BUILDING, in the United States. The remarkable physical development of the United States in the last 20 years, with its attendant increase of wealth, is most strongly evidenced in the number of buildings of every character constructed during that period throughout the country. As an incentive to artistic improve ment, and an example of co-operated effort and grouping of buildings, the World's Fair at Chi cago, re-echoed in varying forms at the expo sitions of Atlanta, Nashville, Buffalo, Saint Louis and San Francisco, undoubtedly have exerted a strong influence. Many new schemes of magnitude have been projected along lines which will require years for their completion, but the start has been made intelligently and with a view to the final result. It is only nec essary to cite the Municipal Building in New York city, the University of California and of Washington University, at Saint Louis, to sug gest the power of this influence. The business and residential sections of the larger cities and, it might almost be added, the outlying sub urban districts —have undergone in many in stances a complete transformation. The im provement and expansion of the steel, cement, brick and terra-cotta industries (qq.v.) have done more to facilitate this transformation within the cities proper than any other causes. Fortunately the allied mechanical and decorative arts have kept pace with them, and in spite of the popular.
feeling that our cities are for the most part unsightly, they are more cosmopolitan, conveni ent and interesting as to their buildings than ever before.
For the large majority of new buildings the systems of construction hitherto in vogue have been used without great change, and probably will continue to be so used. We must there fore look for signs of structural development, rather, to the constructions commonly desig nated slow-burning, steel-skeleton and fire proof, In point of materials and possibilities of decorative effect, the architect's palette has been extended to an incredible degree. Facilities of transportation make it possible to use granites, marbles, all kinds of stone, brick and woods, ornamental bronze and iron, the most approved systems of plumbing, heating, lighting and ele vators, without approaching the domain of ex travagance and even without overstepping the limits of true economy. There has been a
steady tendency toward more stable, permanent and beautiful construction,— the outgrowth of public sentiment, which in its turn has been stimulated by the results attained. It would have been quite impossible 20 years ago, even had individual fortunes at that time been large enough to create the demand, to build the pala tial residences, churches, hotels and office build ings which we now look upon as commonplace, for in many trades skilled artisans were not to be had and the difficulties of securing proper materials were too great.
Steel structural building of the commercial type has advanced to such an extent, and in volves such colossal operations, that vast cor porations have been formed for this especial purpose. These corporations are affiliated with financial institutions seeking investments, with owners of real estate desiring to make improve ments and with large manufacturing concerns furnishing materials of construction, so that the necessary conditions for undertakings of importance are kept constantly related. The Fuller Construction Company, The Norcross Brothers Company, The Wells Brothers Com pany and others of a similar nature, carry on a business chiefly made up of steel structural buildings aggregating many millions of dollars per annum, and widely scattered throughout the United States. These companies employ armies of men, covering every building trade and in volving details of office management, methods of erection• and finishing, transportation and storage of materials, and the harmonizing of the various and often conflicting elements enter ing into such undertakings, which are almost incredible and can be appreciated only after the most minute investigation. It may be said in general that these constitute the great move ments in building which distinguish the opening years of the 20th century.