Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-05-10
The Crystal Palace

Four hundred men are constantly en-.
ployed on this stupendous structure
which now attracts large share Of at.
tcn,ion, and the work is progressing
rapidly. This week the number Of work.
men is still further increased. We learn
from Mr.. J. f. Dctmold, Superintend.
ing Engineer that there is no doubt but
that all Of the main portion ofthc build.
ng will be complete by the lst of June +.
With the exception Of the dome, the
iron work Of this portion is now very
near completion, and the Crystal Pal.
ace begins to develop, in its stately pro.
portion, the design originally conceived
by its protector. The interior presents
labyrinth Of pillars, rods, ropes, and
timbcrs with men thickly scattered, and
making the air rcsound with the clatter
clans, and creaking Of their implements.
Curious visiters are excluded by a
woden enclosure with gate keepers, but
the vicinity is daily visited by increasing
numbers. The summit of the reservoir
is the favorite look. out place.
On Thursday last it is estimated not
less than 5000 persons visited the rcser.
voir to avail themselves OF the prospect
there afforded. Alarge number ofstran.
gers are already attracted to the city by
the presence Of the palace.
The entire building is ready to be roof.
ed excepting the dome; the glazing Of
the first story is nearly finished, and that
of the second has been commcnced; the
the roof OF one section has been put on
and the floor the second story has been
laid as far as the roofing extends. The
dome, which is 100 feet in diameter, will
be supported by "a iron columns. I'M.
mediately over these is placed an iron
trussing made to sustain massive iron
bed plate, on which rest the 32 ribs ol
the deme. The trusting, and bed plate
are now being adjusted and but few
days perhaps week, will be required
to put the dome in place after these
arc arranged. This done the main floor
will be speedily laid down, the arrange
ments Of goods commence and the as
pect Of things be materially changed.
The sides the dome will display 80
escutcheons in good colored glass repre-
sensing the Unit ed States coat Of arms
and those Of other nations. The floor.
timbers and roof boards are the only
parts that will be Of wood and to render
loss from fire impossible there are sixteen
hydrants on the lower floor and the
same number above. The quantity ol
iron used in construction Of the whole
building will be nearly l,4oo tons. The
cast iron girlers or beams supporting
the floor timbers, have each been tested
for the support oils tons, but are capa'
BILE of supporting 80 tons, without brea k
ing. The greatest weight that can
be put on any one Of them is 7 tons.
The floor boards are put together
with small crevices, to facilitate sweeping
There will be spacious entrances to
the building each having two flights oI
iron stairs leading to the galleries which
arc 81 feet wide, contain $4,000 square
feet or about one acre and half; and
the ground floor Ill 900 square feet or
about p acres making total area o
$4,000 square feet: or nearly 4 acres
The extreme length Of the structure
or of each of the arched naves forming
the transverse sections ofthe cross.is 3o5
feet; its height. from the ground to the
crown Of the arch, is 81 feet or to the
crown Of the dome lls feet and to the
crown of the lantern surmounting the
dome 149 feet. Ventilation is amply
provided for in every part. On each
floor there are 372 cast iron ventilators
arranged TO admit or exclude air as may
bc desired, besides ventlators near the
roof on every side.
The glass is made to appear as if
ground by peculiar process. to subdut
the light. 1t is covered with vitreous
enamelling, which is applied in the form
Of paste and made adhere to the glass
when in abused state. This obviates the
use ola cloth covering, such as was uset
on the London palace.
The construction Of the New Yorl
palace reflects honor on Mr.. Detmold
who devised and executed the plans or
which it is built. Iii point Of symme
try it is considered as surprising its Lon
don progenitor. As the various and al
most innumerable parts were made in
half dozen differnt States. employin;
eight different foundries it is no eas.
matter to insure accuracy in their con
struction, 80 that all shall exactly FL
L., r.. -: -, th.v x,sra deai0nAd