'Mil





ESTABUSHED'Wi\ARpH^i¥^ 1868.

Entered at the Post-ofiice at New York, K. Y.. as second-class matter,"





Vol. XLV.





NEW YOKK, JUNE 28, 1890.





SUPPLEMENT.





The Manufactm-e of Ironwork as an Art,





VISIT TO THE J-iCKSON   ARCHITECTURAL   IRON  WORKS—GOING   THROUGH

A  FOUNDRY    SURROUNDED    BY    STREAMING    METAL—HOW   THE   MOST

DELICATE DESIGNS ARE   PRODUCED   IN   IRON,   .BRONZE,   COPPER   AND

BRASS—CASTING A THREE-ION COLUMN.

[CO 11 MP NIC ATBD .1

" The liquid ore he draiaed
Into fit moulds prepai'ed, from wliich he formed
First his own tools, then what might else he wrought
Fiisile or graven in metaL"

—Milton's "Paradise Lost."

We live iu au era of advancement.   Progress is ihe watclinord, and the





York. Land has become so extremely valuable here, partieularly iu the
lower waids of the city, tL-.at architects have been forced to make a study
of architectural ironwork so as to be able to economi?e space in construc-
tioii-space so valuable to investors and capitalists tbat it often becomes a
question as to whether they shall or shall not improve their properties, the
saving of oue front foot possibly meaning the difference betn eeu a paying
and a nou-payius venture. This will be realized when it is seeu that iu
Wall street. Pine street, and on lower Broadway and thev arious streets on
the liue of tbat great thoroughfare, properuy brings such euornuois prices.
Here every square foot counts.

Thus lbe efforts of the architect have been directed to¬
ward a study of de>iga aud construction in irouwork.
Begiuuing on the old hues Ue folt that the) cumbrous metal was hardly







EXTERIOR OF FACTORY OF JACKSON ARCHITECTURAL IRON WORKS,

2STH  STREET,  EXTENDING THROUGH TO 29tH STREET.





I





work of to-day gives way to the invention of to-moiTOw. Hardly a de¬
cade has elapsed since siuipliclty in ironwork for building purposes was as
characteristic as was its commonplace cbaracter aud its uniformity. But
new ideas have come upon us. Wc are no more satisfied to ti'ead the
beaten tracks. Our architects have studied the best examples of archi¬
tecture in Europe; our designers have learned to draw under masters of
the art ; and our decorators have giveu years of labor toward
the perfection of their studies. Our people, also, have become
wealthy, aud wifch Lteir ability lo purchase lhe best in -art, their
taste has proportionately iiuproved. Heiice, our finer apwreciatiou
of tbe better things iu art, aud the ever inereasiug aspiration among us
toward the use of more artistic design and workmanship.

To make an apjilication of lhe espressions contained in the preceding
paragraph to the products of tha foundry would almost at first sight ap¬
pear farfetched,. But iu reality this is not so. Ironwork, which is the
principal product of the foundry, is beginning to enter very largely iuto
the huilding construction of to-day.    This is especially  the case in New





an inviting subject for his thought. Whereupon the question presented
itself to him—"Why can I not make this biack mass attractive to the sight.
Its use has become necessary and its ulility bids fail' to increase with each
year. Whycaulnotdowithitwhathasbeendonewitbstone. Why, iudeed,
can I not make the offlce buildiug, the store front, tbe wholesale and
retail business house, aud even the flat or private bouse, as attractive
where iron-work is used, as though stone, brick or terra-cotta bad been
used ;" Thus arose anew brancb of Architecture. It bas developed to
enormous proportions. It has created a new fleld for the thought, the
study and the application of the architect and draughtsman, and it is
called 'architectural irouwork."

IN THE FOUNDRY,

Did you ever ask yourself bow architectural ironwork is produced; how
the immensfj iron columns and gir(lei"S that are used iu the construction of
our large office and business buildings were brought iuto esistence, frora
inception to completion ^   Have you ever pondered over the thought, tbe