Hollow square

Definition and stakes

Lardner Gibbon, Lieutenant, U.S.N.,  Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon… (1854)

“ The floors are on the ground, raised a very little above the level of the street. The hollow of the square is open to all on each side, so that oxen or horses may be driven through. One of these squares is the market place, with buildings all round.
230 HOUSED IN MOJOS.
One square in the centre of the town is perfectly open — it is the plaza.
”
Source: Wikisource

Fred. T. Hodgson,  ABC of the Steel Square and Its Uses

“ A square that was quite popular some sixteen or eighteen years ago known as “The Crenalated Square,” an illustration of which is shown in Fig. 16, is still preferred by many workmen. The peculiarity of this square is that the inner edge of the tongue is notched or crenalated, as shown in the illustration, the notches being intended as “gauge-points,” where a sharpened pencil may be inserted, then the square may be drawn along the timber or board, with the blade held snug against the edge, as shown, and mortises or tenons can be laid out at will. ”
Source: Gutenberg

Fred. T. Hodgson,  Stair-Building and the Steel Square

“ It will be observed from above, that in all cases where the plan of the hip or valley is a diagonal of a square, the figures to be used on the square for run will be 17 inches; and for the rise, whatever the roof rises to the foot of run. It should also be remembered that this is the condition in all roofs of equal pitch, where the angle of the hip or valley is a 45-degree angle, or, in other words, where we have the diagonal of a square. ”
Source: Gutenberg

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