The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-08-27

TIS AND SHEEr.IROS.-The Wheeling
Female College building is being reeoy-
cred with 4 substantial roof Of the best
charcoal tin, and B. +. Caldwell, the con-
tractor, expects to have the lob COM
pleted by the Sd Of September. There
will be required in the work about 5000
square feet Of tin, and the work Of pre-
pairing It for the roof was only COM
menced on Wednesday last. This only
gives the contractor seven days, and will
require the quickest kind OF work if he
fuliills his contract.
In locking through Mr.. Caldwell's
shops We observed in progress the pre-
paration Of the cornice and other orna-
mental work for the new building now
being erected on the southeast corner Of
Market and 10th streets. While it would
take much space and time for US to de-
scribe the mOdus operRndi Of construct
ing this ornamental sheet-iroR work, it
would not DO half so satisfactory or in
teresting to our readers as few mo.
ments personal observation Of the pro.
cess, which is, after al, very simple, not
withstanding the elaborate appearance
Of the finished work. As the shoWmen
say, it is all done by slight turn Of the
wrist, and is easy enough when you know
how. Mr.. Caldwell was the first OF our
Wheeling mechanics to introduce gal
vanized iron cornices, window caps, and
other moulded work, to the attention Of
our people, and, although but little over
year has elaRSed, it has become very
popular, and is fast taking the place Of
ali wood work, and even OF stone work to
considerable extent,
The sheet-iron cOrnice and ornamental
work for the outside Of buildings is one
Of those advances in architecture which
may be said to have been q success from
the start. The advantages are so palpa-
bic as to be readily appreciated by the
public. For ornamentalion, the iron, on
account Of its aexibility, is capable Of
very wide range Of intricate and beautiful
designs which cannot be executed either
In wood or in stone except at an enOr-
nous cost, and 50 far rs the wood is con.
cerned, at an increased hazard In case Of
fire. All the ornamental sheet.iron work
on building forms an additional security
against fire, which in all cities and large
towns is a prime consideration,
In addition to the security thus afford
ed against fire there Is the consideration
OF cost which Is much less than stone
work and but little, II any, more than
wood. In the matter Of durability the
galvanized iron work has given the
highest satisfaction in portions Of the
country where II has been in use for some
years, showing no sign Of rust or dete-
fioration from Climactic influences. That
which has been exposed for over u year
to the influence Of our sulphurOus at
mOsphere shows not the slightest detect,
and successfully bids defiance TO its cor
rosive properties,
Mr.. Caldwell has one shop entirely de-
voted to the manufacture Of this sheet
iron work. II Is superintendCd by Mr..
Geo. A. Sanders, formerly Of Dayton,
Ohio, an experienced and accomplished
workman in this particular line. Mr.. @.
has on hand, we noticed, very large sup
ply Of the pressed work, which is made us
an exclusive specially In some Eastern
factories. It Is in the combination Of
these pieces, formed after the most elabo-
rate and beautiful patterns into unique
architectural designs, that Is shown the
highest skill OF the workman.
We are glad to see that the enterprise
OF Mr.. Caldwell Is seconded by our build.
Ing citizens in the general adoption Of the
galvanized iron cornice and other outside
ornamental work. It's comparative cheap
ness, its capacity for high ornamentation,
It's durability, and above all It's security
against fire, should secure its adoption to |
the exclusion Of all woodwork from the |
exterior Of buildings.