Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-10
HOUSES MADE OF GLASS.
The Brittle Substance Better for Build
Ing Purposes Than Stone.
From the PittsburR Dspatch.

The Brittle Substance Better for Build
ing Purposes Than stone.
From the Httsburg Dispatch.
Perhaps not one builder or contractor in ten
If told that the common grades of glass made at
the glass factories in this city have a crushing
strength nearly four times as great as that cred
tied by experienced engineers to the strongest
quality of granite, would accept the statement
as true. Yet it is fact, and. being SO, the query
as to why glass has not received more attention
from architects as structural material natur-
ally suggests itself. A reporter had talk with
several prominent glass manufacturers on the
subject and in answer to an interrogatory as to
whether blocks of glass could be made in suit
able lengths and sizes and so annealed as to be
utilized in the construction of building in
place of stone, they said that it could be done
Said one OF these gentlemen: ''This question
has been considered by myself number of
times, and, although do not want to advocate
the absolute abolition of brick and stone, yet in
the erection of art galleries, memorial build
lngs. DC. a structure composed of blocks OF
glass in prismatic coiOrs would be unique.
beautiful and lasting structure. With the num-
erous inventions which have come into use o!
late years in connection with the production OF
glass the cost has been gradually going down.
while the quality Of the fabric is steadily becom-
ing better.
lone objection which would be raised to the
durability OF glass house. i'm the literal sense
OF the words, might be that the blocks would
not take bind, or adhere together with con-
mon mortar. This objection can be readily set
aside by the use OF a good cement. and when
completed the structure will stand for ages bar
ring extraordinary accidents. As to the cost of
glass house, it can be kept down to but a small
percentage above the price of cut granite. In
building with stone you have to pay the stone
masOns, and when it comes to elaborate exam
pies OF carving. in Corinthian pillars collars
and capitals &c, why, the work is rather costly
as compared with glass. when the latter can be
moulded into any shape or form. and the work
accomplished in much less time. I am con-
WINGED that the time will come when we will
see such building erected Scarcely day
passes but what the sphere of glass as an arti-
Gle OF use becomes widened. In parts of Ger
many and one line in England glass ties are being
USED on railroads. and thus far have given sat
isfaction. combining all of the requisites of
wooden ties with the virtue of being susceptible
to usage at least IS per cent longer than wood
Then by the Bastia process glass articles are
now being made for common Use which can be
thrown on the floor and will rebound like a
rubber ball. Progress is also being made
toward rendering glass, which has ever
been characterized as the brittle fabric ductile,
and to-day threads OF glass can be made that
can be tied in knots and woven into cloth.
"eie o!e uiSpostu 10 give pay 10 fancy ana
fuse 1t into fact house entirely composed of
glass could be built with walls and roof and
floors fashioned from melted sand. Carpets OF
glass could cover the floors. The most ultra
aesthetic. sitting on glass chairs or reclining on
glass couches, arrayed in glass garments eating
and drinking from glass dishes, such a one
could realize that the age of glass had come
Yet nearly all of this fifty years ago would have
been classed with the then impossible telephone
and electric light. and this statement would
have likely found its place in the catalogue