The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-11-16
spplhie 70 The IL. i
Y 10 USE
Ell .NEss OF Sim LES.

~ ~ v a ~
q cprled and warped shingles on roofs
5of suburban and country houses area
common but not a pleasing sight In
EallGparts OF the country where build
dngs are covered with wood; Shingles
warp and curl because after a vet
tlng-and they get many-the upper
side dries first. In a few years the
roof leaks. decays, and must come OF.
Many years ago farmers made what
they called their lever lasting" roofs
nut shingles. free from sap, rived with
arrow, and shaved with drawing
knife. Such shingles can not now
be hnd, for the fine straight grained
timber necessary for their manufac.
ture Is scarce and very expensive.
Formerly good wood was plentiful
and shingles cheap. It costs more to
replace leaky roof now, and earnest
search has been made for ways to
check the warping and decay of shin
giles. and make the roof last longer.
The Forest Service has studied the
single problem along with that OF the
preservation OF farm timber. 1t IS
found that shingles treated with ere
osote by n special process which the
service has invented, warp little AMI
decay slowly because water Is kent
out OF the TISSUES OF the wood. Ono
such roof will outlast two or three LETT
In the natural state to curl, spring
leaks, and fall to pieces. The creo.
sote used Is nothing more than dead
oil OF coal tar, but It keeps water
from entering the pores Of the wood
and renders It immune to decay for
| long time. A roof of the kind costs
little more at first, but 1t is cheaper
In the long run. Woods which mr..
usually elassed as inferior, such as
loblolly pine. beech, sycamore, anil
others which are housekeeping read.
lily take the preservatve treatment
and are given largely increased val
ne.
The preserving apparatus Is Meth.
/ or expensive nor hard to operate. One
such outfit will serve several farmers.
The main items are m iron tank ian
i old engine boiler will dO) with prcscr-
vatlve fluid In 1t and fire under IT.
and another tank OF cold preservntiye.
The shingles or other woods to be
treated are immersed for n sufficient
time In the hot creosote, and then In
the cold. Full details OF the operation
are given to applicants for information
by the Forest Service at Washington.
Shingles are one of the most import.
ant lumber products In this country.
Last year nearly twelve billions were
made. Even this enormous number
was heavy falling off, from the total
OF the year before. 1t Is n significant
fact that the chief source of single
supply is now the forests Of the far
northwest. from which shingles are
brought even to New York. The east.
ern sources of supply are not able to
meet the eastern demand. It is there.
fore fortunate that shingles are so
easily given preservative treatment
by which theirs ie2dsglengthened.
Many handsome residences In nil
parts of the country have their sides
and gables covered with shingles. This
architectural use often calls for stain.
ing or painting In harmonious eolors.
Such coloring Is. less frequently seen
on roofs. where II does not last loue
because rain washes 1t Off.
inc Forest Service has been eypc.
rinentinG IN this field also and Inns
found that stains may be carried into
inc shingles. along with the preserya.
tons by the new process. The color.
ing matter is mixed with the creosotc 3
reaches every fiber which the creo.
sote' touches, and lasts as long MS tho
creosote lasts-and that is long time
soeh n stain does not easily weather
! out. whether on walls, gables, or roof
IL IS expected to prove much sunerior
TO the old way of staining or painting
the surface only. -