The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-03-25
A NEW INVENTION.

A NEW Inv ENIlON.
A patent was obtained a few days
ago by the American Fibre Company
for an entirely novel mode Of construct
ing roofs and walls of buildings, water
proof floors, tanks, &c.
The fibre used is made from the cane
or reeds of the cane-breaks of the
Caroliuas and other southern States dis
iutcgrated by the explosive force OF
steam by the process recently described
in the Richmond Dispatch. The fibre
as it comes from the steam gun is in the
shape of long, fine tendrils, resembling
oakum. The fibre is twisted or spun
into single yarn or strand, several Of
which strands are interlaced so as to
form a stout mating, which is charged
with q composition of tar and pulver-
lied slate or soapstone, limestone, &C.,
forced into and amongst the 6bres by
great pressure, so as to make solid
slab. The fibre being thoroughly dis
iutegrated and very absorbent, forms a
good base for the mastic.
A series Of these slabs made with rab-
bet joints are Joined together and nailed
to the rafters, the joints are cemcnted,
and then another series of the slabs,
made in the same manner, are laid over
the other 50 as to break joints in every
direction, the upper series being fasten-
ed with mastic composed of the pul.
verized slate, ETC., and tar, and joints
being cemented together. A light.
strong, solid indestructible slab is thus
produced thoroughly waterproof and
practically fre-proof also. A similar
composition, used for proofs in Montreal
and New Orleans, is unaffected by the
heat or cold.
As the steam.blown reed fibre can be
supplied from Norfolk Va, and Will
mington N. c , to New York, Richmond,
Baltimore, Boston, etc., for fifteen to
twenty dollars per ton, and the pulver-
lied slate can be obtained at about the
same price, and shc tar is cheap also, it
is claimed that this invention secures
the cheapest as we'll as the best and
most durable roofs ever made.
The roof resembles solid block OF
slate or stone about AN inch thick. A
coating of sand is forced into the CON-
position so as to Tighten the color and
make it resemble stone. The cost is
les, than half that of tin roof.
The inventors propose to make the
same slabs available for the outer walls
of buildings in lieu of bricks, stone, or
wood. The same company have also
obtained patent for substitute for
lath and plaster. For this purpose
6brous composition panels are made
by the above method from the steam-
blown cane fibre, in combination with
silicate of soda, (iquid aint,) lime, and
clay. These panels are fre-proof, and
we'll adapted for ceilings, inner walls,
and floors, also for cabins ofsteamboats
railway cars. 1t is claimed that the
fbrous composition panels are much
cheaper than lath and plaster, and that
they do not warp, crack, peel, crumblc,
or decay, and that they can keep out
heat and cold.
Certainly these inventions open
wide field of usefulness. They seem to
be based upon the most practical ideas,
and in fact have been tested to suf-
ficient extent to establish their utility.
As already stated in this paper, it is
designed to erect in this city manu-
factory of boards ont of the cane fibre.
Richmond Dispatch.