The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-06-26
NEW SERIES---VoL. 6. NO. 8.

VeDtion OF cast iron houses ls considered
as likely to introduce one of the most i'm.
portaut changes that has been effected for
a long time in the construction Of build.
ings. The credit of this invention be.
longs TO Mr. James Bogardus, of New
York. who is CONT actor for the Iron Sun
Building. corner of Baltimore and South
streets, in this city, and whose firm has
the most extensive establishment in the
world for the construction of large cast
iron buildings. The Crystal Palace is at
present the only complete building in
England oflhis material. In. 1896. Mr..
b.. not having been able to obtain capital
in this country TO aid in his enterprises,
went TO England 10 hope ofbeing able tp
interest capitalists of that country in his
scheme. In this he failed. While there
Mr., 3, invented the postage stamps Of
present used by the British Government,
for which be took the premium. therebe
ing nearly thou sand contestants for the
prize. From England he wended his
way to the Continent to study the con,
struclions Of all ages. In 1870 he return.
ed home, and found moneyed men ready
to back his experiments. Having OBJ.
tanned a patent he set TO work TO con.
struct the complete aud beautiful build
ing at the cnrnei of Duane and Centre
streets, New York, which is now occu,
pied by his firm as their furnishing shop.
A writer iHthe Washington National In
lelligencer, in speaking Of Mr.. Bogardus,
says
His inVealion, though pregnant with
impoIlan ant changes in the construction. Ol
houses, the world over, seems to be one
OF the simplest things to be- conceived. 1t
embraces apparently but three distinct
ideas: First. the application Of castiron
for the purpose; next, the boiling togeth-
er of the huge pieces composing the
frame Of the building, SO that they will
not only withstand any probable strain in
any direction, but also. if perchance any
one piece should fail the stability of the
rest will not be disturbed; and lastly. the
construction of all the joints much aftel
the fashion Of the joints of the oldinar,
cast iron ten plate stove; 81 that, while al
lowing for the expansion and contraction
OF his metal under all possible chances II
Temperature. whether from the cold %
winter or from an accidental fire, hi.
building shall nat be Objectionable on ac
count of exposing their interior to the ell
ements.
"rhe Iron houses which had been us
ed in England befnre this, were Of wrough
aud not of cast.iron. MIR B. met witt
a great demand for his iron houses from
California. Immediately after the discov
cry nflhat country. Besides The front u
the Baltimore Sun, aud of Adams Ex
press office in Washington. tn give 'h'
reader an idea of the demand for then
at present existing. may mention that
be auliful trout is now being cast at ihei
establishment for the progressing build
ing 0fMr. Michael Shanks, on Pennsyl
wants avenue, while they are also eng ag
ed on the drawings for another. for tn
front ur the agricultural-implement ware
house which Mr. Fiizhueh Coyle now nc
cupies. on 9TH street, in Washington cit,
They are casting four large houses f
San Fraucisco; magnificent front for tn
United States Custom house now built
ing there; house tn he put up in Mi
con. Geo, a tower 80 feet in height all
20 feet 10 diameter, 10 sustain tire-be
weighing 10000 pounds. for the author
ties of New York. who, but two or thre
years since, with great reluctance, col
scented To the erection of the first iro
. building of this firm, basing their obje,
ton ou the ground Of danger to 6reme
, from. bursting in case Of fire. | nam
these progressing works by way only
! illustrating The rapldity with which ii
public in all sections nfthe United State
o are commencing to avail themselves of tt
superior advantages which the cast ire
/. house certainly afford 70
"The original conception and, d,6rst d
o velopment oflhe principles on which Il
, Crystal Palace has been constructed, a
ours and ours only. In their applicati'
To the wants of society at large we a
n certainly as far before nur brethren oftl
old world as they are before us in al
I one branch Of mechanical industry, +
;, hundreds of cast.iron houses are no
= in use ID the United States. while EuroI
I can alone boast of her Worlds House
d the Crystal Palace" o..