The Express.
London, England, 1850-06-06 00:00:00

GREAT EXHIBITION OF INDUSTRY, 1851.

Considerable progress, we understand, has been
made In the preparations for submitting to public oompeti-
tne the design for the vitae building that will be required to
carry out this undertaking on a scale commensurate with the
dignity of the mains.
We have reason to believe that the following information
on the subject will be found to be substantially norrect.
The building will be 2,300 feet long, tether more than
400 feet anon, and the rooted area will probably extend to
about 900,000 square feet, or upwards of 20 acres.
In the centre of the south front, opposite Prince's-gate,
will be placed the principal entrance and offices. There will
be three other great outran's* in the centre of the other side
of the building. Gangways, 48 feet wide, clear and unin-
terrupted excepting by seats, will connect the en-
trances, and at the intersection of these main lines
it is proposed to form a grand circular hall for sculpture,
200 feet in diameter. Considerable spaces surrounding the
old trees (which must be carefully preserved) will be fitted
up with refreshment rooms surrounaiog ornamental gar-
den, with fountains, &c.
The vast area destined to be filled with the products of all
climes will be covered with remarkably simple iron roofing,
of 48 feat span, running from teed to end of the building,
supported by hollow iron columns resting on brick piers, and
covered very probably with boarding and slate.
The extent of the roof covering the main will be 96
feet. The lowest line of the main roofing will be 24 feet
high, and the deer height of the central gangway will be
about 50 feet. The floor will, fee by far the greater portion
of tha area, be formed of boarding laid on joist. and sleeper-
walls. The external enclosure. will in all cases be con-
structed of brick. The light will be principally derived
from skylights. The central hall will be a polygon of 16
aides, tour of which will open into gardens reserved around
it. Its main walls will be in brick, and about 60 feet high.
The covering of this rplindid apartment will be in iron, and
probably domical.
As the conditions with regard to time, &c., must neces-
easily be most stringent, contractors will, no &alit, be
required to deposit as actual sum of money as security for
the fulfilment of their respective contract..
The whole building must be finished and delivered up by
January 1, 1851.
Contractors will, we understand, be required to tender on
two ',stem', one involving a resumption, after the termina-
tion of the exhibition, of property in the materials supplied
by them, end the other proceeding on the supposition that
ber Majesty's commissioners become bone fide purchasers,
and tele* the risk of a subsequent disposal of the building
upon themselves.
In the arrangements of the design it has been the aim tr
specify such materials and combinations as will be likely to
be most valuable after the s xpiration of their temporary em-
ployment in the building, so that the cost for use and
waste," as it is technically called, may be the least possible ;
concession will, however, be permitted, and indeed invited,
to suggest and tender for the use of other materials which
may probably in their opinion prove more economical.
From the varied and aisticct nature of the wenk and
the simplicity of the plan, a division of the contracts
into the two classes best suited to the dif-
ferent plants and connections of engineering and
architectural contractors will be quite feasible, and upon
this basis it is more than probable that &coarse' specifications
for the sewage, the central hall, and a portion of the iron
roofing, for other portions of roofing nod walling, and for
the central ofilees and respective sets of refreshment rooms,
&c., will be prepared.
From what we have ascertained of the actual state of the
drawings, &c., we have little doubt that another week will
not pan. away without same decided step being taken by thc
commtites in inviting the attention of the vast body of iced.
ligent and able contractors whom spirit and enterprise have
cone so much to elevate the scientific and structural character
of the public works of Greet Britain.