( 97 ) 



On covering the Roofs of Houses xvith Plates of Iron. By 

 M. E. Carter. In a letter to the Editor. 

 Sir, Exeter, April 8. 1828. 



My attention lias been recently directed to some observations 

 in the last December number of the Edinburgh New Philosophi- 

 cal Journal, upon my scheme for covering the roofs of build- 

 ings with plates of cast-iron. Your principal objection is found- 

 ed on an apparent imperfection at the junction of four of the 

 plates, which does certainly, at first sight, appear as an obstacle 

 to the success of the scheme, and is what in truth occasioned me 

 to hesitate, before I determined to adventure any thing upon 

 the matter ; but, satisfied upon more mature reflection, that 

 whatever water might be driven into that corner, must ultimate- 

 ly be conducted to, and fall into, the lower plate, and from that 

 plate to another in the like position, until finally led to the eaves 

 or gutters, I determined to try the experiment, and had a set of 

 plates cast and put upon a roof, the result of which was com- 

 pletely satisfactory ; the experiment roof having, besides with 

 others (since erected) withstood the violent hurricanes of last 

 February, without the displacement of a single plate, or the ad- 

 mission of a drop of water. 



The diagram here given, is a vertical section, at full size. 



made parallel with the side of one of the upper plates, through 

 the lower ; by examination of this, and the transverse section, I 

 APRIL JUNE 1828. 6 



