The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-01
RICHMOND MANUFACTURES.
Architectural Iron Works.

utt vi hOh III thS oiohoSoS VI GA
purposes to which it can be put-that of
modern architectural art. 1t is by the
beauty, grace, variety, and unity of archi-
tect lre among the ancients that we deter
mine the extent of their civilization, and
their relative strength and power as dis
tinct and separate peoples. We can trace
from the Assyrian, the Egyptian, and the
Grecian architecture, the history and pro-
gress of those nations far more legibly
upon their architectural ruins than from
any written records that have come down
to our times. In the light Of these ruins
in the majestic columns, the sculptured
walls, the ornate panellings, the pave
meated fioors-we can learn the daily
life of the Assyrians, how they fought
their battles, how cities were besieged and
won, and how their thoughts went up in
alteration to Supreme Ruler of the Uni
verse. Tr
We can see how from Egypt the architec-
tural art spread to Greece, and by what re-
fnements it passed from the rude and 81
gantic to the chaste and elegant. We can
trace also the decline and fall of nations in
the same archaeological light. The archi-
lecture of nations has survived all other
records of their past greatness and glory,
and the more imperishable the material
with which they wrought the grander and
more enduring the fame they have left be-
hind them. This is true Of all civilized
nations in the past, and must be equally
true of civilized peoples in the future.
Their architecture is the noblest work they
can leave behind them.
Tt has been reserved to our own day and
time to so master the possibilities of iron
as to rear the Hottest and most enduring
structures of that material. The Archi-
tectural Iron Works, of this city, under
the management of Messrs. Asa Snyder,
Richard Irby aud R. E. Haskins, is the
only establishment of the kind in the South.
Rarely has more difficult problem been
solved in the history of our race than that
of rearing the Hottest and most enduring
structures from molten iron. Since archi-
lecture first reached that degree Of order
and perfection to be classed as fine art,
no such wonderful step in ad.
vance has been made, short of
successive centuries of progress, as that
which has been attained in the last ten or
fifteen years in the use of molten iron. 1t
is adapted to almost every style of archi-
ecture, ancient and modern, and admits Of
everything light and airy as well as grand
and imposing. 1t is at once suited to the
dignitied simplicity Of the pure Grecian
models, and the more imposing grandeur Of
the Norman and Gothic sections and inter-
sections. even after these orders had re-
ceived ornament upon ornament and been
overloaded with profuse decoration in &c.
clesiastical structures. With no Other
material can such sweeping arches, such
flying buttresses, such vaulted ceilings
such skillfully-poised and lofty domes, b.
reached with equal facility, or anything
approaching it, as by the use Of iron. Il
accommodates itself to every use tc
which other materials can be put, and in al
durable structures secures equal lightnes!
and strength, with greater durability anG
firmness. Iron beams and Orders have
been used for Q considerable period Of tim'
in modern architecture; but it is only with
in the last few years that the daring concep
ton Of substituting iron for other materia
throughout the entire structure of tn
loftiest and most imposing edifce, was ef
fectually undertaken and achieved. To
certain extent, it has revolutionized the prin
ciples of modern architectural art, or intro
duced new problems and conditions whicl
were before entirely impracticable of solu
ton. b
In the extensive establishment of Messrs
Snyder and Irby, the amount of architec
tural homework now being turned out j
greatly in excess of any previous demand
Besides filling orders fortwo large iro
fronts in Lynehburg, and large amour
of iron-work for Goldsboro. N. c., the
are supplying the material for some five 0
six new iron buildings, in different stage
Il of progress, in this city, The new build
ing commenced next to the Spottswood
on Main street, is to be of iron, and til
work is being rapidly got out by this CON
pany. Shafer's new iron building, on tn
corner of Bank and Tenth streets, is supple
with material from this establishment
The large buildng, now going up on tn
corner of Main and Eleventh streets, ha
its splendid iron front from the Richmon
Architectural Iron Works. The ne
Banking House being put up by Messrs
Isaacs, Taylor and Williams, on the corne
of Main and Thirteenth streets, has il
elaborate iron work of window caps
balustrades, galvanized iron cornice.
columns, etc., from the same establish
z ment. j. II. Gardner's new store, 0
: Main street, near Fourteenth, an entil
: iron front, is also from these works an
! the fine building recently completed Q
] Main street, just below Fourteenth, IT
] ceiYed its iron columns, cornices, windo'
: caps and trimmings from the same estat
/ lishment. ~ a 3"l
I | ~, A ID. 90 '-tlEy u