598 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



length. How large a plate can you polish'? Answer, We don't 

 know a size that we cannot polish. 



On motion of Mr. Leonard, the following resolution was 

 unanimously adopted :. 



Resolved, That we have witnessed with pleasure and pride the 

 specimens of polished plate glass exhibited to us this evening, by 

 Mr. Lindsay, partner and owner with the patentee, Mr. Broughton, 

 affording as they do a gratifying evidence of the initiation of a 

 new and highly important branch of manufacture in this country. 



The chairman called up the regular question " Use of Iron in 

 Buildings. 



Mr. John W. Thompson read a paper that he had prepared for 

 Mr. Bogardus on Cast Iron Buildings, their construction and ad- 

 vantages. 



CAST IRON BUILDINGS. 



So much that is erroneous has been said and written concern- 

 ing Iron Architecture, and so little that is authentic, that but 

 few are yet acquainted with either its merits or its history. To 

 furnish correct information on this important subject is our 

 object. 



The first complete cast-iron edifice ever erected in America or 

 in the world, was that of the inventor, James Bogardus — being 

 his manufactory on the corner of Centre and Duane streets, New- 

 York. Its foundation was laid in May, 1848: but" a cast-iron 

 model of it had been freely exhibited to visitors at his factory, 

 since the summer of 1847. Previous to this period, the opinion 

 of most men of scientific reputation, was unfavorable to its use 

 for this purpose ; and, amongst all classes, there was also a very 

 strong and general prejudice against it. Some accidents had 

 happened from the breaking of cast-iron beams in England, and 

 their cause was ignorantly attributed to the material employed ; 

 whereas, the fault lay in the want of proper knowledge and skill 

 in constructing them. These accidents, however, helped to swell 

 the popular prejudice against cast-iron as a material for buildings, 

 and they were frequently quoted in opposition to the inventor ; 

 until, by the erection of the building already mentioned, he 

 demonstrated their untrustworthy character. Since that period, 

 he has erected many structures of the same description, not only 

 in New- York, but also in various other cities, such as Philadel- 

 phia, Baltimore, Washington, and San Francisco ; and persons 

 capable of passing judgment on their merits, have, after a care- 



