4:QB TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



pure air, wariuth, proper clothing, and food better than that of the ancient 

 Princes, are enjoyed by all ! (Applause.) 



Mr. Tillman. — We all know the necessity of good mortar, and our chem- 

 ical science, properly applied, will furnish it again. We must do it. 



Mr. Meigs. — 3Iany years ago, a learned gentleman of this city, repre- 

 sented in Congress, and when the question of a monument to Washington, 

 was considered, he said that letters had already consecrated his memory, 

 so that pyramids would moulder away and yet his name be still fresh in 

 glory. You recollect Horace : " Esegi monumentum perennius sere !" 

 His letters have lost none of their force and beauty in 1900 years ! 



Prof. Mason. — The capital, at Washington, is made of bad material. I 

 still insist on the construction of public edifices to remain for ages. The 

 city of Paris, which is so much distinguished in the civilized world, is ren- 

 dered so, much by her monumental buildings. How much is due lo the 

 period from Louis XIV to Louis Napoleon ! And have not such architects 

 made the way for the improved private dwellings of the world ? Their ex- 

 amples are perpetual instructions, and the people are now housed infinitely 

 better than they ever were before those monuments were built. Our coun- 

 try best housed of all ! 



Mr. Seeley. — Some edifices should be permanent ; and such edifices re- 

 quire durable materials — such as our aqueducts, bridges, canal locks, &c. 

 The Lockport stone has been found vei-y good. All combustible material 

 to be rejected. No wood unless kyanized — so solidified as to be incombusti- 

 ble. Cities so built would require no fire companies, or heaps of gold to 

 rebuild the burnt districts. 



Mr. Garbanati. — Any scientific test which we can apply to material, will 

 only tell us what age has not done to it. The facts of substance and dura- 

 tion, are all before us, like the pyramids of Egypt ! — they testify ! 



Mr. Stetson. — We have not reached our point yet. New York building 

 material is not decided by the testimony of the pyramids — for climate is to 

 be taken into the examination very carefully I We have been troubled with, 

 many theoretical bubbles on this as well as other important matters. The 

 compound of whiting, sand and ox blood, said by Prof. Mapes to last for- 

 ever, wants testing ! The Cayenne stone, now in use here, is justly berated 

 by Prof. Mason. 



The committee of arts and sciences, has altered the name of this club to 

 that of " Polytechnic Association." 



Mr. Tillman, from the committee, stated that the present subject will be 

 continued. 



The Chairman named Dr. Deck, to be added to the committee on build- 

 ing materials. Carried. 



Prof. Mason. — Government finds a hornblende, at our Tarrytown, so 

 excellent for buildings that it monopolizes it. It has the peculiar property 

 of burying a cannon ball without fracture. 



