The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-04-08
Glass Houses.

Perhaps Dot one builder or contractor in
ten. if told that the common grades Of
glass made a: the glass factories in this city
have crushing strength nearly four times
as great a. that credited by experienced en-
gineers to the strongest quality Of granite.
would accept the statement aS true. Yet
it is fact, and being ~, the query as Ia
why glass has not received mere attention.
from architects as structural material
naturally suggests itself \ reporter had
talk with several prominent glass manu-
faciurers on the subject, and in answer TO
an interrOgstoFy as to whether blocks Of
glass could b. made in suitable lengths and
sizes and - anneals,i a to be utilized in
the construction Of building in place Of
stone. they said il could be done Said
one Of these gentlemen This question
has been considered BY myself number Of
times. and although | do not want TO ad-
vocate the absolute abolition Of brick and
stone. We, in the erection of art galleries,
memorial buildings etc. structure eom-
posed Of blocks Of glass in prismstic es,lors
would he a unique beautiful, and lasting
structure. With the numerous inventions
which have eome into use Of late years IN
connection with the production Of glass,
the e,st has been gradually going down,
while the quality Of the fabric Is steadily
becoming hetter
-uue ohicc;ion which would be raised
to the durability of a GAS house, in the
literal sense 0f the words might be that
ihs hlocks would not take bind. or sdhere
together with cuIamon mortar This ol,-
jeViion eau be readily =, aside by the uSe
oF a gss-i cement, and when completed the
structure viii stand ior ages, barring ex.
traortlinary acrideu,s As To the cc~t of a
giass house. il eau be kept down To a small
perccniage above the prScc 1t oar cut
granite In building with ssone you have
20 tsy the Stone masoRs, and when il comes
to elaborate cxanple> of carving in CORN
THAN pillars. oellaF-, capitals. etc, why the
work i rather o,sstly a. c0mIaped with
gizse. when the latter can be moulded into
any shape az form, and the work accom-
pllshesl in mueh icss time i am cnnyinced
that the time will coIae whea we will see
such a huildiug erceicd Scarcely a day
pAsso- bat shat the sphere of glass n an
article of sise becomes wideued
In yessts of Germany and on one line IN
England glass ties are being used on rail
roads, and thus far have given satisfaction,
eonbiniug all Of the requisites Of wood-
en- ties with the yirtue II being susceptible
L. usage at least twenty-five per cent.
longer than wood Then BY the BastFa
proc,=ss gIes articles arr nov being made
for cotninen usc which can BE- thrown ON
the fees and viii rebound like a rubber
ball Progress + akso being made towards
rendering glass, which has ever been char
acterised a. the brittle fabric, dactilc, and
TO-DAY threads Of glass can be made that
can be tied in knots and woven in cloth.
Were one disposed to give play TO fancy
and fuse il into fact, house entirely eom-
passed of glass could be built with walls.
and n.of, and aoors fashioned from melted
sand Carpets Of glass could cover the
hooss The must ultra aSthete sitting GA
glass chairs or reclining ON glass eouehes,
arrayed in glass garments. eating and drink
ing from glass dishes, such one could NJ
alize that the age Of glass had come. Yet
nearly al of this Fifty years ago would have
been elassed with the then impossible tele-
phone and electric light, aud this state
ment would have likely found It's way in
the Catalogue ExpargatoFos- - IfttsbgTg.
Pa. Dispatch.