During the great European war when steel for structural use was almost unobtainable except for war requirements, ferro-concrete received a great impetus in this country. Apart from its use in buildings, bridges, bunkers and general sbructures, ferro-concrete was tried in the construction of ships, oil tanks and even gas purifier tanks. The peculiar problems involved in the construction of these fluid-tight vessels gave rise to a band of pioneers, all of whom excepting one confined themselves to water-tight work required in ferro-concrete ships and oil tanks. The exception was Dr. B.N. Dey, D.Sc. (Engineering) who continued his pioneering work and convinced the gas engineers of the efficiency and durability of gas purifier tanks built in special fluid-tight ferro-concrete as developed by him. Numerous purifier tanks were erected in Dr. Dey's System throughout the country and proved not only equally efficient and more durable, but 33 to 40 per cent. cheaper in first cost than the cast iron purifier tanks, as in the case of £200,000 gas purifier installation at Provan Gasworks of the Corporation of the City of Glasgow, who saved £80,000 by adopting Dr. Dey's designs.
At the recent meetings of the B.A. in Glasgow, an interesting joint discussion between members of the Engineering and Education sections took place on September 6. S.B. Hamilton
In order to ensure that bricks supplied for any particular work are satisfactory, it is desirable that, in addition to porosity tests and other requirements, some form of strength test shall be specified. W.N. Thomas and N. Davey
It a1ways causes a11 excitement in the world of artists when they are presented with a new medium or material in which to work. Many of them immediately jump to the conclusion that here is an opportunity to accomplish something new, either to create a new style or else in some way or other to extend the range of art. There has never been an age in which the desire for novelty was so strong as it is today , and when the members of two great professions, namely, those of engineering and architecture become acquainted with a medium such as ferro-concrete they may be pardoned for supposing that a great new field of endeavour and achievement is at hand. The number of publications expounding and advertising the virtues of concrete multiplies apace. We learn of the construction of concrete roads, concrete buildings, concrete ships and even concrete furniture and housing utensils. There appears to be no limit to the number of objects which can be made of this material. Yet it is clear that the artists and constructors who wish to distinguish themselves by doing something new with this material will be obliged to recognise the fact that they will not add very much to their reputation for inventive capacity if they merely reproduce in concrete objects of the same shape as those which were formally constructed of wood, stone or brick. A. Trystan Edwards
(6th) Girders erected by rolling over with temporary steelwork for lengthening span. A light lattice structure rather longer than half the span is bolted to the front end of the girders and engages with the opposite abutment to that upon which the span has been erected. This method of using a temporary beak for rolling over single spans is only justified when the cost of the temporary steelwork would be less than the cost of staging. D.G. Mackintosh