The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1886-12-20
HOUSE TOPS.
SHELL AND GRAVEL ROOFING AND
ITS PATENT APPLICATION TO OUR
STORE HOUSES AND HOMES.

Thos. Kerr. the Owner OF the Works Dis
courses at Length In the Superb
GRITTY OF His Roofnng and Shows
Proof Thereof.
A few evenings since waen the seven
stars were In the zenith Of the sky, fiery
Orion not far away and Pleiades smiling
serenely upon mother earth, q LIGHT
representative was invited to buggy
ride by Mr.. Thos. Kerr, the ell lent
proprietor OF the shell and gravel
roofing works In this city.
only few years ago when l
came to San Antonio &C the special
request OF the International and Great
Northern railway company, to apply
our roofing to all their buildings here
and 1t was their frat train that came to
San Antonio. Right here 1t IL In
place to safe. referring to the
roofs OF all the warehouses, depot
buildings and all buildings belonging
to said company are now 10 as good
condition as they were when fret con-
| structed.
Facts are generally established by
good evidence or solid experience" said
Mr.. Kerr, and the work that have done
proves the claim.
A first. class water. proof roof is
able parts to u perfect building-as much
SO as a good foundation upon which 1t
| is built. The LIGHT takes the unstinted
| pleasure OF recording a few facts CLEANED
| from the inspection Of books and gener-
| al Information given by MIR. Kerr, who
ts devOting his entire attention {" the
roofing, paving and sewer business.
The contract entered into and success
fully completed by the firm with the In
n raj nj rod
| q great deal OF attention, and the firm
| as II then existed were soon pressed from
all aides by builders and contractors
for their services, and though, Ms
they thought, but temporarily here,
found themselves compelled to open n
branch OF their business In San Antonio.
short resume or summing up OF
come OF the most prominent cont, acts
entered into and successfully completed
by the firm are many Of the finest build
ings In this city: NAV rick hotel, Ter
rell block. and large number OF other
principal buildings erected during the
last seven years. are covered with this
roofing At Galveston It Is CON-
sldered the safest Of all house COW
erings ever used, besides being the
cheapest and most durable. Ball,
q Kempner, and many others, use
and endorse this roofing. The Nor
gan steamship company hold II In such
high repute that for ID years they have
made use Of this class OF roofing only.
The cotton compress alone contains
more than l20O0 squares. OIL mills,
manufactures, and \ majority Of the
finest buildings have tested Its good
qualities since its first introduction and
parties who have tested this roofing for
| the mast twentS veara
Ii 10 regarded by underwriters and
fire departments, as the following oertiti-
Gates will show, as safe as any, II not
more so. The Methods OF applica-
tion are simple. A two.ply felt Is
rolled over the sheeting and this is
mopped with a heavy coating OF the
hot composition; this is followed by an
other covering OF felt and the oompo.i-
tiOn Is again poured over 1t hot, It's up
per and final surface being gravel or
shell.
Coming to home affairs, and as
qualities. Mr.. Kerr was EN- ployed
with his forces to cover the new
opera-house. Only few days
roof Of only three weeks standing
and owing to its faulty qualities WAS re-
placed by Mr.. Kerr with his roofing. At
Taylor, Tex. several buildings, Inclusive
OF the Taylor hotel, more than one hun
dred squares OF this roofing have b. sn ap-
piled. On all the Arkansas rail- way build.
ings are used this same roofing, as well
as the Missouri Pacific and Gulf. Colo.
RADIO and Santa Fe railroads; also the In
ternatiOnal and Sunset.
Mr.. Byrnes. the former partner Of Mr..
Kerr, though not any more directly con-
nected with the San Antonio establish
ment. 10 largely interested and doing
business on his own account NJ
Galveston. In saying that the
finest and best buildings through.
out the United States are covered
with this roofing, is not stating too
much, and only recently Mr.. Kerr was
called to Austin to re-roOf block o
buildings belonging to Mr.. j. W. Han.
mig, Of this city.
Mr.. Thomas Goodman. president oil
the Chlasgo Board Of Underwriters. un.
der date Of October 2nd last, writes that
ain this city (Chic ,go) think the pro
portion Of buildings which have cOmpo
sitiOn roofs 10 five out of every six "
Bosros TARIFF Assoc q ATIos.l
Messrs. Byrnes & Kerr.
GESTLEMES-In reply To your favor OF som,
DAYS ago. permit me to say that we do not
this city make any DIST notion In the matter o
roofing. and charge as muon tor tin roofs u
OsBORSE HowEs. JR..
Secretary Boston Tariff Association.
No. 70 kiiby street.
OFFICE CHIEF EsoINEER FIRE DEPT,
st. Louis, October 8, 1888.
Messrs. Byrnes Kerr. San Antonio.
GEsTLExES-You have asked me to answe
the following questions:
l. II composition and gravel roofs are al
lowed IN the IRE lintsf answer yes.
| ~ a nd nj hnr Arar