68

CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING.

sfeetba ll 'of fan %’• 17 .we have given a view of a bay of the building, 8 feet in width;

elevation. and from that and the other illustrations a tolerably correct idea may be formed ofthe nature of its external construction.

The spaces en- At the east and west ends considerable spaces

closed at eastern f

and western ends, purpose of affording accommodation for large objects, the weight or dimensions ofwhich precluded their admittance into the building.

The boiler-house. At about 155 feet from the north-west angle, a structure, 96 feet by 24 feet,has been erected for the purpose of containing the boilers for generating steam, tobe supplied to give motion to the various machines requiring to be exhibited

in operation. The external appearance ofthis building precisely corresponds with thatof a portion of the main edifice of similardimensions. It contains five boilers, equalto 150-horse power, and a large tank,serving as a balance-head to the water-supply. This supply consists of a 6-inchmain, entirely surrounding the building;upon it, at intervals of about 240 feet, areplaced fire-cocks; and at different pointsin its circuit 16 4-inch branch pipes enterthe building, and lead so far into the in-terior that fire-cocks, placed upon their endsare so situated that circles of 120 feetradius drawn from each of them would in-tersect one another. The mains running onthe north and south sides of the building'are connected across the transept by a 5-inchmain, from which, near the centre of thebuilding, pipes diverge, leading east and| jj | HI j jjjj ;|j ! | 'west, for the supply of the various fountains

placed upon the central line of the nave.

Having endeavoured to convey some gene-ral idea of the nature of the building as it atpresent stands, it may be desirable to tracethe successive steps by which it has growninto the form it now assumes.

When it is remembered that the tenderfor its construction was not accepted by theCommissioners until the 26th of July 1850—that possession of thesite was only obtained on the 30th of the same month—and that the first columnwas fixed on the 26th of September—it will be manifest that into the interveningperiod must have been crowded arrangements which, under ordinary circum-stances, would have required at least double that period for their completion.Details of construction had to be settled, elaborate calculations as to the strengthand proportions of the several constituent parts to be made, machines for econo-mising labour to be devised, contracts for the supply of materials to be enteredinto, and thousands of hands set actually to work. How unintermitting sincethat period the labour must have been is testified by the fact, that the opening ofthe Exhibition takes place on the 1st of May, the day originally appointed.

have been enclosed, for the

The watersupply.

Conclusion ofPart I. of sub-ject—“ Thebuilding as itStands .’ 7

Commencementof Part If.—“ ItsCreation

'mmm.

Arrangementssubsequently toacceptance oftender.