To the Editor of the "Norrs-Cuina Dau News."
Sim,—The very interesting article under this heading should—receive considerable attention more especi laily at this time, when all indications point to what might be called a "boom," or at least to a influx of newcomers to Shang-
While your contributor mentions the ready-made houses made la Kingston, it must appeal to one that such houses could be made in British Columbia to better advantage, owing to the long rail haul before shipping for this port.
Knowing something of the _history and construction of the houses, it might. interest yo readers to have added information on the subject.
The "ready-made" or "sectional"" house was first made in Vancouver and was intended to supply the settlers in the Canadian Northwest, where there were thousands newcomers, wishing to get settled on the land and get a crop in the ground, so that any time spent in building a dwelling was counted lost and could ill be afforded.
How Tnry are Mapr.
The sections were made la widths of about four feet and had at the sides an upright of Douglas fir that had been milled or had flange in the shape of a "Von the one side and on the other the same reversed, thus when the two sections were put together a tight joint was made, The two uprights were six, eight or ten feet la length, as the case required. They were joined together, or rather the section was started, by a piece of scantling or by pieces of fir two inches by four of the required length, being nailed across the to> and bottom, then the whole was covered on the outside by shipley about 12 inches wide; over—thz shiplap was nailed fir siding and thus the outside was complete; between the uprights were placed other pieces of scantling, at dis tances of 16 or 18 inches, and over the whole of the inside lengths of shivlap were nailed.
Through the uprights, forming the sides of the section, holes had been bored in order to insert bolts, these holes were bored at the time of milling. The whole was given a coat of paint, and the section was ready for fitting.
Sections to be used for doors and windows were. of course, made accordingly, and apertures left 39 that the frames and sashes could be fitted.
This made the walls of a very cozy house, which could be erected by two men in one day; of courss the foundation had to be prepared and the roof constructed, but those details were not considered very important, as they did not occuy a great deal of valuable time. The windows and doors would be pack. ed in such a way that there was very little danger of damage in shivment. One firm in Vancouver sold many thousands of these houses
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.