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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[January, 



Leaving out of the account the additional beauty which tasteful colouring 

 on the ceiling confers on a room, we would recommend the practice as eco- 

 nomical — a charm oftentimes more attractive in these money-making times 

 than beauty itself. In the course of every three or four years, the ceiling of 

 a London house requires re-colouring. There is little doubt that the deter- 

 mined lines of the positive colouring in an ornamental design, and also the 

 paper itself, would tend very much to conceal the ordinary cracks and mark- 

 ings in the ceiling, caused by the dirt and smoke, and thus reduce the neces- 

 sity of re-colouring. In addition to the experiment already mentioned, we 

 had a simpler one prepared in two shades of deep straw-colour, for the 

 centre of a room, the cost of which experiment was only five shillings. In 

 the prosecution of these experiments, it is only just to mention that we had 

 the assistance of Mr. Clarke, a paper-stainer, of 60, High Holbcrn, who 

 seemed well disposed to carry them much farther, if any public taste could 

 be generated for them. In the preparation of decorations for ceilings, and 

 until we can enter upon the subject of pattern in detail, a word of caution 

 may be whispered against all and every sort of imitation of raised surfaces. 

 Let there be no sham cornices or rosettes for centres — no sham festoons, 

 draperies, or tassels. Whatever is done, should be limited to the expression 

 of agreeable forms in colour, and much more effect may be produced under 

 this limitation than is generally obtained by the plaster mouldings and or- 

 naments themselves which are commonly attached to ceilings. The choice 

 of the colours and peculiar treatment of them in ceilings must, of course, 

 be regulated by the circumstances of the room, and the character of the de- 

 corations used in it. 



The particular treatment of colours which should be applied to rooms of 

 various purposes, seems to follow next in order for consideration. We are 

 much disposed to agree with Mr. Hay, when he insists that the decorations 

 of rooms should be subordinate in importance to the furniture, which he 

 appears to regard in the same relative importance to a room as figures stand 

 towards a picture. Mr. Hay says: — " In toning and harmonizing the colours 

 in a picture, the artist has the assistance of light and shadow, and can make 

 his shades accord with the tone in such a manner as to improve the general 

 harmony; but as the colours of the house-painter and manufacturer are all 

 liable to be placed in a full light, they must be toned in themselves, to pre- 

 vent that unnatural crudencss so annoying to the eye. How, then, can we 

 account for the prevalence of those gaudy paper-hangings, which impinge 

 the most obtrusive rays in .ill their vigour, or those carpets where the pre- 

 ponderance of bright yellow and red attracts the eye, and injures the effect 

 of everything which is placed upon them ? And if, according to the rules 

 which regulate the higher branches of art, simplicity of arrangement pre- 

 vents confusion where a variety of colours are introduced, the colours in the 

 generality of such articles are most erroneously arranged. These rules must 

 proceed from a general negligence of the rules of harmony. I do not mean 

 by this that bright and vivid colours are always offensive. I have already 

 said, that they add richness and grandeur when used in their proper places 

 ami in proper quantities; but they should by no means cover the floor or 

 walls of an apartment unless under very peculiar circumstances. It may 

 here be observed, that in all pictures representing interiors, when a group of 

 figures is introduced, there may occasionally appear a piece of rich drapery, 

 or furniture painted in equally vivid and bright colours with the figui 

 Which may, in a great measure, improve the general effect and harmony ; 

 but who ever saw, in a work of merit, the colours on the walls of the apart- 

 ment or carpet on the floor making a monopoly of attraction, and causing 

 those upon the figures and furniture to fall into insignificance ':" lint we 

 have no more space at present, and the suggestions touching the appropriate 

 colouring of particular rooms must be reserved to a future opportunity. 



RAILWAY CHRONICLE OF THE MONTH. 



Tjie events of the month principally concern the movements in respect to 

 new lines, a spirit of activity manifesting itself in connexion with them 

 strongly indicative of improvement. Not only is the number of lines pro- 

 posed far greater than for years past, but they are of greater importance, and 

 supported in a much more powerful manner, being principally branches fos- 

 tered by the great lines. There is however, of course, a want of definite 

 information as to what will really lie done, so that it is dangerous to specu- 

 late as to results. 



The monetary operations of the month afford a strong proof of the im- 

 proved position of railways; not only have the transactions in shares been 

 much more numerous and "at better prices, but loans have been effected by 

 the large companies at a much lower rate of interest. 



The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Company have borrowed £100,000 

 from the Bank of Scotland for ten years at 3J per cent., and the Manchester 

 and Leeds have received large sums at 3] per cent., the loans being subject 

 to repayment on twenty-one days' notice. Altogether the state of affairs 

 promises well for employment next year in the engineering profession and in 

 the pursuits dependent on its exertions and connected with it. 



The York and North Midland directors have been authorized to purchase 

 the Leeds and Selby line, and to construct a branch to Whitby and Scar- 

 borough. 



Captain Moorsorn, the Chairman of the Birmingham and Glo'sterRiilwnv, 

 has at last resigned in disgust. He is succeeded by Mr. Samuel Bowlv, the 

 Deputy Chairman. 



