The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-02-05
MExIcO'S LACK or LUMBER.
The Native Product ~ Description Of q
Mexican HOuse-AdObe.

The Native Product ~ Description Of .
Mexican House-Adobe.
Scientific Americana
United States Consul Winslow, Of
Guerrero, writes that the amount of
timber useful for manufacturing pur
poses in northern and central Mexico is
very limited. The mesquite, the prin-
cipal native product, although it is very
hard wood, and capable Of taking fine
polish, is not suitable for general MANU-
featuring purposes, as the trunk and
branches are very crooked, and
straight piece of over two yards long sell
dom occurs. 1t is used, however, for
making doors, door frames, for railroad
ties, and for the heavy beams placed
over tho doors to support the stone
walls, and for number Of other articles
for which long lumber is not required.
Its hardness, color, susceptibility of
taking q fine polish, recommend it as
useful for venecring, for making clocks,
sewing machines, tool handles, and
some articles of furniture.
There is, and will be, a demand for
lumber, especially pine lumber, at those
points reached by the Mexican Central,
National, and International railroads,
as new towns are being built along these
roads; and, besides, large quantities Of
lumber arc used in the mines and in the
construction of bridges. All this lum-
Der must come for tho United States,
but then the demand is not SO great rs
may be supposed, as the manner in
which Mexican houses are built must be
taken into consideration. Tho houses,
with but few exceptions, are of one
story, some twenty feet high, and from
twelve to fifteen wide, with fiat roofs;
built of blocks Of stone, with walls two
feet thick. The floors are made of con-
crete, consisting Of lime, sand.
small stones, and water mixed
together. The ground having been
le.eled where tho floor is TO
be made, this composition is spread
evenly over the surface, il allowed to
dry somewhat, and is then beaten down
by heavy wooden pestles, and aftcrward
when nearly dry is smoothed down and
polished by rubbing it over with round
blue limestone. This requires consider
able time and patience. The floor when
thus made is smooth and glossy and
hard, and will last twenty years.
Wood floors arc not suitable for this
country, as they are liable to be eaten
by insects, and afford hiding place for
vermin. The walls are plastered inside
and outside, and whitewashed. The
roof is made by extending joists from
one wall to another, SO that the ioists
show inside, and on tho principal ioist
is painted datc of building and some
religious or political motto. over
the joists is nailed a flooring of
boards, so that the flooring Of Mexican
house is really on the roof. Over tho
roof is spread composition, similar to
that of the floor, which is also Featcn
down, SO that the house becomes per-
fcctly watcrtight and fireproof, and will
easily last 100 years. For example, the
house in which the consul lives was
| built in 117s. Tho roofing is of sabine
and the doors Of mesquite, and they are
still sound.
! The houses consist generally of one
room, some ten or twelve yards long.
with sometimes another attached. as a
kitchen; but the kitchen is most FIRE
quently made Of adobe, and thatchcd
with straw, and is in the back yard, re-
tired from the house. The houses OF
| the poorer class are made of adobe, OF
of sticks struck in the ground and plas-
tered with mud.