Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-05-15
Ancient Modes of moving Large
Bodies

zen oeen SUBJECT OF doubt and admiration.
But when We reflect that the principles of me.
chanlcs are few and simple, aud can be varied
or extended according 10 the nature and mapni-
'ude OF The work TO be performed our doubs.
IN measure will sub>ide. That The architects
oi those massy structures well understood nIup,b
iihes' wheels and axies, is clear from contem-
p"rary writings. Demon says that he Eevp-
tlans began by elevatng masses, in which thew
marked out their architectural lines and il is
certain that al The temple of Harmonhis, the
sculpture OF The capitals has not been finished,
so that The pillars were worked after they were
put up. The obelisks are described by Pliny
as having heen brought TO Thebes from The
quarrles by means Of canal. They were made
10 rest across the stream upon The opposite
banks, vessels loaded with bricks were brought.
'he cargo was then taken out, and the vessel,
rising, elevated The obelisks The method en-
| ployed OF moving columns aud large stones
was by affixing strong iron axles in each end
and inserting Them in broad wheels of solid
construction
Such was The plan of Ciesiphon and Melha-
genes, of which Vitruvus gives The ACCOUNT
Such wheel also appears affixed to The end
of an obelisk in Mon'faucon's plate. Herodi.
us writes that Cleopas, the son of Rasimila.
left steps, outside The pyramid in order that
very large stones might be moved by shor,
beams and proper engines. The short beam
here referred to appears TO indicate the carche.
sum, or crane Of Vnruvius Very large stone
beams are said 10 have been placed upon high
columns in The following manner: = Under the
centre of'ihe beam they put Two cross pieces,
mutually contiguous. They then fixed baskets
Of sand al one end ill the weight raised the
other. Under the beam thus raised from its
bed. they placed stay or support. They then
applied the weight To the opposite end, newly
lifted, iil il tilted up The other extremity, aud
so putting another elevator under, they proceed
ed ull The stone was raised into lis proper po-
mids were brought along artificial causeways
and Piny adds, that bridges were made of un.
baked bricks, Till The work was completed, and
then the bricks were distributed for the lorma-
lion Of private houses. ID. Laysiorie thinks
that the scafolding Of the ancenls, was formed
Of ropes, and that such method might now be
very conveniently adopted. Stones were sold
ready hewn, and Pllny mentions the process Of
saving them (for the saw is seen on Egyptian
monuments) by the aid of sand, and the pro-
cess and the very form of the saw are sllll pre-
served.
In ancient representations. upright posts or
capsians are erected, around which winds
rope, fastened to The block or weight TO be
moved, and the capstan is turned by long hori-
zonial levers. Aminisnus Marcelllnus speak
ing OF the erection Of the obelisk at CONSTANT
nople, says that there was wood machinery,
consisting Of lofty beams or mass, with which
were connected vas, and long ropes thick as
net work With these the obelsks was fast
ened, and by many thousand men working as
in turning mill, j, was placed in lis socket.
As clearly as We can understand This, the great
number Of ropes were intended 10 prevent the
fall, and those which elevated The obelisk were
strained by the capsan jusl described, ull II
was elevated upon lis base. A very rude meth I
cd of fixing upright large stones was, accord
ing 10 some authors, in erecting iucllned
plane OF earth or other materials, and then roll I
ling Them up, and letting Them seule in,o their
proper places by undermining their beds. The I
excellence of The workmanship, of The monu-
menls of Egyp, is, however, sufficient evidence
of the knowledge Of The leading necessary ma
chinery, because il is, of course. aniecedent 10
The invention OF finish and ornament.
To DESTROY INSECTS ON PLANTs.--fie up
some flower Of sulphur in piece of muslin or
linen and with this leaves OF young shoots OF
plants should he busted; or il may he thrown
on by means of a common swans-down puff, OF
even by dredging box