Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1857-04-04

The Best RooAng Materials.
A correspondent asks what is the best
covering for roofs? The question is one
Of the many We are unprepared to answer,
and we solicit the aid Of any who, BY
practical experience, have determined
either the value or worthIessness of the
infinite variety ofmateriafs. The expense
is q matter Of the first importance on large
buildings, and although FIRE proof char
ac,er is important in many situations, there
are others where this latter is Of little mo-
ment. Roofs which, like the Boston Gus
tom House, are Of thick granite through
out, cemented with lead. may probably
rank among the best in the world, and a
simple covering Of inferior boards slightly
overlapping at their edges, is in most stu
atoms undoubtedly the cheapest. Between
these extremes are host of materials and
processes, some Of which we are assured
posses. great merit, and have not yet been
sufficiently published. Do not attempt to
ventilate through our columns all the theo.
ries you may form on the subject. hut give
Us facts as they have occurred within either
your experience or observation.
There are several manufacturers of
patent FIRE proof paint who furnish very
cheap material for covering wooden roofs.
Messrs. Corliss l. Nightingale. Of Provi-
dencc, r. l., cover the roofs Of their very
extensive one-story buildings with kind
of mineral paint, procured in great guam
titles near by. Will they allow US to
publish the characteristics Of such clay or
other earth, that others may perhaps find
equally good without expensel
/ There is Painter in the Third avenue
in this city, who has been very successful
in applying kind Of liquid cement to
roofs. and there are hosts Of patents for
compounds for this purpose. The great
difficulty, we think, with most organic
compounds in this application has been its
inclination to crack after few years, OF
even months. The correspondent who
started the inquiry says -" We have been
using coal tar on fiat roof but it con-
tracts and cracks, and will not answer y
anu tUQulIGS uOW WOuiO A10iuSsnA0o
cloth answer by paintine?"
An article on this subject in the New
) York Tribune last year, probably written
by Mr.. Scion Robinson, recommended the
} following -" There is tarred paper sold
! at FIVE cents . pound, one pound Of which
} will cover yard square, or say half Ct
!, foot !; but this paper is rather thin, ane
: we should prefer the thick, spongy straw
) board paper used for light, cheap boxes
! 1t does moi require to be strong, and per
haps the cheap article alluded to will an
!, swer perfectly; if so, a roof can be made
, for one cent foot. This paper comes il
rolls, and may be laid in course. up an.
down or across the roof, so that the edge.
are Tapped, and tackled with common OF
tacks, which would be very much improv
ed BY using leather under the heads, as i!
, often used in lacking carpets. The com
position Tor covering paper roof is made
Of the following ingredients: good clear
tar, 8 gallons; rosin, s lbs; tallow. :
lbs, boil and stir, and thoroughly mix alto
gether, and use hot, spreading it evenly
ia thick coat over tho paper, which
should be tackled upon thoroughly season
ed boards-kiln-dried are best. The roo
may 10 quite fat. rising only one foot j.
twelve. In Mailing on the paper. lap tb'
courses As you would shingles, and com
: mence putting on the composition at thu
upper edge and work down, and while th,
coating is still hot, let hand follow ant
i sih on sharp grit sand, pressing it into the
tar with . trowel or back Of = shovel
1 When the first coat is cool, 60 over will
!. = second, and again with . third, and At
!. forwards once in five or six years As lonl
, as your house stands, and you will have
tight roof. In place Of the Roman co
. ment, you may use very fine, very cleal
sand. "-Scient6c American. = '''''''5
sic R1eHr ON THE GoosE.-Captain Blai
Summons 10 responsible for the following
1el Many years ago. he says. be was
. passenger on tavorite steamer from Gin
cinnati 10 this place. When near Vevay
Il "a thu nilof mae invited dov,n siaips 4