Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/766

 622 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [April, the numerous east-iron structures, which, for a number of years, have been exposed to every change of atmospheric tempera- ture without, and to the heat of steam- boilers, &c, within, will show everything unchanged : this proves that the tem- perature of our climate, throughout its utmost range, from the greatest cold to the greatest heat, exerts upon it no appreciable effect. Events have also proven, in the cases of the burning of store-houses, filled with combustible goods, that cast-iron fronts are abso- lute^ firje-proof, and will neither warp, nor crack, nor fall down. Only let it be remembered, that, in addition to a high and intense heat, the use of a blast is required to reduce iron to a molten state ; and the ability of iron fronts to withstand fire will be readily under- stood. They are also perfectly safe during thunder-storms. The metal, pre- senting so great a mass to the over- charged clouds, becomes a huge con- ductor in itself, and silently conveys all the electricity to the earth. In them, the intensity current is instantly diffused throughout the entire mass, and changed into a current of quantity, thus obviating all danger from disruptive discharges. A front of— iron can be previously prepared and fitted in the manufactory, and thence safely transported to the place of erection and put together with wonderful rapidity, and at all seasons of the year. It takes up less space than a stone front with brick backing, and so enlarges the interior of a building. When it becomes desirable to tear down the building itself, to make way for other improvements, the iron front may be taken to pieces, without injury to any of its parts, and be re-erected else- where, with the same perfection as at first. Instead of destruction, there would be a removal only. In iron, as in other materials, must ever be observed those undeviating laws of proportion, and rules deduced from a refined analysis of what is suitable in the highest degree to the end proposed. There is not a structure erected anywhere, but adds its quantum to the good or bad impressions to be directly stamped upon the public mind. Thus every one who builds is unwit- tingly enhancing, or deteriorating, the taste of the masses, and the aggregate result of this is a thing not to be over- estimated. It behooves the general use and careful treatment of a material which allows greater architectural effect, in proportion to the outlay of money, than any other. In our new and grow- ing country, the dollars saved on one building are required for the erection of another, or for use in railroad, or mining, or manufacturing enterprises. It is pri- marily a duty for every builder, to do the most with his money and the most for art. Iron has in its favor unequalled ad- vantages of ornament, strength, light- ness of structure, facility of erection, durability, economy, incombustibilit}-, and ready renovation. When the public become thoroughly acquainted with the advantages iron possesses, as a build- ing material, it is confidently predicted, by many, that it will be generally em- ployed for superior buildings — for stores, churches, banks, asylums, dwellings, and manifold other structures — in preference to granite, marble, freestone, or brick. A DOUBLE YILLA: T WITH FRENCH ROOF. HESE plans, together with the ac- companying elevations, are adapted to a design for Two Vfllas, so arranged, as to represent A Single Buikling. The outline is broken and varied, with en- trances placed in such positions, as to avoid betraj'ing the dual character of the residence. It will be observed, that but one portal is seen from either front ; or even in perspective. The apartments of each house are the same in number, dimensions and accommodations. The cost will, thus, be assessed equally, upon each of these messuages. There is a