Raising a Cinema Roof

In this year of Grace, 1925, there is a humorous aspect to an effort to show cause why concrete, with its 2,000 years’ history of strength and endurance, should not impose itself as a dead load on that sturdy infant of construction, the steel joist, which was only born in the 188O’s, but on the contrary that its ability to contribute to the mutual support should be recognised. W. Basil Scott

No name is held in greater honour among engineers than that of John Smeaton, for he was one of the powerful and original personalities who, nearly a hundred years ago, created the profession of engineering. At the time when he first turned his attention to constructive design almost the only mechanical work of importance was executed by millwrights and others at labourers' wages. The educated classes eschewed mechanical callings, which were neither regarded as honourable or remunerative, and that Smeaton should have felt so strongly impelled to depart from the usual course and enter upon such a line of occupation must be attributed entirely to his innate love of construction. A. Trystan Edwards

Laxton & Lockwood's Builders Price Book. Price 7s. 6d. Kelly's Directories, Ltd. Two well known builders price books have joined forces and now appear in a single volume. Doubtless the amalgamation of the two books in one volume will have enabled the publishers to retain the best features of both, and provide a book which will be of the greatest value to all engaged in the practice of estimating for building work