Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-03-26
A New Invention.
r1BRous COMPOSITION SLABS AND PANELS Eol

FIBRous COMPOSITION SLABS AND PANELS FOR
ROOFS AND WALLS OF BUILDINGS, &C.
A patent was obtained few days ago by
the American Fibre Company for an entire
ly novel mode Demonstrating roofs and walls
of buildings, waterproof floors, tanks, &c.
The fibre used is made from the cane or
reeds of the cane brakes of the Carolinas and
other southern States, disintegrated by the
explosive force of steam by the process re-
Gently described in the Richmond Dispatch.
The fibre as it comes from the steam gun is
in the Shape of long, fine tendrils, resembling
oakum. This fibre is twisted or spun into a
single yarn or strand, several of which strands
are interlaced SO as to from stout mating,
which is charged with composition Of tar
and pulverized slate or soapstone, limestone,
| &C., forced into and amongst the hbres by
great pressure, so as to make solid slab.
The fibre being thoroughly disintegrated
and very absorbent forms good base for
| the mastic
A series of these slabs made with rabbet-
Joints are joined together and nailed to the
rafters, the joints are cemented, and then
another series of the slabs, made in the same
manner, are laid over the others SO as to
break Joints in every direction, the upper
series being fastened to the lower with q
mastic composed of the pulverized slate. etc.,
and tar. and the joints being cementcd to-
gether A light, strong, solid indestructi-
Bile slab is thus produced thoroughly water
proof and practically frc-proof also. A
similar composition, used for roofs in Mont
n-Jo .koIJ ,xy kIo
heat or cold.
As the steam blown reed fibre cam be sup
piled from Norfolk, Va, and Wilmington,
N. c., to New York, Richmond, Baltimore,
Boston, etc., for fifteen to twenty dollars per
ton, and the pulverized slate can be obtained
at about the same price, and the tar is cheap
also, it is claimed that this invention secures
the cheapest as we'll the best and most dura-
BILE roof ever made.
The roof resembles solid block Of slate
or stone about an inch thick. A coating of
sand is forced into the composition SO as to
tighten the color and make it resemble
stone. The cost is less than half that of a
tin roof.
The inventors propose to make the same
slabs available for the outer walls Of build
ings in lieu of bricks, stone, or wood. The
same company have also obtained patent
for substitute for lath and plaster. For
this purpose fbrous composition panels are
made by the above method from the steam
blown cane fibre, in combination with silicate
of soda Qiquid flint, lime, and clay. These
panels are e-proof, and well-adapted for
ceilings, inner walls, and floors, also for
cabins of steamboats, and railway cars. 1t
is claimed that the fibrous composition pan
els are much cheaper than lath and plaster,
and that they do not warp, crack, peel, crunl-
BILE, or decay, and that they 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 sufficient extent to es-
tablish their utility. AS already stated in
this paper, it is designed to erect in this city
mandatory Of boards out Of the cane
fibre -Ric7sn,orad Dispatch.