The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-03

MODEM CYcLoPEAN WALL.-A recent num-
Der OF the ALgeBsstze ZeitHng contains an
interesting account Of a visit which the Wri.
tor had made to inspect the progress Of bull
ding q wall in the manner called CyelOpean,
at DusternbrOok, near Kiel, iu SehlesWig-
Holstein. He considers the effect Of the
work and the style of execution far superior to
any Of the numerous remains called BY the
same name which be had seen in Italy, aud
goes so far as to give it the preference over
any other kind Of wall, so far as the plain,
vertical surface of the material, apart from
ornamental accessories, is concerned. He
thinks that the polygonial stones, exerting
their pressure in all directions, must insure
stronger work than squared stones, however
closely jointed, which Onlyact in the direction
Of gravity. Indeed them Vulnerable many
sided and mnltangular stones Cf all sizes seem
to run together into one compact mass, Of
which neither time nor age will get the bet
ter. Neither mortar nor any other means Of
binding the stones together is employed; but
Che greatest care is taken in fitting the gran
ite blocks one into the other, the vacant spaces
in the wall as it is carried up being accurately
taken off with lead tape (5teiStGage) forced
with hammer INTO all the angles of the open
ings, aud then applied to the flat heWn face of
the block best suited, and next to be brought
to its proper shape by the wOrkmen. From,
the workinen he learned that the directions
given them by the architect were, "Five-sided
and six-sided blocks, seldom four-sided
straight lines, obtuse angles, joint upon angle
and, angle upon joint, ell according to the
lead tape, and only inclined functions"
In fact, all the juhctions between the blocks
were found to be in every gradation between
the perpendicular and the horizontal, with
out coineiding with either OF them. In this
obliquity Of the joints the author detected the
arch principle OF construction as applied to the
work, and the Workmen pointed out to him
that each stone either pressed or supported,
with tvery one of its sides, however nHmer-
Gus. He was unable to learn the name OF the
architect. Herr Mahnke was the name Of the
builder who had said that the cost Of the work
was less then that Of a squared stone wall; that
| it was much stronger, so that he shoRld have
used il in several larger buildings if be had
been acquainted with it sooner; moreover, that
this kind Of bnilding was to be preferred, be-
cause every stone, large or small, can be used
up in it. Generally, the writer holds this
polygonaI or CyclOpeah kind of bnilding to be
especially applicable in, first, hydraulic works,
as il offers nowhere continuous JOINT to the
water; second, in fortificationsi third, for rail
ways in substitution and steep coverings, and
in the cellar story aud even in the next story
Of large buildings and palaces. In these NOR
tar would be used, not as means of connec-
ton the stone, but only as pointing to the
joints, SO that the immediate contact Of stone
should not be interrupted. In conclusion, the
writer recommends the adoption Of this meth
cd Of building according TO determined and
clearly defined principles and rules, as alto
gether practical, wherever the material for
pOlygoRal blOcksis foRnds--a method which
is at least to US new one, and not simply Q
more careful execution Of the long used rock
walls, or an ornamental imitation Of an old
etyle, as in the Walhalla, Of which practical
method, In short, ahis Cyclopean wall, near
Kiel, is the first example that mas been execu-
ted in Germany - 1se Bladder.