Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-09-28

We attended re:ontly an informal meeting
OF business men, at the auction rooms OF
NJ. N. Croft, Court street Brook lyn, n. Y.
at which Mr.. Sexton, the inventor OF new
plan OF iron buildings, explained his system.
He constructs the framework Of his build
ings entirely Of cast iron, in sections, which
are made to in'erlock by very close fitting
and ingenious JOINTS, secured by keys. This
method OF building avoids the labor Of drill
inc and boiling, which has been great ill.,
convenience OF iron buildings. 1t also allows
the house to be taken down in sections, and
removed at IL very little expense. He covers
the framework on the outside with plates OF
iron, by a-smIar system Of inter ocking, with
out any bolts or other lastenugs, the joints
being packed with gutta pertha, SO as to
exclude water under hydraulic pressure. To
finish the doye-tailings Of the Joints, he has
invented Il machine that can pre.orm the
work OF forty men. The walls are made,
hollow, and the enclosed space is flied III
with non-conducting composition Of beach
sand and other substances, so that, as Mr..
sexton observed, his house becomes, when
finished, a perfect freproof safe.
The roofs and floors are made OF cast-iron
irames., resembling heavy window sashes,
the intarstlces being occupied as in the case
of windows, with p tdeS IF glass, of any re-
qured thickness and transparency. The
glass used is not our common glass, but is
i'll itself new and valuable invention, be-
ing called molrdLie gla's, from its wonder
ful property Of toug hncss allowing it to bend
freely without breaking. 1t can be drawn
out into threads OF any fneness, aud so
strong and flexible that they are said to he
commencing the manufacture Of piano and
violin strings from this material. Mr.. Sexton
handed round piece OF this glass string for
inspection 1t was as small as the Il string
Of IA violin, and could be bent around the
finger, or tied in Il knot, apparently like
catgut.
Plates of this glass being let into the
framework Of the floors, the whole is then
covered over with peculiar transparent &C.
ment Of Mr.. Sextons invention, which makes
the whole floor look like one solid plate OF
glass. The cost Of of roofing with this mate
rial is seventy cents per square foot. The
walls inside CAN he covered with plaster, or
finished with iron or glass, at the option of
the builder. All the interior ornamcntation,
such as mantle-pieces, pannels, &C., may be
Of mallcabc glass.
The advantages claimed for this style OF
building are, first, its great cheapness, and
the rapidity with which it allows Of cons,ruc.
ton. 1t effects saving of one-third the
cost, and three-fourths the labor, over every
other method. Mr. Sexton stated that he
could complete an ordinary Westinghouse in
forty days. Second the variety Of STYLE and
finish that can be obtained at small cost. bv
different combinations Of the same pattern
The inventor remarked that in the copstruc.
ton OF the whole Crystal Palace, but six
different patterns were required. Third.
the facility with which such a building can
be taken down and removed. Fourth, its
security from damage by fire or lightning
thus saving all the expense of insurance.
Other incidental advantages are, its durabii-
ty, freedom from vermin, &c.-N. Y Lro.
der.