Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-04-19
From a late London paper.


From late London paper.
Improvements in the construction of Chimnie les.
Perhaps in the construction of house, there
is no part more difficult or liable TO so many OBJ
jections as the formation of the chimnies, nor is
there any part in which impediments to COM
fort so frequently arise. There are few who
have not experienced the inconvenience Of smo-
ky chimnies, and who have not been put to Sc
rious expense-often ineffectualy-to remedy
the evil We are glad, however, to find that a
scientific man has turned his attention to the
subject, and that after various experiments, he
has al length succeeded in suggesting plan by
which all the imperfections hitherto known to
exist may be completely obyiated This plan
has been submitted to the Judgment Of some Of
the best practical architects Of rhe day, and has
received their unqualified appreciation, and it
is now applied not only to all the chimpies e.
recting in the new palace in St. James Park,
but to the Post Office, and all other public build
ings in progress. The public are indebted to
Mr. Hort, the Chief Examiner in his Majesty's
Office of Works, for this useful invention; and
this gentleman has devoted much Of his time, by
evening lectures, to explain to builders the adj
vantage and simplicity of his plan, which con-
sists in the substitution Of fues or tunnels OF any
diameter, capable of being incorporated within
the usual thickness Of walls, instead of the old
plan of square huss. Each Aue is surrounded
in every direction, from top to bottom, by Ca
vities commencing at the back OF every fire
place, and come ted with each other. The
air confined within these cavities is, by the heat
of any one fire, rendered sufficiently warm to
prevent condensation within all the Aues con-
tanned in the same stack Of chimnes; and
what renders the new invention more important
is the fact that the flues may be carried in any
direction with as much facility as leathern
pipe, without, in the slightest degree, deviating
from the original circular form. 1t would be
difficult, by mere verbal description, to convey
an adequate idea Of the whole Of the plan but
it is capable of being made clear TO the COM
monest capacity by few minutes instruction.
The work is accomplished by the aid of bricks
of peculiar shape, for which patent has
been obtained: and by the mode Of placing
those bricks which are numbered according to
a model with which the workman is provided,
a perpendicular, horizontal, CT curved shape is
attained with the greatest facility, the circular
form of the flue being still preserved with ma
thematcal nicety without the necessity OF cut
ting a single brick, and the expense will not
exceed more than four shillings foot than is
expended in the common mode for every flue
erected. The advantages which are secured
by this plan are-hrst, the certainty Of quick
and uninterrupted draft; secondly, the proven
ton Of an accumulation of SCOT; thirdly, the
impossibility Of accident by fire; and fourthly,
and above all, facility Of cleansing, by ma
chimes, which will altogether supersede the ne
cessity of employing climbing boys. Another
advantage is also gained with respect to the
appearance of chimnies on The tops of houses.
The present unseemly shafts, which are fire.
quently raised to dangerous height, may be
with and tops or examinations of the
chimnies completely hidden from view. We
have seen model and drawing of the plans,
which, at once exhibit the simplicity Of the
invention; and the only surprise is that so va
luable an improvement in the ART Of building
should so long have escaped the research Of
those who have experienced its necessity. At
present, the demand for the patent bricks ex-
ceeds the power Of the patentee to supply, but
are making which it is hoped
will enable builders to bring the plan into uni
versal adoption. 1t may be proper to add, that
the principle is capable of being applied to the
tops and bottoms Of old houses with great adj
vantage.
A patent has been obtained for register stove
for consuming smoke and economising fuel.-l