QUICK HOUSE-BUILDING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 280, 18 April 1913, Page 8

QUICK HOUSE-BUILDING

/ slr. Thomas A. Edison, once stated fcliat he could construct a house in twenty-four hours by pouring concrete finto iron moulds. I'his extremely rapid inethod of house-building has been tried, but never put into practice to any great extent. While cases have been known in Australia and New Zealand of churches which have been erected I within the space of a single day, these are not so striking as the feat of a 'United States contractor who has sue- ! ceeded in erecting a house in twelve hours. jMr. Silas Grant, of Joseph City, Missouri, is the man who has performed this noteworthy bit of "huat-, ling." A newly-married couple arrived in the district and be'gan to look round for a suitable house, but found none to suit them. What they wanted was a four-roomed cottage with a bath room, a reception hall, and a rear pbrch, for wliich they were willing to pay £SOO down. Several offers were niade them,, but none proved acceptable. At last' they came across Mr. Grant, who said, in effect, "I have only two lots available, but I could build you the cottage you desire in twelve, hoiirs." .The couple gasped slightly, but ended by giving th? order. , At six .o'clock the next .mqramg ia. smaJl .army of, mar- - . ahalled by Mr. Grant, invaded, the vacant section where the house of the couple was to spring miraculously up, and stakes having been get for foundation lines, excavations tfere made and the foundation of concrete blocks laid. Meanwhile painters were busy (priming the timber, and, plumbers, laying gaspipes and water-pipes from the street, and before .t,he,,iour Walla were completed the gas and prater connections were, rea'dy tot service , »As sooiH as the foundations wete laid, carpenters laid the joists down and put the floor in position, while other* erected the walls, and another batdh of workmen were making a 'roof tohitfh " was 5 ultimately hoisted on top of the structure. When it was in place bricklayers built the chimneys, and electricians installed the electric light. At about this stage the men were piped for dinner. Half an hour elapsed and then work began again. Plastering and painting the exterior of thf,, house went hand-in-hand with thp activities of plumbers t . and gasfitters within. By siSr o'clock the work was finished. The owners, not less pleased than amazed, received the key of their new ,home, and wrote out a cheque for the contractor just as the first vanload" of turpiture arrived. Needless to say, Mr. Grant has achieved -a- reputa-; t'on for ."hustle" which j)#B brought -all Missouri to his foet.