Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/960

 7S4 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [June, flooring of this arcade is to be laid on brick arches, but elsewhere in the build- ing the floors will be supported by huge wrought-iron girders, manufactured by Messrs. P. N. Russell, of this city. In the court-yard behind, the walls of the edifice are carried up much higher than towards the street, where difficulty and dela^ have unavoidably been occa- sioned through having to prepare the blocks of granite. In the preparation of this splendid (but obdurate) material eveiy appliance has been made use of that studious invention could suggest or practical science apply. A steam- engine is constantly employed for the purpose of polishing the granite pillars which are each of them to be formed of a single block. The rapid revolution of these cylindrical masses of granite, and the simple process b} r which they are slowly made to take a brilliant polish, is not the least attractive sight at the works — something that carries one irre- sistibly back to dreamy speculations upon the possibly analogous modes by which the ancient Egyptians performed similar gigantic tasks. The walls of the building throughout wijl be, internally and externally, of wrought stone, so that no plaster will be needed, and the great- est possible security be afforded against the calamitous effects of fire. Externally, towards the court-yard, there will be stone balconies supported on cantilevers, or corbeils ; and from these balconies, bridges will be made to. span the court- yard, for the convenience of the officers of the various departments to be accommo- dated in this magnificent building. The arrangements for carrying on the works are admirable, but from the ver}^ nature of the work the masons are greatly in- convenienced for want of proper space in which to carry on their operations. It has been suggested that the eastern footway of George street, adjoining the building, might be widened two feet, by boarding over the stone gutter. This would enable the contractor to advance his present hoarding at least two feet further towards George street, without narrowing the present footpath, or en- croaching upon the roadway. Small as the space thus gained may seem, it would be esteemed a very great im- provement. The style of the new General Post Office is described as an adaptation of the Italian, in which the architecture of a Florentine palace has been judiciously combined with the light and arcaded fa- cades of the Venetian school. In the western front, facing George street, there are to be three tiers or stories, in the construction of which will be dis- played a modification of the " Corin- thian." Here there will be three-quar- ter columns of Australian marble, with carved capitals, entablatures, cornices, mouldings, and other appropriate orna- mental details. In the centre arch the royal arms will appear on the keystone, and the front will be yet further en- riched with symbolical figures of com- merce, science, literature, and art ; a marble statue of her Majesty, and a va- riety of such other details as will add materially to the general effect. The northern front, as designed by the architect, is particularly chaste and im- pressive. The present contract will carry this fagade half-way down the new street. The admirable stone of the P3'rmont quarries is being used for the building. Best time to paint houses. — Ex- periments show that paint on surfaces exposed to the sun will be much more durable if applied in autumn or spring than if put on in hot weather. In cold weather it dries slowly, forms a hard, glossy coat, tough, like glass ; while, if applied in warm weather, the oil strikes into the wood, leaving the paint so dry that it is rapidly beaten off by the rain. Another Fountain. — A philanthro- pic lady of this city has presented the thirsty with a fountain similar to that noted in our last. It is erected on Chestnut street in front of Indepen- dence Hall.