Daily American telegraph., 1852-04-07
Iron.

Iron seems about to superseie wood ami stone
to the same extent that the telegraph has super
seeded pen, ink, and paper. Iron houses are be
coming all the 20, while iron chairs and bedsteads
arc by no means uncommon. The exhaustless
supply of the raw material the readiness with
which it yields to the forge and the hammer
yea, to the loom, for ii has been woven into beau
tiful shapes-added to the indestructibility Of its
nature, must bring it into general use for the
purposes above named. And even more. Expe-
riments are making in England as to its fitness
for paving roads and streets, and even for the
navigation of the ocean.
We learn from the Philadelphia North Ameri-
can that movement is now on foot in London
to build iron steamers seven hundred and twenty
feet in length, with ninety feet beam and thirty
six feet in depth, with four engines of one thou
sand horsepower, and q screw whilst there will
be eight masts, with huge lattcen sails. The
vessels are to be built Of iron and to be shot and
fre-proof while, from the novel structure and
superior strength, their immense length, it is
supposed, will render them safer than vessels Of
smaller construction. 1t is calculated that each
shall carry two thousand passengers, with thea
tire for amusements; and, in case Of war, bat
terry Of three hundred guns can be opened This
projected scheme it is said, is for tho purpose of
bringing the English colonies within n month
reach of London.
In regard to it's adaptation to paving purposes,
it is stated that a portion of Sterling Road, in
Glasgow, Scotland, has been paved with iron
plates, about three fourths Of an inch thick three
feet long, and eighteen inches broad They are
roughed, grovcd in zigzag fashion, SO as to
prevent the slipping of the horses hoofs. The
plates arc rabbeted on the edges, the one resting
on and supporting the other throughout the whole
series. The joints so close, says the Glasgow
Mail that none Of the material forming the bed or
| substratun can Oozp unVarls ne ia tho "a wi th
ordinary pavement, which causes not only the
irregularities of the surface, but most of the dust
and mud which dishgurc the streets and annoy
passengers.
The plates used on the Sterling road have been
elsewhere tested, and their capabiity of resisting
fracture sufficiently proven.
| This is really very promising, but let us see to
the economy. The best and latest-improvcd Russ
| payement--the surface Of which is also scored in
| the zigzag manner Of the iron plates in elias
! pow-costs, in New York, $3.50 per square yard
though parties there have offered to do the same
work Mt $3.50 to So In London tho cost Of
granite paving is about lbs. per square yard il
Glasgow from S. to 9s The cubical block, OF
smooth Russ pavement in Third street, cos
So. so per square yard, while the iron pavement
of Glasgow costs from rs. to 9s. at the present
| prices of iron, which, Of course, are low. In
| point of economy, the iron pavement in this city
would probablyprovc TO be cheaper than the best
stone, while it would perhaps create much less
NOISE occasion less oting, less friction TO wheels,
and, IN every respect, materially diminish the re-
slstance whilst the footing for horses would be
more secure, or, at least, equally so rs on the
best granite pavement These are alleged TO be
am2ng inc advantages Of the iron pavement /;
and, il is to be observed, these arc the principal
elements to be combined in a good, economical,
and pleasant road Of any sort. Phil paper.