ABSTRACT
Members designed to support loads, and subjected to longitudinal compression, are called pillars or struts; if the material be timber, and in a vertical position, they are particularly known as posts; if of iron or steel, and their axes are disposed in an inclined direction, are more generally termed struts; in a vertical position, are known as pillars or stanchions; if the section be circular, columns. The object of pillars is to carry heavy loads with the minimum sectional area of material. Owing to the difficulty in bedding a series of large stone templates, level in themselves and with each other, cast-iron bases have been devised to which a better fixing can be obtained and which can be more easily fixed in position. The tendency of modern practice is to adopt the American system of fire-resisting construction, consisting of a steel skeleton clothed in concrete or vitreous materials.
