The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-03-11
GLASS HOUSES.
From the Pitts6Hrg Ui$Patch.

From the Pttsj,rq Uixpatch.
Perhaps not one builder OF contractor
in ten. if told that the common grades
of glass made ut the glass factories in
this city have a crushing strength nearly
four times as great as that credited by
experienced engineers to the strongest
quality of granite. would accept the state
ment as true. Yet it is fact. aud being
SO. the query as to why glass has not re-
ceived more attention from architects as
a structural matela! naturally suggests
itself 4 reporter had a talk with sew
eral prominent glass manufacturers on
the subject, and in answer to an inter
rogatory as to whether blocks of glass
could be made III suitable lengths and
sizes and so annealed as to be utilized in
the construction of building in place of
stone. they said it could beAone. Said
one Of these gentlemen: = This question
has been considered by myself a numi er
of times. and. although do not want to
advocate the absolute abolition Of brick
and stone, yet in the erection of art gal
leries, memorial buildings, etc. a stiuc-
ture composed of blocks OF glass in pris-
matte colors would he a unique. heauti-
ful, and lasting structure. With the
numerous inventions which have come
into use of late years in connection with
Al L r
gradually going down. while the quality
of the fabric is steadily becoming better.
Zone objection which would he raised
to the durability of a glass house, in the
literal sense of the words, might be that
the blocks would not take bind. OF ad-
here together with common mortar.
This objection can be readily set aside
by tue use of a good cement, and when
completed the structure will stand for
ages, barring extraordinary accidents.
As to the cost Of a glass house, it can be
kept down to a small percentage above
the price of our cut granite. In build
ing with stone you have to pay the stone
naSOnS. anu With IL tuiitS 10 tItbofdtc
examples of carving in Corinthian pill
lars. collars, capitals, etc. why the work
is rather costly as compared with glass,
when the latter can be nodded into any
shape or form, and the work accom-
pished in much less time. | am con
WINGED that the time will come when we
Al, hui
ly a day passes but what the sphere Of
glass as an article of use becomes wild
ened.
In parts of Germany and on one line iii
England glass ties are being used on
railroads, and thus far have given salts
faction, combining all of the requisites
of wooden ties with the virtue Of being
susceptible to usage at least twenty five
per cent, longer than wood. Then by
the Bastra process glass articles are now
being made for common use which can
be thrown On the floor and will rebound
like rubber ball. Progress is also be
ing made toward rendering glass. which
has ever been characterized aS the brit
tie iebric, ductiie and to-day threads of
glass can be made that can be tied in
knots and woven into cloth.
Were one disposed to give play to farcy
and fuse it into fact. a 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 one could realize that the age of
glass had come. Yet nearly all of this
fifty years ago would have been classel
with the then impossible telephone and
electric light. an this statement would
have likely found its way in the = Gaia
logue Expurgatoros.