The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-04-18
SUBSTITUTE FOR GLASS.

Wire Wovo Roofing.
The introduction of q material com.
bining all tho advantages of glass with
none OF the corresponding disadvant.
ages arising from its brittleness will be
hailed with interest by every class OF
the public, who suffer daily in one
form or another from the fragile ma
ture OF the article it is now sought to
supersede. The transparent wire-wove
roofing, which is translucent. pliable
as leather, and unbreakable, has for
its basis web of fine iron wire, with
warp and welt threads about one
twelfth of an inch apart. This netting
is covered on both sides with thick
translucent varnish, containing large
percentage of linseed oil. The process
OF manufacture is conducted by dipping
the sheets into deep tanks containing
the composition until the required
thickness is obtained; the sheets are
then dried in heated chamber, and
after being stored for some time till
thoroughly set, are ready for use. The
sheets can be made any color desired,
and range from amber to pale brown.
The roofing is very pliable; and bend
ing backwards and forwards without
any injury, readily adapts itself to
curves or angles in roofing. The new
material is not only waterproof. but is
unaffected by steam, the heat of the
sun, frost, hail, rain. or indeed atmos-
pheric changes ofany kind. Being a nom
conductor, buildings, winter-gardens
and similar structures remain cool in
summer and warm in winter. Owing
to its lightness as compared with glass
only half a pound per square foot
considerable economy in the iron or
timber framing designed to carry it
can be secured, whilst saving in car
riage is obtained in addition to safety.
Turning now to the question of cost.
Wire-wove roofing is more expensive
in first cost than ordinary glass; but
the many advantages, both in erection
and maintenance, already set forth
will, in the opinion Of those interested
in the question, more than counter
balance the primary additional outlay.
A material that requires no glazing,
can be cut with scissors and fixed with
zinc nails, is an economical one to erect.
For churches, passages, staircases,
special colored varieties, to simulate
glass similarly prepared are manufac-
tured. Both the Admiralty and War
Office have availed themselves of the
advantages to be derived from the en-
ployment of the new roofing material;
whilst it may be added that the Royal
Aquarium at Westminster is entirely
covered with it.
A list of the many and varied uses
to which the wire-wove roofing may be
applied would be long one; amongst
others, may be mentioned: Roofs of
cotton mills, explosive and other fac
tories, workshops of all classes, brew
cries, printing-works, railway stations,
exhibitions, cricket pavilions, lawn
tennis courts, verandas, porches and
covered ways, lighthouses, engine-room
skylights, Conservatives, ferneries,
garden-frames and summer-houses,
kiosls, stables, loose-boxes for horses
and cattle, barns, cowhouses and shep-
herds houses, pheasantries, poultry
runs, lighthouses and kennels, sky
lights, markets. schools. laundries,
portable buildings, temporary struct-
ures, hospital and military huts, and
all other buildings requiring to be light
and dry.-Chambers' journal.