542 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



grant, the other is by right of ancient possession. If a man's 

 window has opened upon his neighbor's hind twenty years, his 

 neighbor cannot then close it. These questions have been raised 

 in this country, and in some of the lower courts there have been 

 decisions adverse to the adoption of the English law. It is 

 thought that it would be peculiarly unsuited to our growing 

 cities and villages. You know that when the common law of 

 England was adopted for this country, it was adopted with the 

 proviso that only such portions should be in force as are in 

 accordance with our institutions. Though the questions in 

 regard to the right to light either by implied grant or by pre- 

 prescription, are not yet fully settled. I have little doubt that 

 the English law on the subject will finally be rejected by our 

 courts. 



The Chairman. — Will Mr. Kraft give us a desci'iption of the 

 mode of making soluble glass ? He has a manufactory in 

 Brooklyn. 



Mr. Kraft arose and whispered to the Chairman, who remarked, 

 "Mr. Kraft is not familiar with the English language, and if the 

 Society will accept my version, I will translate for him." Mr. 

 Kraft then spoke in' German, Prof. Joy translating as follows: 

 Quartz, soda and a little charcoal are pulverized and melted 

 together in a crucible, six fusions being necessary to make a per- 

 fect mixture. This is the appearance of the soluble glass. It 

 will dissolve in one-fifth of its weight of water. In this vial is 

 a earaple of the solution. 



Mr. Dibben. — Will the gentleman please state a single use to 

 which the soluble glass has been practically applied ? 



Mr. Kraft. — It is used in some of the calico-print works, near 

 Boston, ^as a mordant. It is also an admirable article for paint. 

 To prepare it for this purpose, it is pulverized and added, little 

 by little, to water kept in a state of ebullition. With the solu- 

 tion thus obtained, the pigment is ground, as is usual with lin- 

 seed oil. To fit the ground paint for use, it is diluted with 

 water. If the solution is not less costly than linseed oil, the 

 prepared paint is relatively cheap, because the white basis need 

 not be a costly metallic oxide, and carbonate of lime, whiting, 

 or other cheap substances, become a substitute for the white lead 

 used in oil painting. The white thus prepared does not change 

 by exposure to the air. 



Soluble glass applied to plaster gives it a very strong hard- 



