The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-01-13
Written I,r The ADyOCATE.
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
ny A PRAcTTAL MECHANIC.

We commence with the assertion that
gravel and composition roof, if composed
uf proper material and rightly put ON, comes
the nearest to an actual fire proof covering
to building of anything now in use in thin
country and in proof Of the assertion We
will refer the reader 10 facts a. they nov
exist, not only in Detroit, but in other
cities where they have been subjected 70
severe tests.
Many uf the readers ~ this article will
remember the fire at the Brass Foundry Of
six hours in the pattern shop where there
was a large quantity nf combustible mate
rial, such as patterns for mnulders' use &c;
and it is admitted BY spectators at the fire,
and even the proprietors themselves, that
the superior quality of the material com
posing the r'of saved the whole structure
and adjoining buildings from destruction.
Also the burning of the large dry gp"d
store of Farringdon & Co., ON Jefferson
Avenue, in the centre If large brick block.
The building was stored from cellar to the
stock in trade of a wholesale dry g,-L-
house. The rDof resisted the intense heat,
and remained az firm Az il was when put
on, until all timbers and rafters that sup
parted the roof were burned away, il thea
fell into the cellar. and. but for tearing apart
by the fall. the material was a. perfect as
when put on the building, and when the
roof fell the adjoining roofs III the same
block were subjected to terrible shower
of fire and heat, but being composed If the
same material, and put on BY the same
firm. they effectually resisted the action nt
the tire. Another instance-when the
Merchants Hotel burnt IN Woodbridge
4. street which was partly covered with tiIL
roof, and the balance with gravel, the INr-o
covered with tin gave way from the effects
If the heat hours before the gravel, a cir
cumstance at the time, witnessed BY hun
dreds of our citizens and the editors and
, pruprietors Of the Free Press" came
out the next morning with long article
stating that gravel and composition roof
was superior ~ amy other to resist fire
Six years ago a sInke and fellow factory
was gutted by FIRE in Toledo. and although
more than half the rafters were burned oH,
and small holes through the rOof-boarts at
places, and after being exposed to All ill.,
tense heat for several hours, caused BY the
burning Of the material used IN such an es
tahlishmcnt. va examination il was only
found necessary e. put on anew four squares
ont IT forty uld squares composing the
rvof. and il remains g"usl tn this day and is
perfectly satisfactory t. the owners and oc-
cuIants IL the building. II is well kRown
here that the Dctf-.it hremen look sharp
after every other kind "a r,of ~ fire. ana
leave the gravel and composition roofs with
hut little. II any, attention, thus acknowl-
cdgIIg their superiority IN resisting IRE
IL II alsn nown from experience that eth
er tim, slate "r iron ropts. ~ soon A. they
are exposed ~ great heat, form sort ~
vcntilator caused by the solder melting from
the tin, thus leaving the covering in de-
tached parts, and aiding the spreading Of
the fire instead Of preventing it, The heat
will also cause an iron roUf to curl and
twist from its fastenings, thus making il
useless nv regards con6ning the fire, and
slate forms sort Of sieve when exposed tO
any great amount of heat, and il also dan
gerous by cracking and flying in pieces
when water is thrown ON it, while the slate
10 lH'SeNt W u kFcdt meat.
1t has been ascertained by examination
that a composition roof, made from the
right kind of materials such M are used hy
the firm that have covered some of the best
buildings in this city, have resisted fire in
every case until a stream Of water could he
brought to bear upon the burning building.
The reasons II the superiority " good
gravel and composition roof nhloak4ediY
are that the composition, IL made frn4sfAwn
proper material makes thpSof air tiaht
and IN ca,s@-n -nFe the heat causes sncS a,
--lSsssense smoke that II stifes the fame and
prevents even the boards On which il is laid
from igniting or burning To any extent, and
until the rafters and all other support tn
the roof is burned away it remains compact
and firm. We have given facts to substan-
tiate our assertions that gravel roof Ia the
nearest to an actual ire-proof covering for
building, be it large or small, and could,
II necessary, cite scores more Of practical
tests to which the composition roof has been
subjected both in this city and elsewhere.
But as several articles have appeared IN
print, calculated t. bring all kinds of com
p"sitl"n roofing into disrepute, evidently
written by persons interested in some other
process OF kind If material t0 he used. or
else they were 81 ignorant of the whole sub
ject that they could not tell good gravel
roof from q mousquito bar. Another rea-
son why gravel roof, of the kind We mem
ton, is preferable is: A good and durable
article can be put on for about one-thirl
the price II tim, and about one quarter the
cost Of slate therefore, it must certainly
be the most desirable for those building
new, or repairing old buildings with limit
cd means. But, says one, il " nat always
good policy 10 buy the cheapest especially
IN 50 important an article N the covering
u store or dwelling But, We answer
# as good an article or better can he obtain
ed for the lesser price ii certainly would he
useless expenditure to pay more. There
fore, 70 sum II all mp. we say that gravel
and composition roOf, composed Of good
material, is the safest, cheapest, and, with
little attention. quite as durable as any
other now in nse in this Iuntry.