The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-05-21


of which 1t is composed are as soft rs
silk, and fine and feathery enough to
float on water. Yet in the mines they
are so compressed that they are hard
and crystalline like stone.
Although the substance has been
known for ages in the form of noun
tain cork or mountain leather, com
paratively little has been learned as TO
its geological history AMI formation.
a legend tells how Emperor Charlie
magne, being possessed of table
cloth woven OF asbestos, was accus-
toned to astonish his guests by gath
ering it up after the meal, casting it
into the fire and withdrawing it later,
cleansed but unconsumed.
Yet, although the marvellous attri-
butcs of asbestos have been known for
SO long they were turned to little
practical use until about twenty years
ago. Since that time the manufactures
of the material has grown until it can
take its place shoulder to shoulder with
any ofthe giant industries of this conn
try. Indeed, so rapid has been its prog
ress and development that there is al
most no literature Of any kind on the
subject, and to the popular mind it is
still one of those dim, iuexplainable
things.
Up to the '70s nearly all the ashes
tos uscl came from the Italian Alps
and from Syria, but one day party
OF explorers discovered rich deposit
IN what is known as the eastern town
ships of Quebec in Canada. Com.
panies were Mt once formed and in
1879 the mines were opened.
The Canadian mines are located in
wild, rough country almost outside of
the pale of civilization. The sides of
the hills cape with great holes in
which the mea-mostly French CAM
dians-are at work. Toe veins of
chrysotile, rs the Canadian asbestos is
called, are from two to four inches in
thickness and are separated by thin
layers of hornblende crystals The
nearer to the surface the veins run the
conrscr are the fbers and the less
valuable.
The mining is done by means of the
most improved quarrying machinery.
Holes are drilled in long rows into
the sides of the cliffs by means of
steam drills. They are then loaded
with dynamite and exploded simulta-
neously by wires connecting with an
electric battery in such way that II
whole ledge of the rock falls into the
bottom OF the pit at once. Then the
workmen break out as much Of the
pure asbestos as possible, load it into
great tubs or tracks, which are hoisted
out by means or steam derricks, and
run along to the "cob house" Here
scores of boys are kept busily en-
ployed crumbling or ''cobbing" the
pieces of rock away from the asbestos
and throwing the Jumps of good fiber
to one side, where it is placed in
rough bales or sacks ready for ship
ment TO the factory.
The greatest work in connection
with the mining of asbestos Is in dis
posing of the waste rock and the re-
fuse OF the quarry. Only about one
twenty-fifth OF the material quarried
10 real asbestos and the rocky parts
have to be lifted out aHd carried away
to the dnmps mt great expense.
As the asbestos comes from the
mines it is in small Jumps OF a green
ish or yellowish hue and the edges are
furried with lose fibers. The more
nearly white the asbestos is the better
its grade. The length Of fiber is also
Of great Importance, the largest being
tne most valuable.
From the mines the asbestos is
taken 10y rail to the manufacturers in
the United States. Here the Jumps of
the substance are emptied from the
sacks and fel into the hopper OF
powerfully built machine, not unlike
m old fashioned stone process flour
mill. They are crushed through ser
les OF rolls until the hbers are all sen
nrated into duffy masses, when they
pass out along d trough anil into n
separator Here the small pieces Of
stone and other rclrs rattle ont
through % sieve and the long fibers are
separated by series Oh comL-like
sleves into various lengths The very
short ones are taken ont Go the pulp
mills, where they ere ground up Emo
ior the manufacture OF eoiil packing
for steam pistons, Mill board aud
other commOlitias. Tie longer fbcrs
are gathered together, carlcJ and spun
ito yarn, just like cotton or wool.
After that the substance may be
woven into cloth in various WAYS.
The cloth is Of d dirty waite color AID
Eas soapy feeling
The uses Of asbestos are almost in.
Vulnerable. Ground fine and com
binod with colors aud oils by secret
process 10 makes q beautiful pnint.
which is said 10 go far toward fire
proohny The surface To- which t is ap.
piled. Various kinds OF roofing nro
also madc by treatiug strong canvas
with % combination OF asbestos and
felt aud backing it with manila paper.
It is extensively Jsej for roofs of fac.
tcricp, railroad shops, bridges, steam
boat decks and other plocoJ where
there is danger of fire
Nearly every one has seen the thick
asbestos felt covering for steam pipes
and furnaces Asbestos cement il
sometimes used for hot. blast pipes and
fire heated surfaces. As apsoaing for
locomotive pistons, valve stems md
oil pumps it is almost indispensable.
1t Is also made into ropes and mill