388 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[December, 



the metroj)olis. Notwithstanding all this, however, the huildinn- 

 committee have determined that, in the centre at tlie points ot 

 junction of the transept and principal aisles, and also at the ex- 

 tremities and other parts of the liuilding, where any strain is likely 

 to be unduly felt, ' diagonal bracing' shall be introduced. We 

 are strongly inclined to think that in this they have e.xercised a 

 wise precaution. It is no doubt true that the lightness of con- 

 struction contemplated by the design of Mr. I'axton may be apt to 

 excite apprehensions of insecurity which are unfounded; but where 

 the slightest doubts are entertained by persons well competent to 

 form an opinion, it is obviously best to err on the safe side." 



already taken. Thus the building has peculiar interest to practi- 

 cal men, and we are glad of every opportunity of giving informa- 

 tion with regard to it. 



The portion we are now able to illustrate is the structure of the 

 roof; and we shall, as far as possilde, conform to Mr. Paxton's own 

 description given at the Society of Arts last week. This subject 

 is of the more interest as Mr. I'axton has for many years made it 

 his particular study, and he has peculiar opportunities of investi- 

 gating the construction of light roofs. 



In \82H, the various forcing-houses at ("hatsworth were formed 

 of coarse thick glass and heavy woodwork, which rendered the 



Fig. 1. 



Fig. 5. 



We have never faltered in our opinion of the ingenuity dis- 

 played by Mr. Paxton and his colleagues in the design and in the 

 execution, and we are strongly of opinion that the Exhibition 

 IJuilding will exercise a material influence in extending the range of 

 architectural exertion, and in improving the practice of construc- 

 tion. There is scarcely a part of the building in wliich some new 

 mode of construction has not been adopted — some new application 

 of mechanical skill, or some economical arrangement been brought 

 to bear. Some things have yet to be tested by experience; but 

 some are patent and decided results, from which example may be 



roofs dark and gloomy. His first object was to remove this evil, 

 by lightening the rafters and : ishbars, which was done by beveling 

 off their sides. He also contrived a liglit sasbbar having a groove 

 for the reception of the glass; this groove prevented the displace- 

 ment of the putty by tlie sun, frost, and rain. In horticultural 

 structures, such as Mr. Paxton was engaged in, it is of particular 

 importance the light and heat of the sun should not be obstructed; 

 it was therefoi-e his object to get, as far as possible, a glass roof, 

 and thereby a light roof. 



Most of the rays of light and heat were obstructed by the 



