Polynesian., 1851-03-01

f Immense Bailding-We are accustomed to
think that in the matter Of building ships,
ediices, and the moving Of houses, there are
no people on the face of the earth who can
beat US Yankees, either in rapidity or excel
lence Of construction. But even Yankees
will be somewhat surprised when they learn
the particulars relative to the size, mode Of
construction, and the time to be employed in
the erection of the edifice now building in
! Hyde Park, London, for the Worlds Fair
OF 1851. A late number of the London
Times contains many interesting particulars
from which we gather the following:
The building is to cover 752, 1872 superb
cIai feet, and TO have an exhibition surface
of about 2l acres, to be rooted in and hand
ed over to the Commissioners within little
more than three months from its commence
ment, I" he constr ucted almost entirely of
glass aud iron the most fragile and the strong
est of working materials, to combine the
lightness Of conservatory with the stability
OF our permanent structures.
| In its favor the window law is to be igno,-
ed; and 900, 900 superficial feet Of glass,
weighing upwards Of 400 tons, are to be
used in its constr uction. Not stone nor q
brick will be employed throughout the spa
| clous structure, which is to rest upon 8, 800
cast iron colums, and to be strengthened and
kept together by 2.224 girders of the same
material. The plan of it, which has been
published represents an edifce in every re-
spect qualified to become the repository of
the worlds industry; the basement and two
upper tiers dimishing in area as they ascend,
and thus securing graceful variety Of out
line, while the monstrous effect of facade
| ,SlS feet long is broken by spacious
transept. This transept, 40S feet long and
q wide, will be arched, and will rise to the
height OF los feet, enclosing within if, rs
in glass case, a row Of trees, which respect
for the park timber has induced the commis-
sioners to spare. The roof of the en-
tire building will be covered with can
vass to exclude the rays of the sun, except
the transept, where the presence of trees
render light necessary. When completed,
the view presented by the interior will be
wonderfully graceful and splendid. The
central avenue, l,S4S feet long, - feet
| broad. and 66 feet high, with rows of pillars
shooting off from it an either side, and so ar.
! ranged that the eye can traverse freely to-
every part Of the building, must have very
grand appearance. Care has been taken to
have the columns upon which the whole ia
brio rests distributed with such regularity as
to avoid all confusion or forest-like effect.
Besides the immense space thus devoted
TO the general purpose of the exhibition,
there will be on the north side of the build
ing a room set apart for the reception of ma
chinery. The dimensions of this apartment
| are on scale propOrtionate to the import
ant branch Of inventive industry to which il
: l. Il L. e . r
broad, and "a feet high. A light iron rail-
ing will inclose the building at distance OF
| eight feet from its exterior, and beyond that
there will be footpath. The grand en-
trance will be nearly opposite the Princes
gateway, and will have seven pairs of doors.
Ample arrangements have been made, how
ever, for the entry and exit of visitors at
other points. Messrs Fox, Henderson & Co,
the contractors, estimate, among other re-
quisites, 81 miles of gutter, 2O2 miles of ta-
bic for exhibiting.
Ii is now month since the actual work
of construction commenced. In that time
the foundation pieces on which the columns
rest have nearly all been fixed upon their
bed of concrete, and the earth filled in around
them. The columns required for large Sec
tion of the southern and central parts Of the
building have been put up and connected To-
gether by girders. The framework begins
to indicate the form of the future structure,
just as The ribs and bones Of the mammoth
shadow forth what the animal must have
been when alive. The external facing Of
the ground tier has been commenced, and
while the frame work is about one-third of
the structure is in a forward state, nearly
every detail Of the work has begun. The
rapidny with which the building progresses
may be estimated from the fact that the two
columns and three girders can be fixed in
about fifteen minutes.
Sash bars, window frames, intermediate
bearers and cutters, are got ready by hum
dreds of workmen under sheds. The hydrau-
lie press is at work testing the strength Of
girders. Piles OF material of every kind are
collected in every part of the ground, and il
is believed that three-fourths Of all that will
be required are already deposited within the
boarding. At present about 900 hands are
at work within the inclosed space, but it is
estimated that the number must yet lie rais-
ed TO 500 The iron work is all brought
from Birmingham, where it is prepared by
Messrs. Fox s. Huntington, assisted by two
other houses One firm furnishes the " hole
amount Of glass required. The timber Used
is from the Baltic, and Of excellent quality.
The gas has been laid on in the grounds,
and the tolls Of the day are continued fire.
quenly as late as II o'clock at night. With
in commodious set Of Offices the heads Of
departments regulate the work and prescribe
the division of labor to be pursued. The
contractors still speak with perfect conf
dence Of their ability to construct and roof
in the whole before New Years Day.
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