Excerpt from Details of Building Construction The drawings have been carefully prepared after a long, practical experience and with the aid of one of the best libraries in this country, supplemented by a large collection of working drawings from the offices of leading architects. No pains have been spared to free them as far as possible from the taints of local practice; and while not all that is shown is unreservedly recommended, great care has been taken not to include anything that has not the authority of good practice, and that may not fairly be called good construction when the element of cost is considered. Some cheap methods of construction have been shown and recommended as good of their kind. Such, for instance, are the wood sills shown on Plate VI., which have already been subjected to adverse criticism, but which it seemed best, after mature consideration, to retain. The wood sill in other than frame buildings has the same excuse for being as has the shingle roof it is cheap. It can of course be justified only on the score of expense, but 1t has the sanction of good practice in sections of the country where cut stone is not easily and cheaply obtainable; 1t is painted and treated frankly as wood, and has stood the test of time.