Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-08-17

This immense structure will, no doubt, be
The grandest and most imposing edifce of
the kind in the United Siates-and probably
in the world The above engraving will
give some idea of the proportions and magni-
tude of the building, and we now propose 10
give our readers full description of it.
The main front is on Chesnut street, and
occupies ~ feet in width; the depth is 1856
feet, to Carter's alley, on which it has an.
other front of corresponding width. The
building covers the whole lot, and is lighted
in the middle by side windows, opening on
The adjoining properties, which have been
purchased by the Doctor, mainly for the purs
pose of admitting light and air.
The height of the building above the pavei
ment is 90 feet, and the height of the cupola
80 feet, making the elevation above the pave
ment129 feet to which may be added 27
feet, for the depth of the foundations-ma-
king the entire altitude from the bottom OF
the stone work TO the top of the cupola 1856
feet.
The Chestnut street front is wholly COM
posed of granite, from the Quincy quarries
in Massachusetts. The first story consists
of massive pillars, some of which weigh 10
tons, supporting heavy entablature, en-
riched with corbels, and crowned with an
iron railing. A single piece of this entaba-
ture weighs upwards of 81 900 lbs.
From the top of the first story spring eight
cluster columns, which run through five sto-
ries, and terminate at the top of the sixth, in
rich Gothic capitals; the seventh story is
formed by shafts springns out of the capitals,
and terminating in pointed arches, forming
seven Gothic windows. The lines of these
arches are continued above, and interlaced
so as to form seven quatreJoil panels, en-
riched with deeply sunken tracery; these
panels are pierced, and form seven ample
windows for lighting the eighth story.
The front is crowned by an appropriate
Gothic cornice, and surmounted by block
ing, terminated al the ends by pedestals,
supporting tasteful vases intended to repre-
sent mortars.
The cupola rises out of the centre of the
front, asd is embellished with Gothic win
dows, and crowned with an embattled para
pet. The top will be approached by an easy
flight of staifs, and will afford one of the
most commanding views that can any where
be found, 10 which The Doctor intends 10 af.
ford access to the public, under such restric-
tions only as will preserve it from depreda'
tion.
The front on Carier's alley is composed O.
Connecticut granite, from bottom to top, anc
is likewise eight stories in height above the
pavement and two stories below. The first
or principal story, consists of massive pillars
some Of which weigh IA tons, supporting al
architra9e of . feet 9 inches in width by
feet s inches in height, a single stone o
which weighs 13 tons.
The remaining seven stories have sever
windows in each story, with granite pillar
and entabairres, embellshed at the end
with corbels. Each extremity of this from
is crowned with Gothic turret, feet square
rising to the height of Is feet above the root
These turrets are intended TO contain ma
chinery for hoistng, and directly under eacl
line of haichways extends from the lowe
cellar TO the upper story.
The building will be lighted on the side
by 1872 windows, 90 of which are entirel.
above the surrounding houses.
One Of the most remarkable features Q
this gigantic structure is the foundations, tn
magnitude and perfection of which are alik
worthy of admiration. They are all laid j
hydraulic cement, and are composed of mas
/ sive blocks, some of which measure 10 fee
/ in length their depth below the pavemen
is abou, 2T feet, which brings them nearl