244 SPIRE ON A NEW CeNSTRUCTldN. 



< When this pedestal was adjusted, the skeleton, which had 

 been fitted on the ground, was taken to pieces. 

 Manner in The base, or lo^jk'er dia(.hragrn, upon wliich the bars had 



spire was ^'^^^'^ adjusted, was placed and fastened in a temporary man- 



put togeiher. uer on the pedestal. The long bars were drawn up, one by 

 ,pne, into the tower above the platform ; and their feet were 

 inserted into the cheeks of the base, or lower diaphragm; 

 ,. . where they were secured by bolts, as before degcribed. The 



other diaphragms, and the iron cross braces, were then in- 

 serted between the iron bars, and firmly bolted to them. ' 

 CoTcred with By the favour of Messrs. Worthington and Co. of Pen- 

 slates, rhyn, I was furnished with excellent slates of dimensions 

 sufficiently large to cover the spaces between the bars, which 

 ,at the base were nearly 4 feet wide. The slates were 2 feet 

 6 inches high, and nearly an inch thick*. These slates were 

 sawed to fit upon the ribs where they met, and they were 

 rabbeted with the saw and chissel to lap over each other, so 

 as to keep out water. They were so well joined by these 

 means as to present one even surface, on which the courses 

 of the slates scarcely appeared through the paint. These 

 joints iHight by addional paint have been entirely concealed, 

 but'their appearance was thought to be advantageous, as it 

 gave an idea of solidity, from its nearer resemblance to 

 stone. 

 'Mode of fas- It remains to show how the slates were fastened to the 

 temng the -^^^^ upon which they were placed. For this purpose grooves 

 about one quarter of an inch deep were sawed in the upper 

 surface of each slate, parallel to the bars, and at the dis- 

 tance of nearly two inches from them. A copper capping, 



Res<- saws for * The slates were first cut with sand, and such saws as are used for 

 cutting slates, cutting marble. Though this is the method followed at Penrhyn, 1 founi 

 common saws of a smaller size, such as are usually soTd for half a crown, 

 far more expeditious. 



In cutting tht grooves, that receive the copper capping, I employed 



. thin saws with a wooden back, which was held in the hand of the work- 



. men. To make these saws, i cut the blade of sm^ll saws into four parts 



with common tinkers 'sheers. 



Air holes Cut ^^' ^°^'^^ '^ ^°'^"* ^^ ^ quaire feuille were made near the top of the 



in them. spire, to permit the circulation of air, and theyjserve also to facilitate the 



application of a moveable scaffold, whenever the spire requires new 



'"painting. 



early 



