Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-14


United States commencing to avail themselves Of the
superior advantages which the castiron house rany
affords.
For the information of the reader who has never seen
Of these beautiful inventions may write that appearance
they are much lighter than the frame Of wooden
house, when, in the Of the Crystal Palace and the
finishing shop Of Bogardus and Hoppn, almost all Of the
shell is constructed of glass, for the better lighting of
The interior. Those already erected in New York, however,
vary in form and appearance than any other descrp
ton of buildings for the stiron made in the mould
shapes varying from the fairyke of
abor the elaborate design Of the Gecan the ponderous
soemnity Of the Gothic styles Of architecture The work
shop to which have often referred above affords
Capital example of the advantages which such houses possess
where space, light and great strength objects Of mpor
tance ItcoVers alsze New York city lot having front
Of twenty feet Centre street and ninety Duane
street, and is five stories high Geo feet including the foun
daiion basement. Some seventy constantly
poyed in it. finishing the parts Of houses and preparing them
for shipment On the floor Of the second storys the steam
engine Of the establishment (of rs horsepower which
drives the huge machines for planning and trimming the cast
ings. In all New York there 10 hardly brick stone
building floor Of which the propreors would permit such
engine be worked Yet not only this engine, but
three equally rackng planning mills have been in oPe-
constantly on this floor of this house for years. without
generating motion in the building than would result
from the revolutions Of lathe for turning wooden bedposs in
ordinary hree-sory brick factory The custom in other
workshops is TO place such ponderous machinery in the base
ment where may rest directly on the ground The base
ent Of this establishment used for their blacksmith shop
the second story before remarked, for the engine roo
and for planning the heaviest description of castings The
story next above is the planning for castings of smaller
size the story above that for bringing each part Of their
work fit exactly the gauge by which it's finish is tested
And in the upper story Of all is their pattern shop in which
the mouds are made carry any fancy Of any custo
mer in the design Of building. The castings are Prnc-
pay moulded at their large foundry in the upper part of the
city, while they are also compelled by the pressure Of BUSH
to have much Of such work done for them by other
adjustments glance at the building from little distance
will impress the stranger rather with the idea that it is sort
Of summer garden for hours Of and pleasure
One must approach within sound Of its evebazzng msch-
merry to realize that with human beings, busy
engaged regulating the labor Of the vast machines oPea
ing within with aggregate mechanical force of hundreds
if not thousands of tons.
AS matter of course love of change has had little to do
in producing the demand for iron houses which now
ing on New York for the Americans prone to re-
qure substantial for all their business changes
They are not the throw aside tmehonored wood,
brick mortar and sone and adopt in their stead cason
walls ceilings foos stairs bannsers, doors, sashes,
paneing &c., merely for the novelty Of the thing. IN city
like this WHERE many quarters ground is worth many
dollars as will cover it. the saving of space in the employ
ment Of metal great operating to bring the iron
house into favor Then the less cost of insurance. owing to
the fire proof character of such houses has recommended
them capitalists here. The apparent impossibiiy Of in
uring them by wear and tear and the readiness with
which they may be taken down in locality to-day and
re-ereced miles off Tomorrow the philosophical certainty
that they safe from ghtnng the necessary absence
vernin from them their better ventilation, the ease with
which any form of structure ornament applied to them,
&c., render them desirable to all who have notions Of their
own with reference to their buildings Hence the ra-
pdity with which they being built around us here in
New York If there is one, there one hundred huge
business houses in the city having their ground stories
reconstructed of ron to economist space and procure more
light Indeed do not know Of single in Broadway
where the front store Of house alone being re-arrang
ed, in which iron supports not being substituted fol
wood and brick.
would be but just and proper in the awards ofthe prizes
Of the Worlds Fair to credit the ognaon Of the design Of
the Crystal Palace rather than to England for despite
the noise which the English press has made the
~
invention much that Of the lightning press Of the bro
Tiers Hoe Of this city, which cannot be shown there owing to
the enormous expense that would attend the erection
portation sengup and working Of elaborate machine
II what printing press there exhibited takes the
PREMIUM the world acknowledges this last improvement Of
the Hoes he the most complete and eectua machine for
the purpose yet invented But must not draw this letter to
too great length Those among who regard the cheaper
ing Of the accommodations and convenences Of life Of
importance rank Mr. Bogardus among the American me-
chancal benefacors Of bis Strange that he for
live Yankee in these days Of humbug be will probably be
the last realize that his unng abos Of head and hand
have benefited his country; for in intercourse with his fell
low-men he is bsshfu almost unto absolute sheepshness
There he sits in his establishment year in and year out
bushing like girl Of sixteen when compmented BY any one
amongst the hrongs Of vte from all quarters OF this and
foreign countries who attracted his work BY the changes
Il is efecting in the art Of constructing houses.
select this theme for my letter Of to-day, more especially
because am unwilling that the mechanics OF this country
shall Judged by their share Of the Exhibition without being
credited with what Europe regards as one Of the greatest
mechanical achievements Of this age Of ahe original con-
cepon and first development Of the principles which the
Crystal Palace has been constructed which ours, and
only In their application the wants Of society at large
we are certainly as far before brethren Of the old world
as they are before us any branch Of mechanical indus
try for hundreds Of cason houses in in the
United States while Europe alone boast Of her Worlds
House-the Crystal Palace. w. D. w.
TIE CospEs Massacre TRIAL.-Shelton, Taylor, Muir