Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-04-30

| Perhaps the solution of no modern a-.
neering problem has been more eara-s
sought than cheap, reliable. and uuv,--
applicable method ofpreserving timi--
though methods have been devised y
I approximately fulfill these condition. -.-
has vet been nothing attained that i- -..--
bic for universal adoption in arehitee-u-a
in other branches Of the arts.
1t would appear at first sight an cl--
ter 90 preserve wood from decay. when F. .
remembered that the chief causes "
position, at least the chief immediate .I...
are changes in it hygrome.ric c.al--
Rapid SUGGESTIONS Of dampness and --y---
viii speedily destroy most species Oh. On r.
There are few species which ore ua.-.-
protected by essential oils contained i- r-.-
texture, but such woods are too rare a.l ID.
liable for general use.
The physical characters Of diffe--- f
Of timber afford the clue % the diff ,-.
solving this problem. Wood Is a r-..
material of great absorbent power upon 1.-
ly all kinds Of liquids. Many kinds viii
serb their own weight Of water under fl-..
able circumstances, and part with a ..
portion Of it again when exposed O. T-
currents Of air. To preserve such v
from decay implies the stOppage 0ftteu-.
by filling them with some imreryi1l- -
stance, OF the slturatiIn Of the timia-v
some antiseptc material.
No process based upon either lf --
principles has as yet been discover Dc
attended with some drawbacks
the process Is expensive. OF the tex---s-.
g., % o 30 Nd =.r4f..- af.-4-- 60.
raj beauty Is marred SD as 10 render j. ---
for ornamental work The latter c11-..=--
ton may be left out Of the account. v
wood is to be applied to the c5arser pa-rl--
of engineering. as piles. railr1ai-tias. I4--
ments, etc, but the item Of expense O..
more heavily in these cases than in 6-ua--.
tal work, where the cost Of The material j.
small item in the cost of the structure
But natural decay is not the only da--
tive agent against which i5 is ueces-ar-
provide. One Of the greatest object
against wood for building purposes is
liability to destruction By FIRE Many -
,esses have been devised u remedy this tr.
and although recent Italian pr0.e-- d.
been iav)rably spoken Of Us being free f
the objections pertaining to processes Of earl
late, it Is quite probable that further r.-
it may not be 50 favorable
s. far as we are aware. no ur.aa-- f..
ever been discovered that could be- r-
,heaply applied u both the uroser7a-i-
wood from decay, AMI alsl from H.
and which at the same e0uldHe relied rr-
Il certain. The most simpleand theche.-..
method adopted, has been that of the .--
plication Of tirepr01f paints bu. paints
liable % crack upon exposure. AID from
natural >hrinkinglnd sprinsing Of rl'-
and thus give access to moisture
method has been only partially sacces.i-.
II Is impossible to give here anything
D detailed notice Of the various wl5I-rra-. .--
ng processes. 4 whole class OF them 4. ID.
GUIDED in the impre-Ha-i0u method. .a vs.. .-
Inherent chemicals possessing a1ti,al-..
'hemieais possessing antIsePtic T-l1a--..
nave been forced by pressure OF an, -r-
nto the pores Of the timber. Sull1a-.
inc, sulphate Of copper, corrosive subj
nats, creo>1te, carbolic acid, cal tar. ,-.
nave been employed, the three last with O.
est results Vet attained. So far as r-,ss..-
ion from natural decay Is eueerasi. a..
4 these processes have been without fajlaa.
n some instances. s. far As these ag.--
elate t. the ereosoHng Of wood. they .-
doubtless due 10 the imperiecJiors in o..
scthod Of perflrming the work. >all.s.
t c1pp'r has also been used quite .at.-.
lily but Is expensive. The u,e af eaI 81.
roducts Is the cheapest method yaj 5...-.-
ut II Is obviously unadalttI g. u-e a..-..
ni>h Is to be given % wood. IL.
.mher thus preserved Is also au .--
be process. We see then TIA. a..--
ke perfect process fr preserving ,'r
nder exposure TO high temVeratlr.- -iiH.
ations in hygrometric condition Is ye---
syised. Il may be thar it IT, imr.-,i ,.
went any method that shall cover -..
inditions Of the problem. The rich .r.a-
'weyer, which most certainly avlis --
rtunate discUveIer Of such "a method.
stimulate experiments IN dis fs.L
We the world something far ahead FOL.
ing yet prop7zcd.-SasHhf- Amr.-
CURIOUS NATURAL Phenomenon 'a...
lrd spring is produced by DTe-e1tue --