The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-09-17

interior surfaces is only necessary nterpose non-co-
ductng substances at the points of contact Thus the
whole frame ffom expansion and contraction in
medium of equal temperature BY this simple and happy
arrangement all those formidable difficulties which seem
undere the whole system OF iron architecture obv-
ated. With roof constructed upon the principle
and with double shutters filled with non-conductng sub
stance have the perfect application OF the principle
the yeroof safe buildings and accomplished the
greatest desideratum of urban architecture This building
is not only re-proof but ightngproof il Is wees-
tabshed that buildings composed principally Of iron are
| never struck by lightning.
The skeleton blocks and other materials OF this building
instead of being adapted TO only particular
style of architecture be applied building
| removed from another They in short become a
subject of commerce, and building upon this plan be-
comes the work of days instead of months and years
present
The great practical Importance of this invention will be
more fully apparent from review of of the eonsid-
erations which influence the present in iron
architecture This is the result of caprice
or accident but IS based upon the exgencies of modern
civilization.
One of the principal recommendations of the iron build
ing to the people of the United States already stated is
the great facility and rapdty OF construction To peo
pie like ours, whose mission is the settlement and deve
opment TO its highest condition of the whole North
American continent who desire to build whole cities lin
other countries the work OF centuries in year time is
everything Yet building still continues to be with
slow and difficult process. In every other department Of
industrial effort the wonderful agencies of steam and
chnery annhilatng space and time yet IN architec
ture which arrived perfection in ha-cvilized commu
mites we have made Improvement Look at the Pat
en Office and Capitol extension, and you see the work
conducted by the same mere manual appliances and at the
snail-ke pace with the ancient Egyptians and
Greeks The last remnant of old ogysm in our indus
trial pursuits is in architecture.
Another recommendation OF the iron building is lis in
combusbility Every city of our Union has been de
stroyed by fire and rebuilt since the establishment of the
federal government Now the destruction Of cities by
fire in the United States double loss to the aggregate
national wealth. compared with that by fire in the old
countries already developed their utmost capacity be-
cause the effort and money devoted the work of rec
mara he led
immense capital invested in the insurance business in
of the general introduction of iron buildings prop
erly consdered would he employed IN the development
Of our material resources
Another advantage of the iron building its economy
Although the present cost of an iron building upon Mr.
Colwels pan,) the present high price of iron would
probably be equal to that of a plain brick building yet
the exterior ornament which is important an item in
the expense of building of any pretenscns does not
ccpt in slight degree affect the question OF economy
building with the architectural ornament of the Smithso
MAN Institution General Post Office could be erected
with little expense than plain brick building of
equal dimensions, and at fourth part OF the expense OF
the buildings in question:
But it chiefly in its collateral advantages that the great
economy of building in iron consists There is no loss Of
building material Mt least upon the Colwe PLAN in
it is required to down and rebuild the house The
skeleton blocks and exterior plates can be applied to
any building and ut the worst can be old IRON
This is peculiarly important here as IN no other country
is so much building performed by the persons in diff
erent conditions of fortune and nowhere the same amb
ton for architectural display.
vesa application to iron in building which renders cities
ncombustibe and makes the richest ornament compatible
with strict economy will not only mark in arch
lecture but will connect itself with the great material in
eress of the country intimately of those
brilliant discoveries which have given character to the
age The perfect iron building is in fact natural adjunct
to the steam engine railroad and electric telegraph for
in all those countries which have been developed by these
great agents mark corresponding movement towards
the introduction of iron architecture. 1t is striking
coincidence that all the great inventions of modern times
involve some application Of iron, thus verifying the
remark that ron the basis of the worlds material pros
perv and its production and consumption of
the civilization Of nations"
IRoS ARcHITEoruEE---The communication upon the SUBJ
ect of Mr. Cowells improvement in iron buildings ap-
pears very worthy of public attention The whole
subject of iron architecture is intimately associated with
material interest of the country whether considered in
nexion with the general economy in building or highly
important branch of manufacturing productive indus
try We take pleasure therefore in opening columns
the of invention protesting obviatc
those difficulties which have heretofore been experienced in
the application of iron 10 architectural purposes.
Intsliigsneer,