A THOUSAND AND ONE USES FOR GAS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1924, Page 4

A THOUSAND AND ONE USES FOR GAS.

(Contributed by tlic British Commercial (las Association, London). HJ-XTCXT DEV KLO I’M ENTS IX CONNECTION WITH lIMATING!. The modern enlightened woman is now insisting on the provision of eflicient machinery with which to run her house. She is no more prepared in these days to manage a house with out-of-date appliances than is her husband to run his business without modern typewriters, filing systems and telephones. One of the most noticeable developments in the internal arrangements of many of the new houses being built is the abolition of the grimy, labour-ereat. ing coal grate and coal range. The cleanly and ofiieient gas lire, gas cooker, and gas waterheater are being installed in their places. As illustrating the modern women’s influence oil present day domestic architecture, we would refer briefly to some recent ex-

periences in connection with the construction of new houses. The architect’s design for some houses to be built in a good-class residential district contained provision for a coal range in the kitchen and coal fires in all rooms. The attention of the builder was called to the fact that this was a somewhat antirpiatcd system, and it was pointed out that his houses would be much more attractive, especially from the women’s point of view, if he installed more modern methods of cooking and waterheating in the kitchen, and a more convenient system for warming the house, lie was not prepared, however, to consider suggested

improvements, and the first two houses were constructed in the manner originally designed bv the architect. When, however, negotiations in respect to the sale id these houses took place, the purchasers insisted in the installation of all-gas kitchens and on the provision of accommodation for gas lives in all bedrooms and some ol the other rooms of the house. I heir wishes were complied with, and the builder has since decided to make similar provision for the gas-heated apparatus in all further houses built on the estate. In the ease of houses to be rented at a low figure, the attitude of the potential occupants is very similar. A certain builder who was putting up a number of small houses for artisans, decided to carcass them, with gas piping to meet only lighting and cooking reijuirenieuts. lie refused to allow the local gas undertaking to do the work on account of the small extra cost involved. When, however, the houses became occupied, one of the tenants wanted a geyser. A new supply was, of course, required for this, as no provision had been made; and when it was desired to instill, gas tires on the upper floor of one of the houses, it was discovered that nothing larger than a

\in barrel was run above the ground floor. As this pipe was already supplying several lights, it will he easily understood that it was of no value to supply two gas lives. It became necessary, therefore, to take up a number of newly and perfectly laid floor boards and generally to disturb the place in order to do what could and should have been done at a very small cost, when the original carcassing was carried out. Having given these two illustrations' let ns now consider in more detail the provisions which should be made for gas heating appliances when houses are being designed. (las heating lias been steadily improv"

ing with the march ol progress in science and practical experience, but all the i Images that have occurred untii recent years have been by way ol improvements in the design and construction ol the appliances themselves. The

jirostMiL period is. however. a turning point in (In' history of :;as li<*:i I ill", ami wlial might almost lie railed a revultttioii lias lit tic hen ring upon the appliances 11 welvrs, Ik, l is < oiniei led with the enlist rucl ion ol the buildin;;:; in w lileli they are to he llseil. About 11112 a linn of gas lire manufacturers inlrndiic eil wlial tiirv called the "hnill in" ;;as grate, and strongly reeomliiended arehiteets and builders, when designing houses, to make provision for the fixing ot siiitahle "as orates, instead id' coal orates, at any rate in small rooms which required intermitting heating. They rightly deprecated the praetite then almost common ol providing a coal urate in bedrooms, in front of which, sooner or later, a ftas

tire would have to he fixed —a plan involving the installation ol two pieces of apparatus, one of which would not he used. As the use of ftas for healj up; could he approved from so many points of view, their eolilentiou was a sound one. It was then found that a Hue of adequate si/e for a "(is lire could easily he built in the thickness of the wall, and that there was, therefore, no necessity in future to provide chimney breast projections. A further study of this proposition showed that by building Hues in the thickness ol the walls, a number of very beueiieia! results would follow: — (I) A reduction in (lie cost of buildin*' the house. (•_>, (treater Hour space per room on the same ground area. (.O') (treater cubic capacity in Ike room, thus providing more air lor breathing space. cl) The pas lire would look belter and would he deeoratively part ol the room, instead ol looking like an afle: * thought; and. as has been said.

(5) Two appliances would not be fix ed to serve one purpose.

The idea has since been developed very fully in many housing schemes. “The Builder” of the Ith duly, 1 tilD. contained a striking example of its practical value. .Sets of plans for a proposed housing schemes were shown as originally designed by a prize-win-ner in a AI odd Homes Competition, and as amended on the suggested gas fire economy principle. The result showed the following advantages obtainable by the new style of buildings: Saving in cost ol building: CdU per cottage. Knira floor space: ‘fnsrj.lt. per cottage. Increased cubic capacity: about 700 c.ft. nor cottage.

Tn these designs a coal fire and a coal fire flue were provided in the living room. So iar as small houses are concerned, this one coal lire in the living room is to he recommended with gas fires in the parlours and bedrooms. The artisan and his wife expect and are entitled to share in there comforts which have, for a number of years now. been enjoyed by those in better circumstances. and it is therefore, gratifying to know that they are now being provided at less expense, in the first place, than would have been involved in the provision of coal grates which in many eases would never have been used.