Democratic Convention Hall in Houston Will be One of Greatest Modern Buildings in History of the World

The history of civilized man is the history of wood.

The first structure that we have any reiord of was the Ark of Noah, the most successful building thing in all history.

And from Noah until the good year 1928, the history of m-an has been frequently high-lighted by the construction of great structures of wood, that have gone down into history, song and story.

And the record of great wooden buildings is today being triumphantly topped at Houston, Texas, 6y an all-woodei building that well deserves to be listed among' the greatest buildings in the history of the world.

- Pg-ti"g the last few years a new idea has crept into the building of large structures. Up to that time, while engineering has continually progressed and architecture devilopgg, i! has always been necessary, when creating large auditoriums, to mar the interiors by supports of one solt or another, to hold up the roof. Roof spans have always been considered necessarily of rather brief width, because of the too great danger of the stress of wide spans,'regardless of the material used.

Then came this so-called Lamella idea. It came from ft can, in addition, be done quickly, easily and economically, something never achieved with any other construction or any other materials.

Europe. And it proves that, after all, there is something new under the sun. For in this Lamella construction it is not only possible but practical and .simple to build a huge room, topped by a huge roof, without supports or obstructions. of any kind. It is simply the lacing together of short wooden planks, so interlaced and co-ordinately bracing one alother, that tremendous strength is developed that makes the great unsupported roof possible.

So, when Houston, Texas, suddenly found herself facing the entertainment of 100,000 visitors, and seating 25,000 delegates and visitors to the Democratic National Convention late in June, quick and decisive action was required. The time was short, and the need was great.

When the thinkers got together to sblve this problemthe largest auditorium in 4ouston having only 500O seating capacity-the thought of Lamella took wrinkles frorn theii brows, and made easily possible what had seemed like an impossible situation. They said, "Let's go ahead and build

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