The Manchester and Leeds Railway Company have agreed to amalgamate 

 with the Hull and Selby Railway Company. 



One of the most striking circumstances has been the defeat of the Bristol 

 and Exeter Directors at a special meeting for the purpose of giving support 

 to the Devon and Cornwall lines, when a cabal of 3S Exeter shareholders 

 holding 300 shares, managed, by superior numbers, on the show of bands to 

 repel the resolutions. It is not expected that this will stop the scheme. 



The Epsom traffic is the subject of competition between the Croydon Rail- 

 way Company on the one band, and the South Western Railway on the other. 

 The South- Western branch would be the shorter, less costly, and accommodate 

 west end passengers, but the distance from the terminus of the Croydon 

 branch is not greater, it would be worked as cheaply and would also accom- 

 modate a great extent of local traffic, while it comes close to the city popula- 

 tion at London Bridge. It was anticipated that great opposition would be 

 made by the Croydon shareholders to engaging in this speculation, but it 

 turned out that they gave their unanimous adhesion to it, at a meeting spe- 

 cially convened for the purpose. At the same time strong wishes were ex- 

 pressed for an arrangement with the Greenwich Company which is now 

 within a narrow compass. It was also reported that a proposition had been 

 made from the South Eastern Railway Company to lease the Croydon, which 

 had been refused, the Croydon Directors considering amalgamation as the 

 more eligible measure. With regard to the South Western Epsom opera- 

 tions they remained to be seen, but it is very probable that both lines will 

 be carried into effect, and an arrangement come to for working them. The 

 Middlesex and Surrey Junction is a scheme also for goiug to Epsom, but it 

 moves very slowly. 



THE NEW ROYAL EXCHANGE. 



Mr. Tin;, the architect of the New Royal Exchange, sent in, on the 20th 

 ult., a further report of the progress of the works, to the Joint Grand Com- 

 mittee ; it is extremely satisfactory. It states that, with respect to the ex- 

 ternal works, the grasshopper vane, repaired and rcgilt, was deposited in its 

 place on the 8th ult.; that the tower was completed to the cleaning down of 

 the stonework, a process which will be effected as the scaffold is being re- 

 moved. At the west facade the columns and architraves of the great Vene- 

 tian windows have been set, and the carved shields and festoons over the 

 opening and over the whole of the central arch have been finished. As to 

 the internal works the report touches first upon the basement, and states 

 that the vaults over the basement have been completed, with the exception 

 of an arch which is to be formed under the staircase leading to Lloyd's. In 

 the London Assurance portion of the building, on the one-pair floor, the 

 whole of the fire-proof arches have been turned, and the joists and partitions 

 in the western end are in their places. In other parts the plates are laid. 

 On the two-pair floor the joists have been laid all through. The roof has 

 been nearly completed, both plumbers' and slaters' work being almost wholly 

 finished. In the Royal Exchange ground-floor the fire-proof arches have 

 been turned throughout, and the joists and partitions have been nearly all 

 deposited in their places. In the two-pair floor the joists have been all laid 

 and the quartering is in a forward state. The lead-work to the roof of the 

 portico has been within a third completed, and this department will require 

 very little more labour generally. In the unappropriated room on the one- 

 pair floor the fire- proof arches have been completed as well as the joists and 

 partitions. In the two-pair floor similar progress has been made. In Lloyd's 

 room on the one-pair floor all the fire-proof arches.have been turned. The 

 reading-room and other rooms on each side of the tower remain in the same 

 condition in which they were represented to be at the time the last report 

 was made. In the roof the plumber's and slater's work is throughout ex- 

 ceedingly forward, and but little remains to complete that portion of the work. 



With regard to the sculpture, Mr. Tite expresses his satisfaction to be able 

 to report that every figure has been transferred from the model to the stone, 

 and that a month's labour will complete the work, so as that it will be ready 

 for hoisting within that period. When the sculpture shall have reached its 

 appropriate position, the finishing touches will be given to it by the sculptor. 

 Judging from its present advanced state, the architect entertains no hesita- 

 tion in assuring the committee, that if necessary, it could all be in its place 

 and completely finished within two months from the date. 



The dials and hands of the clock have been prepared, and will be placed 

 as soon as the scaffold has been sufficiently removed to enable the men to 

 place them with safety. The machinery of the clock is very nearly com- 

 pleted, and the only thing remaining unsettled is the arrangement with 

 respect to the actual tunes of the chimes. Upon that subject Mr. Tite had 

 consulted Professor Taylor, the Gresham Lecturer on music, and he hoped 

 that before the next meeting of the committee he should be prepared to re- 

 port the result. The moulds for some of the bells have been prepared, and 

 in the course of a month several of the bells will be cast. Mr. Tite concludes 

 with congratulating the committee, at the close of the third year of the work, 

 on the generally favourable state of the seasons throughout the whole period. 

 The mildness of last winter, and the unusually fine spring which followed, 

 were greatly in favour of building operations, aud though the early part of 

 the summer was wet, yet since August up to the present time scarcely a day 

 has been lost by interruption from the weather. He could see nothing at 

 present, unless some unusually severe weather should occur after Christmas, 

 to prevent the realization of his hopes that the contract would be completed 

 in the time originally agreed upon. 



