New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-31
NEW MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISE
ChI.istpn 4, Patten,s Roofing T1les.

snec;fc husiness are not aware of the in
dustrial enterprises constantly springlng up
among and around us, the success OF
which will necessarily increase the pros
peritv of New Orleans, giving her character
and standing as mart Of productive IL
dustrv. as we'll as the commercial emporium
of the Southwest.
As an instance. New Orleans contains, as
far as can he ascerrained, the only estab-
lishment in the country for the manufacture
of roofing tiles, and the articles produced at
this establishment are not only equal 70. but
i'll several respects are an Improvement en-
the factories OF Europe, the principal OF
which are, we believe 70 be found at Null
house, a town IN the French province Of
Alsace. The New Orleans Tile Factory here
spoken of is that Of Messrs Christen & Pat
ten. and is located at the corner OF Levee
aud Cpperiine streets, several squares above
the grain elevator, in what was formerly
Jefferson City.
Tiles for roofing have been little used in
the United States up to the present time
Yet even the old fashioned tile was equal in
efficiency, and superior i'll durability 10 the
best slate roofing. The improved tile now
manufactured in New Orleans possesses, we
are inclined TO believe, a superiority IN
valions points. over any other description
of roofing, that will doubtless bring it even
| tually into general use. particularly among
persons in moderate circumstances.
A few specimens OF the old-fashioned tile
may still be seen upon ancient Spanish
houses in the older portion of New Orleans,
mostly along the three or four streets near
| est the river. from Toulouse street to Bar
racks street. The new tile here noticed is,
however as superior in appearance TO the
| old tile, as il is III every other respect, ex-
cept dura bility.
One "Wednesday afternoon. last week, we
made visit to the Tile Factory, and were
| shown over the works by Mr.. Christen. the
practical man of the establishment. The
factory, with the kiln and other adjunct
buildings, occupies considerable space OF
ground; there IS, however, room for en-
largement, as Mr.. Christen purchased the
square on which the factory stands at the
commencement OF the enterprise.
| The main tactory.wllere shaping and stamp
ing the tiles is carried on, is a large building
about two hundred and fifty feet in length,
something over one hundred feet in width,
a large amount of room being necessary to
dry tire tiles. The machinery for man lltac-
turing. and the steam engine for the NOV
| ing it, occupy about one-siXth OF the build
ing. the remaindar being used for drying
the tiles rs they are turned out from the
press.
The first process is to prepare the mate
rials. In many places along the banks OF
the Mississippi. particularly in the neighbor-
hood of Natchez. there are abundant quan-
titles Of orgilaceous earth. known as - fire
clay" This clay is mixed in equal Quantl-
ties with the common batture sand found i'll
| front OF the levee, and this mixture is the
material of which the tiles are made. The
mixture is effected by putting the material
in a large circular trough, and running a
large wheel through it; the process occupies
about two hours. The mixed material Is
| then conveyed to another part of the build
| ing, and there is passed in small quantities
between two rollers, which ettectually
smash all the small humps. From the rol-
. lers the mixture passes into an elongated,
circular iron hopper, about five feet high,
four feet in diameter at the top, and some
thing like half that measure at the bottom.
A screw. in principle and appear
| ance like the propeller OF a ship. forces the
clay toward the bottom of the hopper.
| where it passes out through a species OF
mould. which gives it the shape and size OF
the tiles The pieces thus moulded are
then placed in a machine very difficult to
describe with any hope of being intelligihle
Here the inchoate tiles are placed one at a
time between two dies, which, pressing the
clay between them, completes the tile, with
all the filings, cutters, etc. Afterward
the tiles are placed in a species of rack,
where they remain till dry enough for the
| kiln. At present it takes from two to eight
days to dry the tiles, but the proprietors
are arranging to use hot air, which will
greatly shorten the process.
From the drying room the tiles are con-
veved to kiln of peculiar construction, 50
that while they do not come in contact with
the fire. they are as thoroughly burned as
| bricks in an ordinary kiln. The burning
process occupies three days. and three more
| are necessary to cool the tiles sufficient fol
handling In burning the tiles coal is used
instead of wood. and it takes twenty barrels
to burn kiln of 10000 tiles. With the
| present machinery the factory turns out
from 300 to 5000 tiles per day.
| lie improvements oll INC NC" oli'"il'
tile which give it its superior value, are: a
series of gutter drains 50 cOntrved III rela
ton to each other, that leakage is mpossi
BILE. no matter how hard the wind may
| blow. or in what direction, and no matter
how low the pitch OF the root may
be. Second, the tiles are SO constructed
as to REQUIRE no mailing or other
fastening. such as shingles. slate, or old
| fashioned tiles require: and the only cement
or mortra needed is on the ridge OF the roof
A third point in their favor is. there beng
no necessity for sheathing where these tiles
are used, so that the expense OF sheathlnS
is saved Finally, they require no skilled
labor to place them; but they can De laio
accurately by any lad, great advantage II
the country where skilled labor is not al
ways attainable.
The Orleans Tile Factory is well worthy
the attention of our citizens, especially J
those with whom economy is an object. The
patentee of the invention, Mr.. Chrlsten, mas
put this factory in successful operation, Il,
an expense of more than thirty Thousand
dollars. 1t was commenced about eighteen
months ago, and is now prepared to supply
orders to any extent.
Since writing the foregoing, we nave
learned that specimens OF the tiles can DC
seen and explanations had at the ofhce o.
Messrs. Green 4 Elder. on Commercial
alley, this firm having the agency OF the
tile factory.