The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-18

hat the points OF junction should be fitted 70 each
other with mathematical precision This Necessity
Professor Cowper illustrated BY pieces OF WOOD,
roughly cut In pillar shape, andsplaced above eacn
other which, of course, would not stand straAgnt,
the same experiment being repeated win pieces Oh
wood pillar shaped, and the ends turned IN lathe,
OF course with very different result Thus, he
continued il became requisite that the ends OF the
pillars should be turned. There were Z,ooO columns
and 200 "facings" to be done. Few engineers
would have yentured on such an undertaking, but
Messrs Fox and Henderson had accomplished II,
and the result was, that there was not a crooked
line in the building Professor COwper then ad-
veIIed to the glrders, and proceeded to show how,
in technical language, they behaved" As an
illustration this subject he demonstrated by ex-
pertinent that thin tin plates in tabular form could
bear pressure of 2 cwt, whereas in a fiat form
they gave way at once. He explained by models
the object of the grder, and showed that, with its
treced form, every part Of II was designed to dis
tribute the strain which would otherwise have
fallen unduly upon particular points. One OF these
models was executed in thin lath, yet II bore pres
sure Of cwt. without breaking. The subject of
girders naturally led the learned Professor TO con-
slider the amount of " stiffness" secured 10 the
building. Here his illustrations were again IN ath,
and were Admired for their great simplicity and In.
genuity. He then proceeded 10 explain the method
of proving the girders by the hydraulic press, and
he stated that while they generally broke with tne
weight OF 80 tons, and were tested by one OF 10
tons, the greatest pressure 10 which they could be
subjected in the building was ~ tons. Adverting
to the means by which the sditice had been erect
ed, and 10 common remark that there was no
scafoding, and nothing to be seen but few poles,
pulleys, and ropes the Professor commented on the
striking simplicity of design In an edhce which IN
its progress itself supplied nearly all the scaod-
ing required for it, He then adyeIted briefly to
the Paxton cutters, which were made by hand Tor
the Chatsworth Conservatory, and explained the
ingenious contrlvance by groove on the outer
side of each gutter for catching the moisture con-
densed within the ROOT of the building The gut
tiers were now cut entirely by machinery, coH-
structed from the designs of Mr.. Fox. He also
drew attention TO the machinery for making sash
bars, for painting and for drilling. Referring TO
the general design OF the building, ne said that II
was first intended 10. be uniform, but Messrs. FOX
and Henderson suggested transept, as II would
greatly strengthen The whole fabric, and they
also advised that that portion OF the edi.
flee should be crowned with an arched
roof,l overlapping the lofty trees which grow
there BY modes the Professor explained the
"thrusI and "tenslon " TO which an arch OF the
kind was subjected, ard he also minutely described
the way In which the wooden RIBS the arch were
formed, and the manner which they were raised
in pairs at time. Technically, the RIBS are cali
ed principals" and are composed of four layers
OF wood, laid TIA. on each other, the two central
ones four inches thick, and the two sides two
inches curved plank and strap of iron above
it, shaped TO the arch, and Dolted to it, held the
whole together and II was found that when the
principals were set up In pairs, with their purlings
and diagonal ties. The friction alone was sufhclent
to prevent them spreading out. The weight OF each
PAIR OF principals raised, eight tons; and the first
idea otaklns them up III that mannef was suggested
by Mr. Wilbee, Messrs, Fox IL Hendersoa's agent.
Ihatidea was subsequently expanded by Messrs Fox
d Henderson into making each pair OF principals It's
own traveller when raised TO The required height,
and thus the whole work OF forming the arched
roof OF the transept was earned forward with The
utmost simplicity and despatch. Some OF the ma
tons abroad in the habit of planting trees of
liberty, which very soon dried up, wi!hered and
decayed. The English people were not very fond
of emblems: but he could not help thinking that
these real of liberty as they prOyed that
we did not live under despotic government The
people wished that these trees should be preserved,
though 1000 trees had been cut down IN kensing-
ten gardens a few years ago without the slightest
complaint beirg made. John Bull, however, had
set his mind retaining these trees, whether they
spelled the building or not, and there accordingly
they remained, standing proof of the attention
which the government paid 10 the Will OF the
people. He thought he might even carry his
imagery q little further, for these trees might be
SAID 10 represent the rights and interests OF The va
rious classes Of the country, al that was required
being that they should be so Topped and pruned
that one should not overshadow the other; while
the arch above might be compared TO their glorious
constitution, which wss comprehensive enough to
protect and include ell.
At the close Of the lecture the le armed professor
closely waited ty his audience, proceeded 10 the
different points o. the building, and, the spot,
explained the hydraulic press for proving the CIR
dere, the patent cranes, the travelling scaoldlng,
the punching and cutting machines, the mode Of
preparing the Paxton cutters, the circular saws tor
cutting the cutters and sash bars, the drilling ma
chine, the pointing machine, the glazing, the tents
for glazing, the system Of ventilation by louvre
boards and the construction Of the ansept. In his
tour amidst these mechanical marvels the learned
professor was most eageriy-it may almost be said
pertnacsously followed by the members of the
Society Of Arts who clambered de xterously across
piles o. boarding, and balanced themselves expertly
upon jsiss and Tafters and dashed fearlessy u, to
saws and wheels revolving with the mos formula
be rapidly, aud accomplished many other feats
lnndahlP M
bitson Of becoming acquainted with the princi-
pies Of mecbanichs, and o{ showing their an
riety that the forthcoming exhibition should
be worthy not only Of the country at large, but
also OF John street, Adelphi. There remains now
hardly any room for dou y, that the Crystal Palace
will satisfy all, or nearly all, the requirements for
which II was constructot, and that Il will prove
the greatest wonder 81 the collection that II Is IN
tended TO enshnne, Unfortunately, its close prox-
unity TO the highway prevents the propoi tons Of
its principal facade from being thoroughly seen ana
appreciated by the hoOa ands who daily flock to as
certain its progress ard scan ito vast dimensions.
The south end OF the .ransepr, however, has new
been mpeted, ana presents a sinpularly imposing
appearance. In the broad aylight and with WIN
dow tax Tecolecilon8 about HIM, one can hardly
bring himself TO believe that such an expansc Of
Rlasswork s real ttat IN England so daring end
wholesale admission Of the suns rays into any
building should have been successfully attempted;
and that at last our clouded murky skies. and The
darkness visible OF our buildings, should alike re.
ceye help and cure from the hal ds Of the gla.:er
But striking the internal view of the tFansert IL
on the south dur1g the day. IL Is still more % at
night, when, AZ once or twice aweek happeRa, a
huge bonfire Of shavings is lighted, and every lne
and column in the building - lgmina;ed by che
flame Within ard without this - a grand scat,
and indt Gates what splendid effects might be pro-
dsced were the commissioners hereafter (say ia
10 the Celestial Empire J 90 hold within
their Cry stal Palace a /" feast OF lanterns"
The period Il now rapidly approaching when the
contractors will hsve concluded their labors, and
the busy bands OF ertI sans, mechanics and labor
ers that al preseDs thrcng every portion Of the
building will have teen wlthdraw n from ~. The
piaTed aisss and extended airy galleries will then
b peoPled with other occupants; and instead Of
those implements OF trade, useful but not ofnamen-
tai, by which this vast fabric has been formed, and
the strong arms that welded them, will be seen
the costly and elaborate productions Of our greatest
industrial communities Before the oae set ~ &C.
tors depart from the stage and a new casi appears
on y, the public, who are curious IN such matters,
will do well 70 pay the Crystal Palace visit. The
charge for admission Is uaAvoIdabiy, and for obyi-