Mats of cocoa fibre and carpets have also been provided. The glazed windows are provided with shutters and window-screens to keep out insects. Five German stoves with stovepipes of plate-iron have been provided to heat the rooms. - The Architect. ST. MARYLEBONE, LONDON. - The old parish church of St. Marylebone recently celebrated the five hundredth anniversary of the laying of its foundation stone by Robert de Braybroke, Bishop of London. The old church is the quaintest among London's many quaint ecclesiastical buildings. And it is further remarkable in being the smallest. Its associations, historical and literary, are also exceptional: many of the Dukes of Portland lie buried within its walls, as does Baretti, a great friend of Dr. Johnson, while in the odd little adjoining churchyard repose the remains of Charles Wesley, Lord Byron was baptized in the church in March, 1788; Dickens makes it the scene of a similar ceremony in "Dombey and Son," while the tomb on which Hogarth represents his famous "Rake" gaming of a Sunday morning is still a conspicuous object in the churchyard. - London Chronicle. SWISS WATER FOR PARIS.-M. Baudry, a French engineer, proposes to settle the vexed question of a city water-supply for all time, so far as Paris is concerned, by bringing to that city the water of Lake Geneva, which is well known for its purity and which is in small danger of ever being contaminated by a future growth of population on its borders or tributaries, while the supply is said to be inexhaustible. He estimates the cost of the enterprise at $200,000,000, which appears to include $25,000,000 asked by the Swiss Government for the waterright. Other engineers pronounce the plan entirely feasible. — Boston Transcript. SI MONUMENTUM QUÆRIS.—“The contractor who built the City-hall at Denver, Col., is now selling cigars and tobacco at a stand in the corridor of that building." It is not easy to trace the connection between cause and effect in the foregoing item clipped from the New York Evening Post. SJ. PARKHILL & Co., Printers, Boston, U. S. A. "Topical Architecture" Classified Architectural Motives and Details. Published Monthly. Now ready, Number 11, "ECCLESIASTICAL DOMES." Price: Single Part, 40 cts. Three (different) Parts, $1.00. Ten (different) Parts, $3.00. EACH PART CONTAINS 8 PLATES. [Printed specifications of any patents here mentioned together with full detail illustrations, may be obtained of the Commissioner of Patents, at Washington, for five cents.1 661,944. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING MOISTURE FROM AIR. - Edgar S. Belden, Chicago, Ill. 661,946. BEAM-SUPPORTER.-Louis Berry, New York, N. Y. 661,963. SECURING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL TO WINDOW-SASHES - Oliver M. Edwards, Syracuse, N. Y. 661,966. WATER-FAUCET.-John P. Farley, Kansas City, Mo. 661,991. SASH HOLDER AND FASTENER.-William A. Hulme, Ryan. Ind. Ter. 662,080. STEAM-BOILER.- Andrew Mercer, New York, N. Y. 662,103. HEATING AND VENTILATING SYSTEM.Isaac D. Smead, Toledo, O. 662,107. AIR-HEATING PROTECTOR FOR FURN ACES. - Edward Abbs and James J. Glynn, Toronto, Can. 662,119. BRICK.-George E. A. Holdsworth, Hove, Eng. 662,162. FIREPROOF CONSTRUCTION. - Charles A. Balph, Pittsburgh, Pa. 662,201. SAFETY-GUARD FOR HINGES. - John H. Pineo, Brookline, Mass. 662,228. BEAM-HANGER.-Gustav E. Escher, New York, N. Y. Scagliola Work. BUILDING INTELLIGENCE. (Reported for The American Architect and Building News.) [Although a large portion of the building intelligence is provided by their regular correspondents, the editors greatly desire to receive voluntary information, especially from the smaller and outlying towns.] ADVANCE RUMORS. Allegheny, Pa.- Bonds for $83,000 will be issued to provide for the erection of a new fire-station. Atlanta, Ga.-J. G. Truitt, of La Grange, is interested in a project to build a large apartmenthouse on Peachtree St. The structure will be eight stories in height containing several hundred rooms with all modern conveniences; cost, $260,000. The trustees of the University of Georgia will rec ommend to the State legislature an appropriation of $56,000 to provide for repairs to the college buildings that need immediate attention. Atlantic City, N. J.-Plans are being revised for a new fire-station house, to cost $15,000. S. Hudson Vaughn has completed plans for the proposed church to be erected by the Methodist Episcopal Society. It will be a two story brick and stone building; cost, $35,000. Beverly Farms. Mass.-The School Committee have recommended to the City Council an appropriation of $40,000 for an 8-room school-building, for which plans have already been prepared. Billerica, Mass.- Cooper & Bailey and Bacon & Hill, all of Boston, have been invited to prepare plans in a limited competition for an eight-room two and one-half story school-house to be erected here; cost, $25,000. Bordentown, N. J.-J. Parke, Newark, is prepar "Antoxide" ST. LOUIS, MO. Write for Catalogue. BUILDING INTELLIGENCE. (Advance Rumors Continued.) ing plans for a parochial school building to be erected for the mission of St. Vincent de Paul. It will be a br.ck, stone and iron structure; cost, $30,000. Boonville, Ind.-Architect F. J. Schlatter, Evansville, has prepared plans for a two-story and basement school-building for J. P. Weiebacher, trustee; cost, $15,000. Buffalo, N. Y.