The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-24

IN even one OIL me HOUSES III 6oloh sfuoio, y
which is within The precincts Of Belgravia, 7
we may mention that No. II, being the d
residence Of the Speaker Of the t
House Of Commons, cost the country near. {
ly L.1000 per annum for rent and taxes
and that single square contains exactly 100
houses. u
This may give the reader some idea oil
the magnitude with which the building oPe-
rations are prosecuted in London. 1t is
now proposed to afford him an insight into
bo,c thew are carried on. We have recent
ly visited the works Of the gentleman who
planned and built the greater pert OF the
aristocratic neighborhood we have more
particularly alluded to, and who has also
covered few square miles Of the ground
which lies between Belgrave Square and
the River Thames with another suburb.--I
la these works every art, science, trads,
and handicrait which contributes to house.
building is carried en-. whether il be Tor
cluster of cottages, oraess, or for queens
palace. Mr.. Thomas Cubitt the owner
and director Of this wholesale factory OF
habitations. icing TN architect as well as
builder, does everything within it, from the
first plans and working-drawines, 70 the
making single plaster cornics, and even
to the manufacture Of the plaster itself;
from the moulding OF brick, 70 the cast
ing of keyhole ss.ntcheon. We perceive
from the Annual Report Of the Commit
tee of the Workmen's Benefit Club at Mr.
Thomas Cubin's, Thames Bank, Pimlico,
that at work in, OF connected with this es-
Enlistment, are tho following trades
Joiners, carpenters, bricklayers, masons,
paintars. plastArsss, oaaishss soeinssrs,
moulders, brickmekers. carriers, clerks, and
yard-laborers, besides many not mentioned
/ in the list, whose posiuondoes not necessi-
tate them to belong to1he club-such as
sculplors and architectural and decorative
draughtsmen, or others not Recognised as ar
tsans-such as Librarian and schoolmas-
ter, stable-keepers, and, mirabae dicta,
: cooks As to their numbers, and the CAPT.
tai required to pay them. there are 1888
men, who are paid upwards Of L.1600 every
!. Saturday-our informant remarking that
n this is a peculiarly slack time. The
greatest number of men ever employed in
+ the works was 2400, who were Pait
IL POO per week. The usual calculation
, as to building expenses is, that labor il
Ie about one-third the cost Of material; conse
quently, there is 'eurned over'-to use I
l. commercial phrase.--in this establishment
a. avery year from L 100000 to half a mil
lion of money AS, therefore. such sum
sr are annually discussed from one establish
ment-and there are three or four other
nearly as large, besides those OF, according
a. to the Post.Office Directory, about ~
smaller builders--the cost of the yearly &C
r ditions to the British Babylon can be diml
estimated. Mr.. Thomas Cubitts work
stand upon 10 - acres Of ground. Th
premises occupy lengthwise 1000 feet, o
i 600 feet Of which stand the workshops
The machinery--of which there is perhaE
greater variety than in any other estat
al Iishment in this country-is driven by fol
steam engines Of forty horse power esch.
. Such are the rough statistics Of this in
- mense and unique factory; but We must d
:" scend to details.
b The innumerable passengers on Il
nv steamboats, which ply between Chelsea an
~ London, do not fail to notice near the Pin
sb leo Pier, about midway between Chelst
nd Hospital and Vauxhall Bridge, campani
~ tower Of great height and elegant propo
"A tons not unlike the Lansdowne Tow'
On near Bath. 1t is so handsome ali elev
We lion, that few persons know its uses to
an solely utilitarisn--that il is, in fact, d.
IL guised fue; not readily to be detected
an such, FOR smoke seldom issues from it, ina
nm much as it belongs to smoke consuming a
rs paratus. At its foot are two parallel RAJ
he ges Of shops; and the curious WHO a
Oh struck with these objects, learn on inqui
on that they compose the building-works
i've MIR. Thomas Cubitt. They stand near Il
he edge of the river, on what is appropriate
n termed Thames Bank.
On. On entering these buildings, we wer
led during our visit, shown the joiner's ROOF
sh. after passing the pay-office, whence, BY ,
by admirable system, about thousand Poun
er- are distributed amongst as many men eve
ess Saturday afternoon at four o'clock in d
oft short space of twenty minutes. When v
ity say that this place contains at one side
ing long range Of carpenters benches, wi
ing room between each for putting togeth
vas doors and windows of the largest dime
ea. sions, and that the other side is partly pa
titioned of for other benches, drying. room
red and sort of kitchen, it will be understot
WIN that this shop bears comparison as to exte
,k- with small street. The precautions again
ms fre.are simple and ingenious. The bull
yht ing is not wholly 6reproof. but is made
ID at each end, and in the middle, so that {
are accidental fire would terminate where
nd began; for its career would be stopp,
red when it reached the uninfammable pc
las tons. Such is the mode Of prevention
Gu. the cure conveys useful lessons to q
to proprietors Of large buildings. 1t is ia
nv TOO we'll known 10 all those who posse
sx- FIRE engines, that, being not in constant u
nd these machines are generally out Of ord
,ut when most wanted; but in this building tn,
lis are discarded. In the ioiners' room the
EN- are some half-dozen small selfsupplyil
led oistsrns always full, and over each fe
md buckets are slung, hot removable by al
use person for any other purpose than to p
rse out fire, on pain Of fine and heavy d
to pleasure. Thus water, and the means
lso distributing it, are constantly on the spc
len Should, however, fame promote its