Trans. A'. V. ^Ic. Sc/. Y3 /-^''- 29, 



were discussed : coal-tar : paint, which has been used in New York 

 for many res'dences, as in Washington for the Capitol and in London 

 for Buckingham Palace, etc., but lasts only a few years and often even 

 permits the disintegration to progress beneath it : oil, often used in New 

 York, but as objectionable as paint : soap and alum-solution : and 

 parafifine, beeswax, ronn, trllow, etc., dissolved innaphiha, turpentine, 

 camptine, oil, etc. 



The preparations of an inorganic nature, whxh have been proposed 

 and used abroad, h&ve in some cases met with success ; but the exact na- 

 ture of their ?ction, and the conditions to wh'ch they are each su ted, are 

 yet to be investigated, especially with reference to the entirely different 

 climate by which the stone in our city is being tried. The processes 

 which have been proposed, and in some cases practically used, involve 

 the application of the following substances : waterglas?, in connection 

 with salts of calcium or barium, or bitumen : oxalate of aluminium : 

 barium solution, in connection with calcium superphosphate or fetro- 

 silicic acid : copper salt?, used by Ur. Robert in Paris to stop the growth 

 of vegetation en stone, etc. There is certainly a call for processes by 

 which, at least, those stones which are used in isolated, exposed, and 

 unnatural pcsiticns, may receive artificial protection, such as the stone- 

 sills and lintels cf windows, stone balusters, projecting cornice.^, and 

 ashlar-stone set up on edge. It will doubtless be found that only those 

 stones, which possess a coirse porous texture and strong abscrptive 

 power for liquids, will be lound particularly available for protection by 

 artificial preservatives, and that such stones should indeed never be 

 used in construction in a raw or crude state. In the spongy brown 

 and light olive free-stones, a marble full of minute crevices, and a cellu- 

 lar fossiliferoiis limestone, a pe'rifying liquid may permeate to some 

 depth, close up the pores by its deposits, and encase the stone in solid 

 armor; while, upon a more compact rock, such as a graryte or solid 

 limestone, it can only deposit a shelly crust or enamel, which time may 

 soon peel off. The carelessness with which stone is selected and used, 

 and the ignorance m regard to is proper preservation, when the decay 

 of a poor stone becomes apparent, have led to an increased use of 

 brick and terra cotta, much to be deplored ; durable stones are to 

 be obtained in great variety, methods for the preservation of the porous 

 stones can easily be devised, and stones of a fire-proof character do exist 

 in this country in abundance. 



In conclusion, three suggestions were offered: ist, that householders 

 invoke the magic use of the broom on the fronts of their residences as 

 carefully as upon the sidewalks : 2d, that house builders insist upon the 

 undercutting of all projections, and the exclusion of brackets or other 



