Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-30
THE CRYSTAL PALACE.
PROM THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE..

Il
PROM JOURNAL OF CoMMERcE
Four hundred men are constantly employed on this
stupendous structure which attracts large share
of public attention and the work is progressing rapidly
This week the number of workmen is be still further
increased. We learn from Mr.. j. e. Detmold Superin-
tending Engineer that there is doubt but that all Of
the main portion Of the building will be complete by the
lst of June With the exception Of the dome, the iron
work Of this portion is very completion and
the Crystal Palace begins to develop in its stately pro-
portions the design originally conceived by its protector
The interior presents labyrinth Of pillars rods ropes
and timbers, with men thcky scattered and making the
air resound with the clatter cang and creang their
implements Curious ysiters are excluded by wooden
enclosure, with gatekeepers but the vicinity is daily
visited by increasing numbers The summit of the reser
yoir is the favorte lookout place. On Thursday last it
is estimated not less than persons visited the
voir to avail themselves of the prospect there afforded
large number of strangers are already attracted IL the
city by the presence Of the palace.nc III sH3
The entire building is ready to- be rooted excentino
.ne me glazing OF the hrst story is nearly finish
and that OF the second has been roof
OF one section has been put on the floor of the
story has been laid far as the roofing erandx pbs
DOME which is 100 feet in diameter Win be supported
by "a iron columns, Immediately over these Il placed
iron trusting, made to sustain massive cast a ~
plate, on which rest the 80 ribs Of the dome The true
sing and bedpate are now being adjusted and but few
days. perhaps week. Will be required to put the dome
in place after these are arranged This DONE the main
floor will be speedily laid down. the Of goods
commence and the aspect of things be materoIlv
ed The sides Of the dome win display so escutcheons
in colored glass; representing the United States coat of
arms, and those of other nations "a ee II
The foor-timbersa and roofboards are the only parts
that will be Of wood and render loss from Are mnos
sbe there are sixteen hydrants the lower floor and
the same number above The quantity of iron used in
the construction Of the whole building win Be nearv
400 tons The cast iron grders or beams supporting
the imbers have each been tested for the
Of 10 TONS but capable Of supporting 35 tons without
g. hat ha putou
one OF them TONS The foorboards are put to-
geher with small crevce to facilitate sweeping There
viii be four spacious entrances to the building each hay
ing two flights OF iron stairs leading to the galleries
The stairs are already in their place. The galleries.
which are 81 feet wde contain 81 900 square feet or
about one acre and half and the ground floor O00
square rect. or about two acres and half-makng b
total area Of square feet nearly four acres
The extreme length Of the structure of each Of the
arched naves forming the transverse sections the cross
Is 500 feet its height from the ground the crown Of
the arch is 81 feet to the of the dome feet
and to the of the lantern surmounting the dome
l4s feet Ventilation is amply provided for in every
part On each floor there 372 iron yentators
arranged TO admit or exclude air may be desired be-
SIDES yentiiators near the roof on every side.
The glass used is made to appear as if ground by q
peculiar process to subdue the light 1t is covered with
vtreous enameliDg which is applied in the form of
paste and made to adhere the glass when in fused
state This obvates the of cloth covering such as
was used on the London palace.
The construction of the New York palace reflects honor
MIR. Demod, who devised and executed the plans on
which it is built In point of symmetry it is considered
surprising its London progenitor As the various and
almost lnnumerabe parts made in half dozen diff
eren States employing eight different foundries it sno
easy matter to insure accuracy in their construction,
that all shall exactly fill the place for which they were
designed Notwithstanding this difficulty comparatively
little detention has been experienced from this source
The palace will cost about $500, 900.
great quantity Of goods designed for exhibition have
already arrived from abroad and stored in the u s.
bonded warehouses Over 1000 applications from ex-
hibters have been received from this country alone
while those from Europe number about $1,000 Of which
100 are from England 800 from Germany and 500 from
France We learn that restricted the limits avail
able for exhibitors compared with the demand that ii
has been determined to construct other buildings without
the palace, as means Of relief The boilers with which
to drive the machinery six in number and forty feet
in length, placed in building distinct from the palaces
The latter will be enclosed with suitable railing
The OBSERVATORY, LARGE TELESCOPE. &c.--A mush-
room city has sprung in the neghborhood of the pa
tions catchpenn shows, great number of temporary
wooden structures intended for Refreshments saloons
stores, drinking shops, &C., besides dwellings intended
for clearinghouse For such elgibly situated
the most extrayagant rents readily obtained One
small wooden structure, 20 by 80 feet rents for $1,000
per annum but the occupant receives more than this
amount by leasing his stoop and the protection Of
his awning for apple and soda stands.
The most conspicuous object aside from the palace is
the Latting Observatory" called from the name Of
Its protector IL will be rs feet diameter at the base
est manner The grand jury have pronounced it perfectly
AT the distances of about 100 200 and 300 feet
from the base viii be landings, with lookout places to
which passengers win be elevated by stearn-car At
the highest will be placed telescope of great power and
which we are informed Will be the largest in the country
with 16-nch glass, glass one inch larger in dia-
meter than the Cambridge telescope The glass is being
in Europe, and until that completed
l0inch glass will be used The instrument will cost
about S22 600 At the lower ladngs the vision win be
aided by achromatc telescopes, with 4nch openings
The view commanded will be very extensive From the
second landing the ascent will be b. means Of spiral
stairway The observatory win cost lbout $15, 000
Next to this may be mentioned Machine with lonr
revolving arms the ends Of which Matched large
wooden boxes 1t is proposed to whir peop around in
these boxes elevang them eighty feet from TIL, ground
Terms, Zone shilling for three turns sixpence r onen
Close by is a circular railroad, enclosed in wooden
building and covered with canvass People win her, be
turned around till satisfied. AT short distance is Co.
poral Thompsons large circus, nearly completed also
one two panoramic exhibitions large ice-house Be-
A golden harvest Is anticipated
A WILD MAN OF THE WOoDS