Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-04-17
Iron as a building Material.

Iron as a Building Material.
resolution having been passed by the United States SEN
ate during ite last session. nstrucng the Committee Man
to INQUIRE far would be practicable and
maternal in the construction Of the various public edces
report has made highly favorable to its extensive for
these In the opinion OF the committee few of the
and discoveries of the age promises
results than the substitution of iron in the consruc
that beauty durability polish and susceptibility of
namenGton. it superior to other material except
marble In the infancy of iron constructions the report
failed from its natural untness for the which it
applied and prejudice thus created against It's u.e
but when the researches Stephenson
BARN. referance to the great tubular bridge over the
Mena Srs had fully developed the appropriate provinces
Of that BRIDGE followed by the palaces In London and
New York. had fully demonstrated the adaptabiity and
remove few mechanical dhcultie in order to secure the
general of in all rstcass structures One of the
most formidable difficulties encountered arose from the exPen
sve and contracte nature of the metal causing dspace
ment of materials with change of temperatures but it
appears that this has been wholly overcome.
" By cheap simple, and convenient process lately in
vented and by of which the columns &c
embedded in clay se other nonconductor Of heat
they completely isolated and longer liable to the
pansion which rendered iron next to useless as building ma
stated both simple and cheap your committee inform
ed that the Secretary of the Treasury has lately
I& tne srfcGn OF ene & % a. sS M hS 1
the erection this edce iron brought into competition
with brick the result dscoses the fact that an entire iron
building completely fire and lightning proof with beautiful
external veneeTng resembling appearance
the marble veneeng facing of the Capitol extension may
be erected IN many localities cheaper than an edce OF COM
mon brick.'
serted between the outward and inward ngs of the walls
by which the temperature within is rendered comparatively
equabe at all seasons.
ing purpose not less than 49, 900 pounds having been
used by the United States Treasury Department alone
chef) the committee express satisfaction at the prospect
that impulse will be given the iron trade which will
largely increase the production and at the time pro-
the prosperity of this important branch of American in
dusry In lecture delivered not long since by Mr. Hew-
considered the standard by which the progress of civza
ton measured In concluding their report they remark that
with the erection of public edces of kinds has
been made with entire success 30 far as regards strength
developing this branch of national industry and putting
permanent basis provided its future growth not
impeded by any partial legislation to its disadvantage"
A Garden Novelty.
The Egyptian pea is instance of vegetable re.
surrecon, at least resuscitation tits fragment
of the old life of Egypt-a true type of the luxurious
fertility of the classic country of the Nile, and
ques,ionaby the most truly historical of any escuent
we possess. The circumstances that led to the dis.
covery of this companion of mummes and inhabitants
of pyramids, are in themse interesting as the
plant itself is distinct from very known member of
lis useful family During tls explorations of Egypt
by Sir Gardiner Wilkinson, vase was found 10
mummy pit, the age of which was computed at about
three thousand years. This vase, Theoretically seal
ed, was presented to the British Museum Mr.. Pet
tigrew, the Librarian to the late Duke of Sessex pro-
ceeded to open the TO ascertain its contents, and
in so doing unfortunately broke 1t in pieces. The
interior contained of dust, and few grains of
wheat and vetchcs, and on examining further few
peas found, entirely shrivelled, of resin yell
low color, and hard as stone. 1t was known that
mummy wheat had been resusctaed after inter-
ment of five thousand years and it was determined
that the first peas ever found in mummy vase
should be subjected 10 the experiment of revival
Mr.. Pettigrew accordingly distributed amongst his
learned friends these desscated peas resevng three
for himself mere curiosities.
Those who tried to grow the peas failed, and no
more was thought about them till the remaining
three were given to Mr.. Grimstone, of Highgate.-
MI. Grmsone tried his hand at them, subjected
them TO heat and moisture, and after thirty days,
miserable plant appeared above ground. By patient
care and ingenious culture, this plant was brought
to produce nineteen pods, which were ripened and
planted the next year and this the foundation
of the stock which is just beginning to be known
the Egyptian pea. Botaniss as much delighted
as antiquarans at the of the experiment, for
it gave them variety of the greatest value and
most distinct character lis blossom is unlike every
other pea; it more nearly resembles bell than the
wings of butterfly, and is vened with green lines
on white ground. The blossoms break at every
JOINT in clusters Of two four and eight, and
ceeded by pods that protrude crookedy through
them, each pod containing from five to ten peas,
which, when cooked. are deliciousy favored, and
melt in the mouth like marrow in fact there is no
pea 10 equal it; so that dusty Egypt has conferred
upon u.s. through those few shriveled seeds, pala.
tial benedction.-NotaonaI Magazine.
THE LAND FEVER IN THE WEsr.-The St. Louis
Courier speaks of stringent money market in that
city, and thus refers 10 the cause
1.-The mania for buying lands, not only by original
entry from the government, but by the farmer pur-
chasing from his neighbor-who takes the money
and to the distant territories, an then again
invests has money in lands, bought from
government, which is producing arrangement in our
monetary afairs-in word, the prominent cause of
this great stringency is speculation in lands and town
lots, and if this continues, and progresses rapidly
as it has done for the past two years. crsis must
inevitably come"
UDiess this fever is checked some serious disaster
will be inevitable 1t is impossible for individuals 10
become spectators, and at the same time TO attend
properly to their regular pursuits.
LAGER B1ER.-A lager bier festival of brewers
from New York, Philadelphia. Newark Hoboken,
! Wilmington, and other places, held in New York
| last week, when premium was awarded to Messrs
Glaatz & Kueber, for the best bier, which was sold
TO the visitors at shilling per glass-hree times
the usual price. The medal or premium awarded, is