SiR,-In the January (1930) number of our Journal Mr. G. J. Voce, who has written a very interesting paper, has unfortunately missed the essential matter underlying the theory of uniformly varying pressure.
Major Caldwell, before summarising his paper, said: On page 74 of The Structural Engineer (Part II. of the paper) certain illustrations are given, and I want at the outset to say that these have already appeared in "Engineering," but there is no reference made to it in the text of the paper, and I should like to take this opportunity of explaining that the omission to do so was unintentional.
MODERN tendencies in building construction are in very many instances governed by a consideration that did not usually obtain in the past. Except for the great harbour constructions, dams, and kindred undertakings, buildings of the present day are not often erected, as were the pyramids, and temples of the distant past, and the castles, cathedrals and palaces of the Middle Ages, with the intention that they should endure for ever. We are engaged constantly in demolishing the buildings we have but, just put up, in improving and enlarging those we do not pull down, and ceaselessly changing and altering our handiwork in response to our ever changing needs. It is well for builders and engineers that this should be so for otherwise our towns and cities would-except for the needs of a next generation which bids fair to diminish rather than to increase-so far as building construction is concerned, reach saturation point and our occupations would be gone. Nevertheless we are under bond to see that what we build shall endure for at least as long as it is required -with a liberal margin of strength, for safety, and of durability with which to withstand the unknown factor of time.
In a Paper, entitled “The Structural Aspects of the Great Pyramid,” read before the Yorkshire Branch of the Institution at Leeds on February 7th, 1929, I dealt with the problem of the design and construction of the Great Pyramid from the standpoint of the engineer designing the structure. The paper was published in the July and August, 1929, numbers of “The Structural Engineer." The study now presented is an attempt to deal with the infinitely more perplexing problems that concern the working organisation of the Pyramid builders for the quarrying, working, lifting, and transporting of stone. I do not advance any dogmatic claim in this relation, in view of the fact that previous engineering investigations have failed to produce satisfactory conclusions. My own contribution, however, is in consequence of certain material facts, of fundamental importance, having emerged since previous investigations were undertaken, and my discussion is conducted in the light of the more recent facts. Since the latter relate chiefly to the time-element of the Pyramid- building problem, and, since time is the essence of any organised sequence of building operations, I will deal first with this fundamental element of our investigation. D. Davidson
One of the most striking applications of reinforced concrete during the last few years has been in the shape of large cooling towers which are a most prominent and impressive feature in some of the power-stations recently erected or developed in this country under the general scheme of electrification of the Central Electricity Board. A.T.J. Gueritte
APPENDIX (2B). WELDED CONSTRUCTION IN EUROPE. The development of Welded Construction in Europe has been interesting and informative. The illustrations, photographs, and slides will be sufficient to indicate the progress made to date, and include :- Major James Caldwell