The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-24
The Great Exhibition or 1851.

MIR. Paxton's design of the building in London
has been variousy chrstened The matter offact
call Il "the great glass house," those of poetic
turn know II as " the crystal palace" Up to the
present time the structure is only an elaborate net
work OF IRON Much ingenuity has been expended
and TO little purpose) on descriptions, of greater
less mnueness of its gigantic proportions, and the
ingenuity of the principle which il is constructed
II is, therefore, wholly unnecessary for to eabO-
rate on this head. The general effect of the vast
skeleton, even now, is undoubtedly striking. Ii is
perhaps, the most remarkable specimen of that in
domtable energy, and that keen practical sense,
which Prince Albert ascnbes 10 the English char
acter If, as some Responding persons predct-per-
who persist only in seeing the dark side of all
things-the exhibition be failure, still il will stand
as record of noble idea vigorously and patrioti-
caly carried out. Whether certain manufacturers
will sell extra bales of goods next year. whether
their custom will decrease next year, is question
too comprehensive for discussion within the ordina-
ny limits of letter; but | may add, [ think,
that the most enlightened merchants of the
building rises apace Column after column is
quietly adjusted in its proper place; from the
apparently confused heaps of iron, which are lying
in every direction about the ground, some fifteen
hundred workmen are fashioning the ribs of mag
nihcent building. The extent OF the clerks Offices
from which lights glimmer long after nightfall,
suggests the magnitude of the operations going for
ward. Early in the morninq-as soon as day
dawns-a crowd OF wofkmen tbrong about the
gates, and wait till summoned within the enclo-
sure by an officer III attendance. Again, at three
o'clock in the afternoon workmen cluster, at which
time the authorities call the further number of
hands they may require. This ystem of not en-
gaging workmen permanently, but trusting to
scramble from crowd reminds me rather painful
ly OF the dock system IL would be at once fairer
10 good laborers, and more charitable to the poor
fellows who loter IN the vicinity of the gates in
the hope OF busting themselves past the summon
ing officer, TO give workmen fair weekly wages
For the last few days, the state of the ground
about the building has been very bad The mud is
literally ankle deep; and must be, should imagine,
very dangerous to the poor fellows who have to
stand in II for hours. A few loads Of gravel would
make solld footing All The workmen speak with
confidence OF the possibility of completing the
building by Christmas. To stranger this appears
10 be impossible. There is no lack of labor, and
cheap labor too, imagine; but yet the struc-
ture looks like the veriest beginning of vast
building. Not one inch Of it is enclosed. Speak
ing yesterday October 3D to a gentleman official
Iy connected with the exhi oition he very canddly
said, that although the contractors speak CONT
IDENTIFY, doubts are entertained of the practicaby
OF thoroughly completing the work within the time
sPeeihed IN the contract II is impossible to set
the carpenters TO work before the building is rooted
in; and il is this codsid. ration which causes little
anxiety in official quarters. The carpenters work
will be immense; and will consume more time, ia
all probability, Than the erection of the building it,
silt When we consider the almost endless lengths
OF counter required, the interior divisions, &c,
which must be completed before goods can be re-
ceived, IL is not unreasonable to spprehend little
delay. However, the contract is undoubtedly in
energetic hands, as the present rapid rate of pro.
gress sufficiently tesities. The glass il arriving
upon the ground in large quantities. | expect
that few alterations in the original plan will
be made, in consequence of several urgent re-
presentations the part of exhibitors whose
goods require Transparency. IL would be ab-
surd enough TO deposit stained glass upon a
counter, or a painted window against panel The
demand for space poured in yesterday. from all
quarters, with overwhelming rapidly. Ia few
Gays we shall have complete list of Intending ex-
hibltoTs France, hear, L. hktly TO be well re-
presented; and Switzerland will send some fine
specimens of her native manufacturing excellen-
cies. Even the people Of the Cape Of Good Hope
have organized themselves into committees 10 Sc
cure the due representation of their industry the
great Congress d human skil Yesterday morn
ing, the executive committee submitted their re-
port on the catalogue tenders 10 the royal commits
sioners. The assertion that the contract Ind fall
en- into the hands of Messrs Cloves could be no
thing more Than n Iumor, since the COMM ssoners
met only yesterday, Oct 81, TO decide the ques-
lion. II is, however, more than probable, that the
tender Of the house in question will be accepted
The premium offered by Messrs Gloves is GER
iainly more ben 1000, one or two printers.
whose tenders are REJECTED. Offered premiums vary
ing from al 600 10 81 ,000 In one two quar-
tiers, the sum has been stated as 1900, These
rumoTs, however, must not be accepted as facts
since ! leaned that the tenders were sealed up in
the presence of the committee, five minutes after
they were opened, and that they were broken only
Yesterday morning..