The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-01-09
HOUSES MADE OF GLASS.
The Brittle Substance Better for Building
Purposes than Stone.
From the Pittsburp Dispatch s5t - ri n

4. = \
The Brittle Substance Better for Building
Purposes than Stone.
From the Rttsburg Dispatch, s
Perhaps not one builder or contrac-
tor in ten, if told that the common
grades of glass made at the glass fac
tories in this city have crushing
strength nearly four times as great as
that credited by experienced engineers
to the strongest quality of granite would
accept the statement as true. Yet it is
a fact. and being so, the query as to
why glass has not received more atten-
ton from architects as a structural
material naturally suggests itself. A
reporter had a talk with several promi-
nent glass manufacturers on the subject
and in answer to an interrogatory as to
whether blocks of glass could be made
in suitable 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 gen.
tlemen; "This question has been con-
sidered by myself number of times,
and, although l do not want to advo-
cate the absolute abolition of brick and
stone, yet in the erection of art CALLER
les, memorial buildings, etc., a struct-
ure composed of blocks Of glass in
prismatlc colors would be an unique,
beautiful and lasting structure. With
the numerous inventions which have
come into use of late years in connec-
ton with the production of glass, the
cost has been gradually going down,
while the quality of the fabric is stead
lily becoming better.
Zone objection which would be
raised to the durability ola glass-house,
in the literal sense of the words, might
be that the blocks would not take
bind, or adhere together with common
mortar. This object can be readily set
aside by the use of a good cement, and
when completed the structure will stand
for ages, barring extraordinary acci-
dents. AS to the cost of a glass house.
it can be kept down to but 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 examples
of carving in Corinthian pillars, collars
and capitals, etc., why, the work is
rather costly as compared with glass.
when the latter can be moulded into
any form, and the work accomplished
in much less time. l am convinced
that the time will come when we will
see such buildinger ected. Scarcely
day passes but what the sphere OF
glass is widened. In parts of Germa-
ny and one line in England glass ties
are being used on railroads, and thus
far have given entire satisfaction, COM
bining all Of the requisites of wooden
ties, withe virtue of being susceptible
to usage at least IS per cent. longer
than wood. Then. by the Bastia pro-
cess, 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 brit
tie fabric, due lie, 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 fancy and
fuse it into fact, house entirely COM
posed 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.re-
Ginning on glass touches, arrayed in
glass garments, eating and drinking
from glass dishes, -sssch one could
realize that the age Of glass had come.
Yet nearly "A Of this 50 years ago
would have been classed with the then
Impossible telephone and electric light
and this statement would have Ike
found its place in the catalogue eS
gatoros." {
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