by a car sliding on an incline, if there are outisde stairs leading to the basement. In the rear an area of some ten to fifteen feet in width is dug out, and the two lower stories show full. All the rear windows are protected by iron shutters. The floor of the first story is often laid with a rising grade, of about 1 foot in 100 towards the rear, to prevent the appearance which a long level sometimes has of descending, and to afford more light in the rear to the basement. The offices are in the rear on this floor. The safe is sometimes built into the wall, or into a projection from it, or the safe is movable; or, what is rare at present, a book vault is made in the front vault. The front windows and doors are mostly protected by revolving shutters rolling up like a curtain in the box lintels above. Separations are made between tenants occupying different floors by iron framed skylights over the well-holes. C is the entry way to the second story, separated from the store by a glass partition protected by a wrought iron screen or guard. Above this entrance in the second floor, is the hoistway for goods, generally about five feet square. The second floor does not differ in plan from the first, and so with the stories above, except in some cases the well-holes are wider in the upper stories. The floors are all level. The water closets are mostly on the third floor, and in the front basement vault. The heating is either by stoves, hot air furnaces, or steam. The shelvings, counters and other furniture depend, of course, on the class and kind of business. Front Elevation.-Various styles are adopted, but in one particular there is almost an uniformity; that is, the whole front is supported on posts of cast iron in the first story, with iron lintels and cornice; the great object being to get as much light as possible in this story. These posts are sometimes square or rectangular in plan, with a small sunk panel on the face, and shield-like ornaments containing the number of the store, and capitals at the top; sometimes a sort of Corinthian column, and sometimes two posts, the inside one circular, and the outside square. As there is but little chance for ornament, the building seldom assumes any distinctive expression till it reaches the second story. The great ornament of the first story is the plate glass. The elevation and plans represent the usual form of the wholesale stores with but three openings in the first story -one window and two doors. In the retail stores occupying a full lot there are generally four openings, the door to the first floor, central between two windows, and the side door leading to the second story; but where all the stories are occupied by the same trade, the side door is usually omitted. The door of the retail store is generally recessed, with show windows at the sides to admit of the greater display of goods. The glass of the windows are sometimes of one plate, as large as 8×14 feet even, but more usually in four squares; seldom more in number. Above the first story, the front begins to assume an architectural expression, though seldom perhaps very significant of any intention or design for a specific purpose inside. The example selected may be considered a fair average of the class. It is to be remarked that where various businesses are to be carried on in the same building, and where large signs may be necessary to designate them, there will be but little room, as there will but little necessity, for much ornamental detail. Plate XXVIII. is an elevation of a store front as designed and executed in cast iron by D. D. Badger & Co. of this city. This is the type of class of buildings coming into extensive use, and is, as far as we can judge, the handsomest of the class. The style is Venetian, and when the front is more than fifty feet in width, the effect is imposing. It is rather more appropriate for stores with offices above, or for stores designed for but one purpose, as signs larger than could be placed in the panels would mar the effect. Iron was first introduced for house fronts by Mr. Bogardus, and it has much to recommend it. Ornaments can be applied profusely, and at the same time cheaply, and in durability it exceeds our common freestones. The chief objection at present lies in this, that few wish to go to the expense of new patterns: the result is that the forms become too stereotyped, especially objectionable when much ornament is used. The color which it should be painted has been a subject of much discussion; the prevailing tint at present is a sort of cream color, with brown trimmings of the windows. elevation of a disThere are two enof entry or lobby School Houses.-Plate XXIX. contains a plan and trict school house, with seats for forty-eight scholars. trances, one for each sex, with ample accommodations room for the hanging up of hats, bonnets and cloaks. A side door leads from each entry into distinct yards, and an inside door opens into the school-room. The desk, T, of the teacher, is central between the doors, on a platform, P, raised some six or eight inches above the floor. In the rear of the teacher's desk is a closet or small room, for the use of the teacher. The seats are arranged two to each desk, with two alleys of eighteen inches, and a central one of two feet; the passages around the room are three feet. The scale is eight feet to the inch. The elevation is in a very plain Romanesque style, to be constructed of brick with hollow walls. |