men, able masons and able helpers; of this, gentlemen, you will appreciate the cost, the great sacrifices and capital expended in order to succeed, besides the necessity of giving satisfaction to the scientific part. All of this could not be done without a guaranty; all of this had to be perfected at the commencement of the first year's work, because it is a labor of propagation and evolution. It can be seen, with these explanations, that it was necessary to protect the system, not with a desire of making a monopoly or for gain only.

In addition to that, we are introducing improvements constantly. Some of them are as follows:

First. The custom was to use, in the first and second courses, plaster; and it was not possible to construct in any other way, thus giving an excess of plaster which was very prejudicial, as all intelligent people know, of which we gave full explanations in the lecture referred to. I pursued this method for several years, with all the annexed inconveniences, trying to discover a means of avoiding it; to-day we are using one-quarter of this plaster.

Second. Before, it frequently happened that, because of negligence in stepping or putting heavy weight on the arch before it had set, or for any other cause, the tile of the first course, having become a little separated, was likely to fall; to-day, by means of a special contrivance, the tiles can never fall, and still have the same stability.

Third. Before, the tiles were used to be covered by plaster, leaving that as a rustic form of rough material, purely constructive; to-day they are employed in a more useful way, the tiles forming the construction and decoration. That was one of the constant and noble aspirations of the art of construction; but to arrive at this point with the tile was not an easy problem, because the decorative tile is the first course, which is the most difficult to have nicely and properly jointed, when the material required for this first course gives no chance for carefully made right angles and even joints.

Fourth. In several cases it has been necessary to have flat ceilings, very light floors, practically deafened; we have to-day these conditions inside of the system.

Now, gentlemen, if the object of the law of patents is to guarantee the intellectual work, applied to new applications and improvements, is it possible to have no guaranty for all our new applications? On the other hand, I must say that more than one has had a distaste of the system as a question of nationality. Science and art have no nationality; the fact that I am not an American or am of Southern race should not be any obstacle to the profitable progress of the art. My personality is very insignificant, and my pretensions very limited; being willing to leave at any time the way free to the man who, with surer and better talent, can carry the new ideas of construction for the common benefit of humanity, and progress of the art.

Upon the conclusion of the reading of Mr. Guastavino's paper, the chairman invited discussion of the paper, and Mr. Guastavino gave complete explanations in response to the following questions:

A MEMBER. I would like very much if the gentleman would illustrate on the blackboard how these tiles are put together, whether they are laid side by side, or put flat down. I would like him further to explain how they are laid perfectly flat, instead of in the form of an arch; and what keeps the arch from spreading.

Mr. GUASTAVINO explained these points by reference to drawings on the blackboard; and also stated that the tiles were made in different colors, in shades of red, yellow and green; and concluded, "We have all kinds of materials, in order to vary these details and satisfy all demands for construction."

Mr. HERVEY KENT.

Before commencing the other paper, allow me to say a word. I have been requested to bring before the Association a matter for their consideration which

men, able masons and able helpers; of this, gentlemen, you will appreciate the cost, the great sacrifices and capital expended in order to succeed, besides the necessity of giving satisfaction to the scientific part. All of this could not be done without a guaranty; all of this had to be perfected at the commencement of the first year's work, because it is a labor of propagation and evolution. It can be seen, with these explanations, that it was necessary to protect the system, not with a desire of making a monopoly or for gain only.

In addition to that, we are introducing improvements constantly. Some of them are as follows:

First. The custom was to use, in the first and second courses, plaster; and it was not possible to construct in any other way, thus giving an excess of plaster which was very prejudicial, as all intelligent people know, of which we gave full explanations in the lecture referred to. I pursued this method for several years, with all the annexed inconveniences, trying to discover a means of avoiding it; to-day we are using one-quarter of this plaster.

Second. Before, it frequently happened that, because of negligence in stepping or putting heavy weight on the arch before it had set, or for any other cause, the tile of the first course, having become a little separated, was likely to fall; to-day, by means of a special contrivance, the tiles can never fall, and still have the same stability.

Third. Before, the tiles were used to be covered by plaster, leaving that as a rustic form of rough material, purely constructive; to-day they are employed in a more useful way, the tiles forming the construction and decoration. That was one of the constant and noble aspirations of the art of construction; but to arrive at this point with the tile was not an easy problem, because the decorative tile is the first course, which is the most difficult to have nicely and properly jointed, when the material required for this first course gives no chance for carefully made right angles and even joints.

Fourth. In several cases it has been necessary to have flat ceilings, very light floors, practically deafened; we have to-day these conditions inside of the system.

Now, gentlemen, if the object of the law of patents is to guarantee the intellectual work, applied to new applications and improvements, is it possible to have no guaranty for all our new applications? On the other hand, I must say that more than one has had a distaste of the system as a question of nationality. Science and art have no nationality; the fact that I am not an American or am of a Southern race should not be any obstacle to the profitable progress of the art. My personality is very insignificant, and my pretensions very limited; being willing to leave at any time the way free to the man who, with surer and better talent, can carry the new ideas of construction for the common benefit of humanity, and progress of the art.

Upon the conclusion of the reading of Mr. Guastavino's paper, the chairman invited discussion of the paper, and Mr. Guastavino gave complete explanations in response to the following questions:

A MEMBER. I would like very much if the gentleman would illustrate on the blackboard how these tiles are put together, whether they are laid side by side, or put flat down. I would like him further to explain how they are laid perfectly flat, instead of in the form of an arch; and what keeps the arch from spreading.

Mr. GUASTAVINO explained these points by reference to drawings on the blackboard; and also stated that the tiles were made in different colors, in shades of red, yellow and green; and concluded, "We have all kinds of materials, in order to vary these details and satisfy all demands for construction."

Mr. HERVEY KENT.

Before commencing the other paper, allow me to say a word. I have been requested to bring before the Association a matter for their consideration which

I think you will all admit is worthy of consideration. You know it has been the practice to select the Board of Government from distant parts of New England, and in some instances we have gone out of New England. They attend two regular meetings in the course of the year, and it is quite expensive; and, with the condition of our funds, allow me to make a motion, that in future the treasurer be authorized to pay the travelling expenses of the Board of Government in attending the regular and any special meetings that they may hold during the year.

The motion was seconded.

The PRESIDENT. I must say that I do not think there is any member of the Board of Government of this year that wants his travelling expenses paid; and I do not want to vote for that motion.

The Chair being in doubt, on a yea and nay vote, the motion was declared lost, upon a show of hands.

The PRESIDENT. The next paper is by Mr. W. V. WALLACE of Hinsdale, Mass., representing the Wallace Manufacturing Company, which will illustrate their system of moistening the air in mills. The paper will be read by Mr. CHARLES H. POLAND of Providence.