Chap. V. TOWN DWELLINGS FOR INDUSTRIAL CLASSES.

1089
3014. TliL> living-room should be 12 feet by 10 feet clear of all obstructions or pro-
jeetio.-.s, and 8 feet liigli, giving 960 cubic feet at least. The rooms should be of a square
form,
as being easily kept clean and made comfortable. Fig. 1353. presents a general plan
of tlie arrangements. The door should open
into a porcli or vestibule, and be placed at the
end of tlie wall opposite to the window, so
that when both are open the air in the dwel-
ling may he effectively changed. The window
sliouid be sufficiently large to light every part
of tlie room. It should be fitted with sashes,
to insure top and bottom ventilation
;
and its
sill sliouhi not he more than 2 feet 9 inches
from tliL- floor, to prevent higl) furniture being
placed under it. Tolerably large panes of
gl;iss will be found to last longer than if the
panes be small. I'he fire-place should be as
near tlie centre of its own wall as possible,
and be furnished with a range containing a
boiler, with a tap of the best description fixed Fif. 1355. pk*bodt uwELLiyos, commercial street.
2 inches al^oxe the bottom
;
an oven
;
and a cooking place at least 10 inches wide from side
to side, with sliding bars, flap and tatch, all of which ougiit to be of wrought iron. The
living-room should have a good serviceable
closet the entire height of the room, the front
flush with the chimney breast, to contain shelves for cooking utensils and crockery, &c.,
and a large covered box for coal
;
this closet should be lighted by a small window hung
upon centres and to be easily 0|)ened.
30 5. The bedrooms should be 12 feet by 8 feet, and 8 feet high, communicating with
the living room by a door in the wall opposite to the fire-place at the end nearest to the
window, so that enough wall space may be secured for the bed. As these rooms would be
suflSciently warmed from the living-room,
fire-places can be dispensed with v/here space is
limited or exp^'use of much importance.
3016. The walls should be well-bu.lt with sound stock bricks (the partitions being
half a brick thick) and coloured with two coats of well sized distemper colour of a warm
cheerful tint. Such walls oflTer no harbour for vermin; they are uninjured v^ht-n nails aie
driven into them
;
and their freshness and colour are easily renewed at a trifling expense.
Tlie ceilings should be plastered, not only for a clean appearance, but also as a preventive
against the spread of fire. The floor is best made of wood, though it is apt to get dirty and
toleral)ly difficult to clean. If firewood or coal be broken upon any other floor than a
wooden one the concussion is injurious to it. Tile and asphalte floors are often recom-
inended as the best ; but though they have a cKan appearance, they are cold to the
feet when uncovered by a carpet; are more liable to injury; and are more troublesome to
rejiair. Asphalte a..d cement floors depend in a great measure upon their rigidity for their
efficiency, and require iron beams and brick arches, which are expensive.
3017. As regards ventilation, beyond supplying doors that do not fit too close, windows
that will open at top and bnttom, and fire-places with air-cl;annels underneath the floor, it
is extremely difficult to know how to proceed further without detection. A ventilator
once discovered is instantly rendered useless by being pasteii over. Perforated bricks^
placed throughout the length of the wall in which the window is set, and in that opposite
to it, causes the air to be so diffustd by its passage through the narrow channels with which
the bricks are provided, that the paste-brush is seldom used.
3018. The lavatory should contain a watt-r-closet fitted with a strong galvanized iron,
valve
;
a lead trough, for washing purposes, supplied with a high-pressure loose valve cock,
and an enamelled iron l)asin. A sm^dler bad trough or waste, for the discharge of dirty
water, should have an inch service cock above it for supplying pails and kettles. The
walls, coloured as those of the dwelling, should be well painted to the heiglit of 18 inches
ahove each trough, for frequent and easy washing. The floor is best covered with thick
9-inch square tiles, which bear a go;:d deal of wear and tear and slo[)ping in one spot
without injury. The lavatory should have two windows at least, one in the external wall
of the water closet and one at the furthest end of the wall at right angles to it.
3019. To attach a laundry to an extensive range of such dwellings becomes a positive
duty. A washing tub and rinsing tub are necessary, about 3 feet 3 inches long by 1 foot
9 inches wide, with washer, plug, and chain, and a separate cold water service to each.
The top of the tubs should be 3 feet 3 inches above the foot-board, or the floor, if not pro-
vided. A 10-gallon copper, with cold water service, and a tin ladle. The flue of the
copper is to be carefully constructed to insure the heat being well distributed over the
sides and bottom, and to afford facilities for regulating it and for cleaning. Wringing
machines might be provided if hydrometers are not used ;
they are easily attached to tlie
tubs. Artificial neans of drying clothes, as adopted with advantage in public wasii-houscs.