Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-05-12
VOL. v.
The Crystal Palace.

The New York Journal Of Commerce
says that 400 men are constantly employ
ed upon this stupendous structure, and
that the work is rapidly progressing
The number of workmen is 90 be mnch
increased this week. The main portion
Of the building will positively be finish
cd by the first of June.
The journal Of Commerce adds that
with the exception of the dome, the iron
work of this portion IS now very near
completion and the Palace begins to de
velope the design originally conceived by
its protector. The interior presents a
l.byrinsh of pillars, rods. robes and tim
bers, with men thickly scattered. and
making the air resounG with the cla,,er
Of their implements. Visitors are ex-
cluded by a wooden enclosure. with gate
keepers, but the vicinity is daily visited
by increasing numbers. The summit
Of the Reservoir Is the favori,e look out
place. On Thursday week last no, less
than five thousand persons visited the
Reservoir TO avail themselves OF the pros.
peci ;here afforded.
The entire building is ready TO be roof.
ed, excepting the dome. The dome,
which is 100 feet in diameter, will be
supported BY "a IRON columns. Imme-
dia,rly over these is placed an iron trus-
sing, made 10 sustain massive cast iron
bed plate. on which res, the 80 ribs of
the dome. The ,ress:ng and bed-plate
are now being adjusted. and but few
days will be required to put The dome in
place. after these are arranged. This
done. the main floor will be speedily laid
down, the arrangement of goods CON-
mence, and the aspect Of ,hings be ma
terislly changed. The sides of The
dome will display 80 escu,cheons. in
eolored glass. representing the u. States
Coat Of Arms. and those of other ma
tions.
The floor timber and roof boards are
the only parts ,ha. will be of wood. and
10 render loss from fire impossible, there
are Is hydrants on the lower floor. and
the same number above. The quantity
of iron used in the construction of the
whole building will be nearly 400 tons.
There will be four spacious entrances to
the building. each having two flight Of
iron stairs leading 10 the galleries. The
stairs are already in their place. The
galleries. which are 81 feet wide, con.
lain $4,000 square feet, or about acre
and half; and the ground floor | 900
square feet. or about two acres and a
kalf-making total area of 10000
square feet. or nearly four acres.
The extreme length of the structure.
or of each of the arched nayes, forming
the transverse sections of the cross, is
365 feet; its height. from the ground to
the crown of the arch is 81 feet. or 10
the crown Of the dome l4s feet. and TO
the crown of the lantern surmounting
the dome l49 feet. Ventilation is am.
ply provided for in every part. On each
there are 372 cast iron ven,illaiors ar.
ranged to admit or exclude air, as may be
desired. besides yenlillatols near The roof
on every eide. .. ....t.... .-.. ...... +
The construction of the New York
palace reflects honor upon Mr.. Detmond
who devised and executed the plans up
on which is is bnilt. In poin, of sym.
merry, il is considered as surprising It's
London progeDi,or. As the various and
almost iEnumerable parts were made IN
half dozen different States, employing
eight different foundries, il is no easy
matter to insure accuracy IN their con-
siruc,ion, so that all shall exactly Gil the
place for which they were designed
Notwithstanding this difficulty. compar
ausely little detention has been expert
enred from this source. The palace
will cost abou, 100000.
A great quansny Of goods designed for
exhibition have already arrived from "a
broad. and are stored in the u. States
bonded warehouses. Over 1000 appli.
cations from exhibitors have been receis.
ed from this country alone. while those
from Europe number 1900. Of which
700 are from England. 500 from Ger
many. and 500 from France. We learn
shat SO restricted are the limits available
for exhibitors compared with the demand
that il has been determined 10 construct
other buildings. without the Palace, as a
means OF relief. The boilers with which
TO drive the machinery. are six in num-
Der, and forty fee, in length. placed in a
building distinct from the Palace. The
latter will be enclosed with sui,a-
Die railing.