The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-08
The Crystal Palace!

factory manner. Externally 1t may now be regard
north sides is still unfinished, and the transept
has not yet been entirely glazed in; but the amount
of work remaining to be accomplished is compare
lively trng, and the energy Of the contractorshas
now been directed from the outside to the inside
Of the edifce. The vast fabric may be seen, by
any one who visits that part of the town, in its full
dimensions an Arabian Nights structure, full of
light, and with certain airy unsubstantia CHI
ter about il which belongs more to enchanted land
than to this gross material world Of ours. The
eye, accustomed to the solid heavy details of stone
and lime or brick and mortar architecture, wan
ders along those extended and transparent alsles
with their terraced outlines, almost distressing its
own conclusions on the reality Of what it sees, for
the whole looks like splendid pbantasm, which
The heat OF the noon day sun would dissolve. or a
fog utterly exngalsh. There, however, the Crys-
tai Palace remains, monument of the extent TO
which lghness of structure can be combined with
permane nee and strength, building remarkable
not less Tor slze than for the beauty OF mathemati
cal proportions and rectangular outlines The va
red dimensions and fantastic features of other
edihces there find no parallel Everything is done
by the rule, and yet everything is graceful, and it
might almost be said grand. Wherever one stands
no dsag gre cable etecIs present MISUNDERSTANDING
crooked, awkward, or out OF place. The subord-
nation OF parts 10 the whole is complete. and an
expression OF order and exactitude regns through
out, not unaptly typical of the progress which the
mechanical sciences have made in this country.
But for that progress the Cry stall Palace could
never have been constructed, and it certainly is
curious to reflect, now that the work has been ac-
complished and the great Jesuit stauds patent to
the world, that with the facilities we possessed,
glass and iron have hitherto been go little employed
by our architects.
Now that the building may be regarded as ex-
ternally complete, the public will be DESTROYS to
know the best points for looking at il, and the most
striking effects which it presents. Unfortunately,
the south side, VIII oh is the principal acade, stands
so close TO the public thoronghfare that its proper
lions can not be seen to advantage. Like many
Ihpru Str xul,i oh
themselves to the mind Of the reader, the Crystal
Palace must be viewed from distance to be appre-
Grated Whoever would see great mountain
To perfection must not survey II Immediately from
itsbsse and on exactly the same principle the new
edi6ee in lily park cannot be well vie wed from
the kensington road The drive along the Ser
penne and the bridge over it are the best points
for a spectator TO select There the ground rises,
and the vacant space enables the eye to reach over
large proportion Of the building. The trees partly
shut out the prospect, but enough remains 10 as;o-
nish and TO captvate. The vast extent of area CO.
wred the transparent and brilliant character of the
structure, the regular and erracod elevations, the
light airy abYtments, the huge rdnsept, with its
aIcned and glttering roof shlalng above the great
vlireous expanse around il, and reminding of
nothing that he has ever heard of before all these
things are worth seeing, and threaten TO interfere
seriously with the selectness Of Rotten. row. The
drive along the Serpen,ine should certainly be
made the main carriage approach TO the Exhibition,
for vlsiters, by a good view of the exterior, will
have their minds prepared to appreciate the indus
tfiaI wonders collected inside-
Ii Is within that the work of the contractors is
al present golHg with the greatest rdpdity. The
last castings will be fixed IN their places to-day
in another week the tTansept will have been en-
trely rooted in; and should the supply of glass not
fall short, the contractors will in few days longer
have glazed in the whole area. Some idea of the
scale on which this portion of the works is carried
on may be formed from the fact that 5000 panes OF
glass can be hted in ia one day. The GLACIERS are
at present busy engaged in enclosing the arch of
the uansep', and the manner in which they carry
en- their operations supplies another Of those inge-
NOUS mechanical details TO which we have so
often drawn attention. The machine used by them
In glezng the flat roofs has been adapted TO the
curve OF the arch-parties of them, seated in a
uoueh-lke carriage, being hosied up by ropes and
pulleys as their work progresses upwards. The
ridge and valley form OF the fla, roof is ceverly
preserved, and the appearance presented by this
portion OF the building, from the top outside, is
sinsulary striking. Along the crown of the arch
runs small pathway two feet wide, and any visIter
sufficiently adventurous and cool headed TO climb
up ladders TO that height may not only feast his
eyes upon magnificent view of town and
the monster window frame, eighteen acres wide,
which is spread out at his feet, may see the work.
people and other occupants OF the basement and
galleries crawling about like bees in glass hive,
and each contributing his mite Of labor to the great
whole upon which he stands. He may alec satisfy
HIMSELF at that dizzy elevation, of the extraordna-
ny rigdy OF the vast fabric at this it's most sensi-
tivep point. Half hundred sborers and mechanics
were mounted there yesterday, stamping, hammer
ing, and Otherwise engaged in manner to test the
"sufiness' OF the arched roof yet hardly any tre-
NOR or vibration was perceptible.
Next TO the roof, the greatest progress has been
made with the flooring, the galleries, aud the
raneemenis OF the exhibiting space. The flooring
Of the basement has been pushed forward with
great rapidity, the planks being left with mdl
interval between them, by which means the dust
dropping through the whole place will be easily
kept clean. There are to be four galleries two
called GENITAL" and running along. the u feet
alses on either side Of the main aisle; AMI two
called side" hlling he second row pair of ~
feet aisles from the centre. The flooring Of these
galleries has also made great progress; and, judg.
ing OF the general effect OF this part of the building
fr.m the varied and delightful views which at
every point the finished portions present, the whole
upper space, when completed, will, be believe, be
fourd quite as attractive as the basement area IL
sef On The east OF the transept, on the south
eide, Messrs. Fox and Henderson have fitted up
roughly portion of the ground in such manner
as to illustrate to Intending exhibitors the different
ways IN which their ailotments may be arranged.
The commissioners, while permitting exhibitors TO
take this upon themselves, IL they choose, re.
commend all who may wish their fittings supplied
for them, to have the work done by Messrs. Fox
and HeRderson nor will the propriety OF this plan
be questioned, as II Is only fair to suppose that
those who have executed, with such extraordinary
rapdity, the general design OF the great gass
within which the specimens Of the worlds in
dustry are all to be cnshined, the best persons
also to be intrusted with the details of stalls and
tables. The arrangements at present contem-
plated give great freedom to exhibitors in the use
Of their allotments; and there appears TO be
dargeI lest the privilege thus granted should be
found inconsistent with that tasteful distribution
Of articles which would secure the beet and most
harmoniopsefiect for the whole display. Besides the
centre aisle waca. ia to be Kept clear and the pas
cage round the building close to the external WALL
there are to be only two avenues open from end
10 end. These will be eight feet wde and will be
IN the twenty four feet aises under what we have
previously described as the side galleries. The
rest Of the area and especially the aises forty eight
feet wide, will be fitted up with tables OF different
shapes, and the hanging space between the pillars
may be rendered available for the purposes OF exh-
bition, cross passages, each eight feet wde-or If
two, five feet wide-being kept clear in each Sec
ton Of twenty.four feet. The result Of this will
doubt be that great portions Of the lower area Of
the building, Notwithstanding its present open
character and the unrestrained manner in which