The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-09-12
THE BLANCHARD MODE or PREsEH-
WING WOOD.

term Of years, has been directed 10 the
discovery Of some cheap process by
which wood can be preserved in its
original proportions and strength for
great length Of time Two or three
processes have been discovered which
accomplish the object intended, but
the result is attained at such an ex-
pense as to preclude them from COM
ing into general use.
About eight years ago, DR.. Virgil
W. Blanchard, Of Middlebury, in this
state, an inventor of many valuable
machines and processes which are
coming into general use, conceived
the idea Of first perforating the wood
with countless small holes and then
saturatng it with coal tar pitch, the
resduum Of coal tar after the combus-
tible material is all driven out, making
a preparation both water and fire proof.
He first invented the machine for per-
forating the wood and then on apply
ing the pitch, found that it so com
Ipletely saturated and covered the
wood as to render it nearly imperyious
to the two most destructive elements,
fire and water The fibre Of the wood
is not injured in the least by the pitch,
and the holes are so small and made
in such manner that the strength of
the material is not greatly impaired
After improving and perfecting his in
yention the doctor applied for patent
to secure to himself some of the bene-
fits Of his genius, and readily obtain
ed it. He afterward exhibited his in
vention before the Polytechnic Society
which is composed of THE best invent
ors and keenest scientific men of the
country, at one of their meetings at
Cooper Institute, New York, who
without exception, gave it their I'M
qualified approval.
The process is cheap, as it can be
rapidly done, and the material is not
expensive. 1t can be applied to shin
giles, weather boards, sidings, fence
boards, railroad ties, or any other
wood that is exposed to the weather,
with equal facility and profit In adj
dition, poorer quality of wood can be
used for these purposes with equal adj
vantage, thus saving in the cost of the
wood as much as the process of pre-
serving adds to its expense. The util-
ity of the invention can perhaps be
best understood and appreciated when
applied to roofing. II is UNIVERSAL y
acknowledged that were it not for two
impericctious, the shingle roof is per-
lection itself A single roof will take
fire easily and will not last for a great
length Of time. To supply these inn
PROJECTIONS slate has been used to a
great extent, but slate is expensive and
liable TO blow off and break, be-
sides it is difficult to make a slate roof
perfectly tight Cement roofs have
also been used, but they are liable to
crack from the expansion and contrac-
ton Of heat and cold, and settling OF
the building Felting has also been
used, covered with this same coal tar
pitch which would accomplish the OBJ
iect, only that it is liable to crack and
leak from the above causes. A root
made Of shingles prepared by Blan-
chard's method is open to none Of these
objections, is practically FIRE and wa
ter proof, aud will last a lifetime.
/ DIR, Blanchard sold an interest in his
invention to Mr.. Durlee Of Bristol, and
Rev Mr. Blaisdell Of Factory Point.
Several companies have been formed
10 different parts Of the country for
using the method, one at Factory
Point, il our own town called the Dean
company, owning the territory on the
Harlem Extension, Hudson River and
H0usaiouic railroads. Mr.. Dean las
recently put 10 a machine with capac-
ity Of turning out 30 900 shingles 10 =
hours, and Is about to erect building
100 feet by SO, three stories ii height,
and intends 70 turn ont 50 900 shingles
daily They have large number 81
orders for shingles. one from the Trus-
tees q Burr & Burton Seminary, FOR
covering their buildings. The Baptist
Church at Factory Point has been re-
Gently covered with these shingles and
wherever they have been introduced
they are coming into general use.
We append testimonial signed by
tho building committee Of the Baptist
Society, AID City others u our promi-
naat business men, ali Of whom say Il
they have roof to put On, they viii
use these shingles.