Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-05
NUMBER 90.
ron THE AMERICAN ORGAN
Iron Interests--The Non-conducting Iron
sH R BuiIding.

i lhis new mVehuon ~ eAclLinB large snare OF
public attention. as well as some extrayagant spec
uations in regard to Its probable effect upon the
application of iron to architecture. Indeed, from
all accounts, IL seems not unlikely to effect revolu
ton in building as important as any which has
taken place in the other departments Of artisan
labor during the present century. The buildings
just erected, and now in process Of erection, In
the great commercial cities of the Union, Indicate
most unmistakably the tendencies towards purely
iron architecture
| The great abundance Of this material and its
general economy the facilities it offers for rapid
construction; its capabiity of assuming the forms of
the most elaborate carving at tithe Of the cx-
pense OF works in marble and other stones, and
finally its incombustibility, all seem to point to
1t as the material Of construction for the ener.
getic and progressive race that is now occupying
and developing the North American continent.
And nothing prevents its speedy and general adop-
tion for this purpose, but the practical difficulty in
applying 1t to the substantial portion of architec-
ture, resulting from some Of its elementary proper
ties these are its expansive and contractable ac-
ton under the influences Of heat and cold, and its
extraordinary conducting powers. The destructive
effects Of metallic action upon mechanical structure
is graphically portrayed in the following extract
| from writer on this subject .
"The first difficulty arising from this source Is
the comparatively slight but constantly disorgan-
izing force .exerted upon structures of iron or
other metals by expansion from solar heat and con
traction BY severe cold--a difficulty great in Eu-
rope, but much more formidable in this country,
where we have such extraordinary extremes Oh
temperature. A distinguished scientific gentleman.
speaking of this subject, refers to the monument
Colon de Ia Place Vendome, erected in honor Of
Napoleon the lst and covered with bronze made
from captured cannon. In this monument, be
says, there was experienced much trouble from,
contraction and expansion. The bronze plates.
firmly united by rivets, acted as one stupendons
sheet, and huckled under the suns rays IN most
extraordinary manner, acting as a real great py-
rometer.'
Although ingenious and complicated devices
may have partially overcome the effects Of expan-
sion arising from this source, they have been
wholly inadequate to overcome the much great
confiagrations. Iron buildings, as usually con.
structed, although expressly designed to resist
confagrations in compact cities have been wholly
inehcctuai for this purpose. II was found IN tbc
great fires at San Francisco that the iron columns
and frame work OF buildings were expanded and
thus warped and thrown out of line by the heat
of fires across the streets, and that the buillnps
were ruined even before contact of the fanies."
But this objection to the use of iron for the ex
terror walls Of buildings once obyiaLen -.afher pre
sented in Its extraordinary conducting po~--
which by transmitting heat and cold from the ex-
terror plates to the interior Of iron buildings must
render them the hottest in summer and the coldest
in winter This In itself is an insuperable objec-
ton to the Introduction Of iron, as ordinarily en-
ployed, in domestic architecture.
IA Ia hoxv vavar TINT tbagn Orpn
and Fundamental objections to iron as building
material may be obviated by the use Of nonconduc-
tors for the purpose Of intercepting the communi-
cation Of heat and cold from the exterior plates to
the skeleton framework, and through that to tho
interior of buildings we may reasonably expect a
new and wonderful impulse to be impaired to iron
building This new method of fre-proofng iron
architecture is especially exciting large share Of
attention in connexion with the proposed adoption
of iron rs n building material by the public author-
ties especially by the federal government.
The following powerful leader upon this subject
from the New York Courier and Enquirer, Is per-
haps one of the ablest articles upon the iron inter-
ests, which has ever emanated from the American
press. We understand that this invention is not
restricted merely to Mr. Colwe's plan Of building,
III WHICH CDuntAoh ~ hao uibheiso pttu hudSeu
by the newspapers, but is equally applicable to all
iron buildings consisting Of a skeleton framework
and weatherboarding Of plates; and we under
stand that measures are being concerted with tho
inventor by leading gentlemen in the iron interests,
TO render il generally available:
THK IRoN I9rgREsr.-we have always advoca-
ted the national Importance Of encouraging that
great branch Of American industry which is en-
n q. - l.~4G ~xfs-. L.... A.ll..
preciated the remark Of the classic German writer
on metallurgy 1.-THE preparation Of iron has be-
come the most essential branch Of industry, by the
immediate benefit il gives 10 the the producer, the
general benefits II yields 70 society, and the ad-
vantages Il offers to the consumer. No other
occupies 20 many hands, produces so active
circulation of money, or exerts so direct an infu-
ence upon the wealth Of the State and the COM
fort Of the people" We have seen With regret
that the producers ofiron In this country although
furnishing an article Of universal consumption, and
having at command inexhaustibe supplies of the
raw material, unsurpassed in excellence by any in
the world although displaying skill and enterprise,
and at times encouraged by extraordinary protec-
ton, have only periodically and at long intervals
enjoyed remunerative profits.
The cause Of the precarious prosperity Of the
iron trade Il 10 be found not only In the want Of n
permanent and judicious system of protection, but
In the greater want Of q regular demand for the
article produced commensurate with the means TO
supply. The iron interest, though stimulated by
the new demand created by the vast development
Of the railroad system has suffered proportonatey
from depending mainly upon enterprises which
have proved to be lamentably speculative and un-
certain and now, with the depression OF railroad
stocks and securities, find this interest," after.a
short food Of prosperity, again at its lowest ebb.
Amidst the gloom which overshadows this great
industry, we welcome any signs of the times which
give the promise of a speedy and permanent relief
Such relief we think, is distinctly indicated by the
new demand for iron now being created by its APP
plication to architecture. A new use, therefore,
for this great staple, universal in its character
tering II we're into the material structure of
cety, and from its nature less likely to be affected
by the foreign competition, which has operated so
disastrousy upon the domestic market for railroad
purposes, would secure the condition necessary for
the permanent success Of every branch Of produc.
| tive industry, namely that an adequate demand
L. .l.nt Ii. thn