The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-12-13
. SUGGESTION TO COPPER len.

Under the above caption the New
York Metal Worker makes q sug'
gestion to copper producers, which
deserves their serious consider alton.
The fact cannot, nor is it attempted
to be disguised, that the continued
decline in the market value Of the
metal is becoming q matter Of very
grave import to copper producers
and any new Uses to which it can
be probably applied should be en-
couraged by its producers. In referr'
ing to the use of copper for roofins
purposes, the journal named says:
"The position of the manufacturers
of ingot copper at the present time,
who are asking for increases con-
sumption for their product, and
through whose influence the present
discussion of copper roots has been
started, is not unlike that of the Vile
Montague Zinc Company, which
some years sgo, for the purp Jose OF
increasing the demand for its rolled
zinc, began to give earnest attention
to the employment of zinc 70 roof
ing purposes. Up to that time, we
imagine, from the records thai have
reached US, zinc had given as poor
results as q roofing material IN Great
Britain and on the Contine mt as
almost any material that might
be named. BY the employ ment
of competent engineers the use OF
zinc for roofing purposes was thor
oughly investigated, and the lines OF
its successful employment clearly
marked out. The result was a greater
triumph for the company than was
anticipated even by the most SAL equine
promoters of the scheme.
Something like the effort put forth
by the Vile Montague Zinc col npany
at that time, would undoubtedly be
of advantage to the copper pro- ucers
at the present time. No one doubts
the durability of copper, cons dered
in the abstract. That it is va uable
as a material after it has been used
for roofing purposes, in the event Of
the building on which it has been
being torn down, 3 uni
versally conceded. The fact, how
ever, that ZONE copper roofs have
given anything but satisfaction q, ron
lers the public somewhat afraid to
the extra amount requir ted in
order to roof a building with c Upper.
If the ipgot copper people, or some
,ne else sufficiently interested to
warrant the expense, would inves-
;igate the subject OF copper roofs
practically, and emulate the action
the Vile Montague Zinc com pany,
~ putting in the hands of eve ~ ar
and builder in the land dia-
rams showing how copper roofs
nay be constructed cheaply in point
# first cost, so far as labor is con-
they would create a de mand
or copper that would be som what
to themselves. w 10 feel
rec to suggest this, for there is but
title probability that anything of the
lind would occur to them sa We by
'romptings from an outside sou rec.
W. are led to this opinion by the
ction of others under simila n cir
umstances. Those In this cohntry
Who were most interested / p tin
oofs q few years since, namely, the
Importers of British tin plases, wore
to sit helpless while the guam
lty of the goods they handled ran SO
wv a. to put tin roofs practically
ut of use on the better class of build
ags. AS the Metal Worker pointed
ut at the time, it would have been
act of se%lf-interest, if not SELF
reservation, to take some steps by
'hich the integrity of tin roofs should
e maintained. Nothing Of the
ind was done, however, and matters
emained in this condition unit The
fetal Worker took up the question,
nd by persistent agitation Of the
secured the importation of
n plates out of which as good tin
1ofs as ever were laid are now being
'ade daily. 1
What has been accomplished in ,
re tin-plate movement shout en- I
the copper men. TIL COM
at large want good qua lily in i
he goods they buy, and the Y are
.sily educated up to an apprec citation !
7 q really good article. At present
lere is a great deal of ignoran ice on ,
le subject of copper roofs, and the E
fort to remove this and make archi- ,
cts and builders, as well as metal r
orkers, thoroughly familiar with i
70 manner in which q copper roof O
be laid cannot fail to produce r
le most beneficial results. l like .
amer an investigation into, and a +
lblication of, proper methods in T
ing copper in various other direc- r
,ns, providing always low pr ices of b
IS assured, will produc e de-
able results. The copper mt n, to 9
In the advantage Of the prese mt OF o
rtunity, needs to do some very s
work. d
to the inability of Pre- ident u
thur to be present, he will open .
. Worlds Exposition at Ne Or %
ms by electricity, surround ed by g
,ols--l - Al n