The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-12-17
Arc hitctural Glass :.
Chicago Times.

There is some discussion in various scien-
tifc journals as to the new uses to which
glass Is being put, although the discussion
does not amount to anything like q differ
ence of opinion as to probable results, but re-
lates chiefly to the limits which may be at
tained by the new product. II is not long
since there was discovered method Of tenn
pering glass whereby 1t can be used for al
most any end that IL now served by the en-
ployment Of wood and iron. What Is known
as the Sieman process tempers glass so that
It can be used as the ties of railroads, and
II this be the case there is no reason why 1t
should not be extended almost without linn
it. Tempered glass can be obtained in great
pieces, gifted with a power of resistance that
Its specific lightness, compared with heavy
metals, would not have given the least pre-
sumption. It can now be employed, notably
in carpentry, for posts, ioists, buttresses and
ties. 1t combines the advantages Of
strength and incorruptibility incohtat with
atmospheric agents, as wen as of chemical
factors, and consequently Is Of perpetual
duration 1t is comparatively very cheap,
| being now, at the outset, no more expensive
1 than iron Of fthe same weight and of course
| as the demand increases there will be a de-
cline in price until 1t IL as cheap as wood
4 m There Is no doubt that the house and the
household utensils Of the future will be q
i material modification of those now in exis-
II tence.a There are scores Of things In the
constuction Of house which, II made Of
glass would be great Improvement over the
materials now In use. This class Of temper
ca glass, II 1t be available for railroad tie
and the like would be available for roofing
houses u any one knows who has any
IknowIedee Of the necessities Of construction
i there Ii ANY number Of occasions In whicl
this would be OF the greatest possible advan
! ltage. One OF thedifEiculties attending build
!. ing I'M cities is the sacrifice Of valuable spsc
/ which has 30 OTTER, to be made In order to SC
J cure light The roof and the various floor
! might be made Of glass, and 1t is not beyon
| | the possibilities Of the situation that th
walls could be constructed Of this rnateria
! in which case we should have a buildin
! which, in the matter Of lighting, would b
. perfection. Such walls would be transls
! cent, and while they would thus admit u
4 passage Of light they would not permit .,
d | jects to be seen through them, 50 that viii
. they would have, aII the advantages Of beir
! perfectly lighted they would be IS impery
] on d brick wall to all impertinent obse
! tyation. H
/ / But even II this material should not CON
into general use for the construction VI q
tire buildings h could be made to play am1
important part in the mater Of decoratio
% As 10 known, glass can be colored 70 ~
p shade Of any hne,f and In this variegat,
n form its ornamcntai' would be practi
n ally without limit. For arches, for interi
ss columns, stsirways. cornices, centerpiect
!, land all that kind Of purpose, Il would be /
le sdy ance of al material now used Tor til
h Ipurposs. And then Il ID prohsblyit the q
ID that mSny of the projecting features Of &
= exterior of = building might b made
1 glass OF any desired color, and which, In I
n sun, would produce MI sorts OF iridesce
Or effects that would give TO . residence ali y
ne appearances Or . fairy palace.