The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-02
The following extract IS from the Washing

The following extract is from the Washing
ton Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun:
Within few months past esteemed fellow
citizen, the Hon. IL l.. Ellsworth, has been making
an experimental trial Of building house with
burnt brick and he to entertain doubt OF its
success A. it may be Interesting to your readers 10
become acquainted with the process, | subjoin the
following; ~ ~ ~
81 first dug clay in round pit sufficient for a few
thousand bricks. To this added, as it was trodden
by the cattle considerable quantity Of straw, but
about four 10 five inches long-a mould was made OF
boards foot long seven inches wide and five inches
thick with bottom. The clay moulded ia this
by one man as fast as another could carry it away,
two moulds being used to fill up the time. These
bricks were dried two days on the ground, Cunning
them up elgewise the second day,) and then packed
up in pile protected from the RAIN and left to dry
about two weeks. The foundation Of the building
thuy-four by seventeen, with kitchen seventeen by
eighteen being made in the meantime OF stone, and in
part by a grout Of gravel and lime--the wall was
commenced and soon hnshed, one foot wide and two
stories high, except the kitchen the division wall
may be only seven inches, the width of the brick
The exterior of the wall is plastered with lime and
hair mortar and pebble dashed. The inside IS plas-
tered directly on the wall. The roof projects two
feet to protect the wall from vertical rains. The
floors made OF inch oak plank saw ed Tour to SIX
inches wide and laid down without Jointing or PLAIN
ing il will be polished at some leisure day, by rub
bling it with sharp grit stone. The doors are bat
ten doors, made in imitation OF long pannels. pro-
pose to paint the wood work. in part with Of the
following recipes which have been recommended =
list A mixture of milk and lime Stacked toge
ther without the aid Of water. ID. Lime and small
quantity Of lard say four pounds to bushel Of lime
the lime to be Stacked in boiling water and the
lard to be added when the Stacking gives the greatest
heat Either of the above recipes may be varied by add
ing ochres, coloring matter not destroyed by lime,
to suit fancy: probably little potash pearl
ash, and alum, might be added to advantage in the
above mixtures the ingredients should be suffered to
remain twentyfour hours before using and occasion
ally stirred to effect the combination Two three
coats put on with common painters brush, and
when dry rubbed with wollen cloth, present a
smooth, glossy appearance This paint, though not
equal to that made Of lead and oil, is within the
means of ALL more especially those in the new coun
tries and will amply repay for the time occupied in
putting it 1t will also be found highly conducive
to health. feel confident that common aborers
make good cabin rather cottages on the prairies
in short time, and one that will be warm in winter
cold in summer and afording the fewest possible re-
treats for vermln-and at. all times dry. Such cot
tages will be cheap log cabins less expense than
pisa buildings, and durable for centuries the honora-
BILE Mr.. Poinsett observed to me, be had similar
houses in South America that had stood three hun
dred years." ad M.