The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1855-01-28

the Artificial Stone now in prepara-
ton at this place by Messrs. Williams
& Co. 1t appears that some clever
reader of the "Comet" doubling the
: qualities attributed to this article
grows anxious that the public may not
be misled BY appearances, and doliy-
ers himself in the following style:
Nr. "Comet Friendly to all le-
Ultimate Improvement in the arts and
sciences and believing that the foster
ing arm of the State ought to be
thrown around every thing that prom
ises any sort of return for its protec-
ton, [ consider that even the slightest
encouragement given to an unworthy
object is calculated to put stop to
any thing like substantial improve
nent and TO defeat all the efforts of
science. There is no doubt that ia.
ture may be improved by art and ev-
cry effort to do so ought to be sustain
ed, but that nature can be supplanted
by art aye will have its most essen
tial and important laws reversed by
art, is to say the least Of it extremely
doubtful. A scheme for Improvement
or discovery based upon a total dis
regard and even violation of natur-
al science ought to be adopted very
reluctantly. When such thing IS
proposed, its FEASIBILITY should not
depend on the opinions of men but be
substantiated by the severest scruti-
ny.
Now Sir, without moralizing any
further, let us investigate the case
which has been submitted to the pub
lie through your columns A com
pany Of gentlemen propose to make
artificial stone. They refer to speci-
mems to be found about town; and
publish testimonials. The object in
view, by these gentlemen, is to sell
quantity of this stone to the State for
building and paving purposes They
offer it as ali Improvement over brick
1t however will so far fail in that re-
speot, as not TO be worthy of notice. 1t
will do very well for "Cotton seed
stone" but it is no improvement On
any building material that has yet
been used. It may cost more, but is
not equal in durability to the "press
brick" and cannot begin to stand fire.
When wo examine the principles or
rather the want of principles upon
which it is founded, we can very read
ily account for its total iratatity. Ia
the first place it is not store, for it
las not the first principle Of one.
1t is law Of nature, not to be con
troverted, that silicious matter must
be reduced to state of figuifaction,
either by intense heat or solution, be-
fore it eau take the form Of rock-by
such a heat as no such process as the
gentlemen use, can produce, or by
solution viii h can be produced only
by certain acids In the second place
the materials used do not make such
4 combination as will withstand the
action Of fire, though it may resist
tropical heat. . In the third place,
here IS no necessity for the use of
sshes or rosin, to make stone.
You may rest assured, Mr., Comet,
here is some humbug in this ingre-
llent of cotton seed ashes. Why are
'otton seed ashes used in preference
9 any other ashesa Why would not
he ashes af corn cobs, or elder pith,
II tagas.e or any thing else do just us
veil If the Gotten seed ashes consti-
ute an indispensable ingredient, why
lot use them pure
Now the fact Of the business is this,
he lapis arti@m under consideration
5 nothing more than a paste. A
much better one is made every day
Without the use of cotton seed ashes
IF rosin. 1t is true that the article
ooks very much as one might sup-
'ose stone looks But when noticed
t all, does not look in reality like
ny thing Of the kind.
Compare the slabs in front Of the
apltol, with the old granite that stands
bove them. In the latter hornde-
lend fellspar and mica are blended
such beautiful proportions as to i'm
ress one with an idea Of the harmony