The sun., 1881-12-04
HOUSES MaDE or Glass.
The Brittle Substance Better for BuilAin0
Purposes than stone.


Perhaps not one builder or contractor in
ten. II told that the common grades OF glass
made Mt the glass tactories in this city have 4
crushing strength nearly four times as great as
that credited bv experienced engineers 10 the
strongest quality OF granite. would accept the
statement as true rue Ia. II Is fae, and being so:
attention from architects ne n structural mate.
rinl naturally suggests itself. a reporter had
on the subject. AMI in answer to an inferrog.
atory as to whether blocks Of ulss could be
nnnenled ns to bc utilized in tho construc.
tion OF abu ildinV In place Of stone. they said
thnt it could be done. Said one of these, een,le-
men: This question has bean considered by
myself number OF times. and. although do
not wantt to advocate. tho absolute abolition OF
brick and stone. vet In the erection Of nrt gal
leri"s. memorial buildings. &C.. u structure
composed OF blocks OF glnss in urisnntic colors
iure. With the numerous Inventions which
have come into use OF late yenrs in connection
with the production OF glass. the cost has been
gradually going down. while tho quality Of the
fabric is siaad ~ b.roninv b",ter.
One objection which would ps raised to the
of the words. mirht bs that tue blocks would
not take bind; or adhere together with com.
mon mortar. This Obj seton can be readily set
aside by thu uso Of II good roment. and whom
completed the structure will stand for ages.
barring extraordinary accidents. As to tho cost
OF II glass house. II can he Kept down 10 but
small prrcentngn above tho price of cut granite.
In building with stouo you have to pny the
stone innsons. and when it comes to elaborate
lars and capitals. &C.. why. the work is rather
costly as CONF ared with uiass. when the latter
moulded into any shape, or form. and the
WORK accomplished in nlnch less iine am
convinced thnt the time will come when We will
see such building erected. scarcely day
passes but what III" sphere of glnsa rs IN articls
Of use becomes wl,ienoh.. In parts o. Germany
and one line IN ENGLAND glass ties aro being
used on railroads. and thus far have given
satisfaction. combining all OF the requisites of
wooden ties with N. virtue Of being susceptible
u usage nj leust a. Der cent longer thnn wood.
Then ny the Bhs.tn process glass articles are
now being ma,iv for common use which can be
thrown on the i!lor and will rebound like a
rubber ball. Progress is also beng made
toward rendering glass, which has ever
been charncterizsd as tho brittle, fabric
durtile. and To-day threads OF glass eau
ba made that can be tied in knots and woven
into cloth. We're one disposed TO give play TO
fancy nni fuse 1t into fact u hous. entirely
composed of glass could be built with walls aud
roof and loors fashioned from melted sand.
Carpets Of glass could cover the iloors. The
most ultra Rsthete. sitting On glass chairs
or recllpig On glass couch"s. arrayel in glass
garments. eating and drinking from glass
dishes. such one could rualizs that the age
OF glass had come. Yet nearly ali Of this fifty
years ago would have been cGssed with the
then impossible telephone aud eectric light.
Rud this statement would have likely found its
place IN the catalogue eXpurgutoros."