New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-22

pr4sed to find how easily Il can be Gone. TIA
chief element entering into the construction OF
our glass house would be glass bricks, which
weight yet the .0 are much stronger t6an o o e
nary bricks made of clay.
They are absolutely inpervtous 70 water and
they are non-conductors Of sound and heat. Our
prospective builder will see at once the obvious
advantages over ordinary building materials In
durability, in protection from outside noise and
These blown glass bricks are, OF coursa
Opaque so the dweller in the glass house viii
enjoy just as much privacy as in any other
They are Theoretically sealed when Eedhot and
so are perfectly clean and proof against all
disease germs.
For foundations a material called stone glss,
should be used. This has three times the re-
sisting power Of granite in crushing straIns
The roof will be Of glass tiles, which can now
be obtained in any desired color End which
would add 4 charming effect Of cblOr 20 the
completed house.
Inside the house practically all fixtures and
fnishings viii be made Of glass. All the plumb
ing. all water pipes, gas pipes, sewer pipes, all
f1ues for heating and COnduits for electric wires
Will be of glass. And this VIII insure not only
greater cleanliness, but as we'll greater safety.
for such glass pipes are fireproof
Besides the pipes, drains. etc, the fixtures 70
be made of glass VIII include sinks washtubs
basins and bathtubS. OF course. the floors and
stairs will be OF glass. And window shutters
and doors could be made Of the same material
If desired.
IF after seeing the success OF his experiment
in building a glass house. our owner should
wish to do so. he could go further and have
many articles OF furniture made bf this ma
terial-such as tables beds. bookcases shelves
Of various kinds cupboards and 50. on. and al
crocIlery could be of toughened glassware.
'I will not deny that the builder OF such a
glass house would have 10 be a rich man. for
while all or nearly all otths things have emu
rCerated entering into the construction and
furnishing of such house are now on the mar
ket and can be utilized in the way suggested, Il
Is true that most OF them are a g5od bit moTe
expensive than similar things made OF other
material But I believe the time IS at hand
when ii will not be very much more eXpen-
sive to build a house Of moderate size OF glass
than 10 build it Of brick or stone
When they were first manufactured a few
years ago glass bricks were made solid. as they
still are for paving-and glass bricks for paving
are being used to a considerable extent IN Paris
and some other cities I'm Europe to-day: they
have been found to be superior 10 asphalt or
Belgian blocks for such use. as they make no
dirt whatever and hold less Khan any other
clean; and. furthermore, they are more durable
than either OF the substances named But FOR
building purposes solid glass bricks were not
success.
by making them hollow. all difficulties have
now been overcome There is growing use tor
them in building greenhouses for which they
are admirable because of their qualities OF 1ot
conducting heat. Tall chimneys have also been
constructed of these glass bricks and they have
given satisfaction thus used
when the builder Of the first glass house.
such as I have been telling you OF. comes TO die
he can be buried I'm a glass coffin-sOme people
have been buried in them already-he can have
his grave marked with a glass tombstone or
have elaborate monument Or a nauSoleum
built Of glass 10 mark his final resting place.
and thus even after death signify his prsdlsc-
ton for this wonderful material - Washington
Post