The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-09-03
Walks and Talks About Town.
]. Welsh, Slate RO0ser, ut
DOdson Bros, Main st.

the principles of architecture and be.
gan the erection Of dwellings, other
than TENTS and wigwams, the question,
Which is the cheapest. most substantial,
durable ADD lightest roof has been
mooted. Various materials have been
used, but they have been found to pos
sess not more than one Of the requisite
qualifications. After straw, large palm
leaves covered With cement were used.
then came slabs OF wood which were
modifei into the shingles of to day.
Then cement, copper. tin, lead, gravel,
slate and other material came into use.
Copper, lead and tin were found to be
possessed Of two requisites. They were
light and substantial enough to afford
protection from fire, but they were
without durability. Copper and lead
expand under the action OF the sun and
contract IN winter. Copper corrodes,
and by the expansion and contraction
cuts itself into holes and is shortly
rendered worthless. Lead is better
than copper in these respects, but a. it
melts under a given heat, it is no pro,
lection 10 case OF fire. Tin, even
though it is vulcanized, will not last in
this climate. 1t is very shortly rend-
cred worthless, and when it begins to
90 is worse than no roof at all
A shingle roof is not fit for the roof
of house in the city. They are not
SAFE in the first place, being very lia-
BILE to take fire alter a long dry spell,
without any apparent cause. In the
second place they never last more than
ten or twelve years and the cost OF re-
pairing shingle roof is enormous.
All these materials have been faith
fully and thoroughly tried both in this
country and in the old world, and the
unanimous verdict of architects and ct
house owners in both continents is in
favor OF slate roo's. They only cost
about one-thitd more than shingle
roofs, and while shingles, as we state
above, are decayed in ter or twelve
wears, there are slate roofs in England
that have been on four hundred years
and are apparently as good to-day as
when first laid.
From all the evidence before US we
are forced to the conclusion that slate
roof more closely fills the requirements
Of good roof than any other. 1t is
cheapest, because when once put on in
proper style as by master workman
such as J. Welsh undoubtedly is, it is
on forever. 1t is as perfectly fire proof
as any roof can possibly be. 1t is not
liable to the action OF air. Neither heat
nor cold effects it. Heat does not burn
nor wet rot it. The sulphur in the at
mosphere does not corrode it, nor any
atmospheric change effect it. 1t is,
therefore, most durable, and il, in feet,
the only durable roofing material
known. So highly are slate roofs es-
termed by the insurance companies that
they charge nearly one-third less to
insure buildings covered with slate than
those rooted with any other material.
As it was formerly built, it was only
objected to because of its weight. This
objection modern science has removed,
and slate roof is now but little, il any,
heavier than one made OF other mate.
rial. All things considered, there is no
roof that is as cheap, substantial, light
and durable as a roof made Of slate.
Like all roofs, to be good it must be
we'll put on. Slate roofing is a science.
1t is not every one who can build a
slate roof well. j. Welsh, whose work
this city speaks bis skill. is one CT the
most experienced slate roofers in the
country. He understands the business
in all its parts. Orders may be left Tor
him at Dodson Brothers, Main street,
and they will receive promp; attention.