-Louis Saenger has prepared plans for a three-story store and hotel building to be built at Broadway and Oak St.; cost, $18,000. Esenwein & Johnson have prepared plans for building an addition to and for altering the Markeen apartment-house into a hotel; cost, $40,000. Chattanooga, Tenn.-A. A. Strong and others will erect a large brick business building on Market St.; cost, $40,000. Chester, Pa. - The Chester Lodge of Elks contemplate erecting a new building. John L. Hawthorne, A. A. Cochran and S. E. Turner have been appointed a building committee. The estimated cost is $30,000. Chicago, Ill.-The Chicago Picture Frame Co. will erect a two-story, 263' x 336', brick factory near Western Ave. and 19th St., after plans by Architect Thomas McCall; cost, $30,000. Columbus, Ga.-The Central Railway Co., it has been definitely decided, will erect a handsome union station here; cost, $40,000. Concord, N. H. The relatives of the late Fr. Barry, of this city, following out an informal letter of instruction left by the rev. gentleman, will pay from his estate $5,000 to Bishop Bradley for the building of a church or chapel at the North End. Dubois, Pa.-William E. Bloodgood, 149 Broadway, New York, is making preliminary plans for the (Continued on page xii.) CALIFORNIA REDWOOD LUMBER COSTS NO MORE THAN PINE and will last for generations. Resists fire. Does not SWELL, SHRINK, CHECK or SPLIT, and EXCELS all other woods for BUILDINGS. REDWOOD SHINGLES have no equal. Will last 50 to 75 years. REDWOOD can be bought at retail of the following named dealers: We have in stock and in transit from one to two millions of Redwood and can furnish any sizes required. Read our references from week to week; also write us for descriptive booklet. F. W. CHANDLER, Mass. Institute of Technology. ["UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS," Urbana, Ill.] You have struck the keynote of what, developed, must prove of immense value. SETH J. TEMPLE, Assistant Professor of Architecture. ["SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY," New York.] The "Topical Architecture" is precisely what ["HARVARD UNIVERSITY," Cambridge, Mass.] Professor of Architecture, Lawrence Scientific School, Harvard University. WARREN P. LAIRD, ["SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY," Syracuse, N. Y.] men. CALIFORNIA REDWOOD Stand better than Pine, under all conditions, Painted, AMERICAN BRIDGE CO. GENERAL OFFICES: 100 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Designers and Builders of all Classes of We have decided to carry at all our plants a large stock of Raw Material, from which we can furnish with great promptness any ordinary order for Steel Bridges, Roofs, Buildings, Columns, Girders, Beams, Channels, Angles, Plates, etc., etc. Boston Office, No. 81 State Street. J. S. THORN CO., Architectural Sheet-Metal Works, Metal Building Trimmings, Ventilating Skylights Metalic Roofing Tiles, Building Specialties, Builders' Light Iron Work of every description. Nos. 1225 to 1229 Callowhill Street, Send for Pamphlet of Automatic Self-Locking HOT WATER AND STEAM HEATERS SCUTTLE OPENER Secure from BURGLARS Quick escape in case of FIRE Metallic Skylights Fire-Proof Windows For Factories, Warehouses, etc. G. Bickelhaupt Skylight Works 243 & 245 West 47th St. Tel., 675-38th. NEW YORK FOR BUILDINGS OF ANY SIZE SEND FOR CATALOGUE THE J.H MCLAIN CO. CANTON---OHIO BUILDING INTELLIGENCE. (Advance Rumors Continued.) Great Falls, Mont. - Bell & Kent, Helena, are drawing plans for a brick and stone, 50' x 120', Catholic church; cost, $30,000. Houston, Tex. - Berry W. Camp will erect a threestory brick store and office building, to cost $20,000. Plans by A. N. Dawson. Hyde Park, Mass.- Pres. Geo. B. Dowley of the Y. M. C. A., has announced that an unknown frierd has contributed $25,000 to the building fund, assuring the erection of the association building which has been planned some time. Indianapolis, Ind. - The Ewart Mfg. Co. proposes to erect a two-story, 60 x 150', brick addition to its factory; cost, $10,000. A Negro Medical College is to be erected here; cost, $25,000. Knoxville, Tenn. The Asylum Street Methodist Society will build a new church to cost between $10,000 and $12,000. La Grange, Ga.-Architects Bruce & Morgan bave completed plans for an addition to the La Grange Female College, to cost $15,000. Lewiston, Me.- Press reports state that the Dominican fathers will replace the church edifice connected with the monastery on Bartlett St. with a large new structure which will probably be the finest church in New England. Louisville, Ky. - Architect J. J. Gaffney has prepared plans for a $60,000 apartment-building for D. F. Doherty. Magnolia, Mass.- Architects Dwight & Chandler, Boston, have prepared plans for a summer residence to be erected for Myron C. Wick, Youngstown, O.; cost, $10,000. Manitowoc, Wis. - The Scully Steel & Iron Co.. press reports state, contemplate establishing a large plant here to cost about $150,000. Mansfield, O.- Architect Vernon Redding is preparing plans for a brick and stone apartmentbuilding. It will be 55' x 95', containing 12 flats; cost, $20,000. Meyersdale, Pa.-The Meyersdale Brewing Co. will build a brick brewery from plans by Architect Frederick Rantert; cost, $30,000. Millbrook, N. J.-Architects Little & O'Connor. 18 W. 34th St., New York, N. Y., have made plan for extensive alterations and additio: rs to the residence of Mrs. Miles Standish. Im provements will cost about $20,000. |