Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-11-30
rnE FOREST SERVICE.
An Interesting Study of the Single
Problem

bS6f~Hts
Curled and warped shingles on
roofs of suburban and country houses
are common but not pleasing sight
in all parts Of the country where
Buildings are covered with wood
Shi",ie WHARF srG I'm be- cause az
ter eetting and they get many
the upper side Afias first. In a few
Years the roof leaks, decays. and must
come off Many years ago farmers
made what they called their ever
lasting roofs of white pine, cedar,
and black walnut shingles. free from
sap, rived with frow, and shaved
with a dlawing knife Such shingles
can not now ne had. for the fine
straight grined timber necessary for
their manufacture is scarce and very
expensive
Formerly good wood was Plentiful
and, shingles cheap. II costs more to
replace leaky roof now, and earnest
900 III haS uctl uidue lOF ways 10
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. II is
found that shingles treated with Gre
osote by a special process which the
service has invented warp but little
and decay slowly because water is
kept out of the tissues Of The wood
One such roof will outIast two or
three left in the natural state to curl.
spring leaks, and fall to pieces. The
creosote used Is nothing more than
dead oil of coal tar, bnt it keeps
water from entering the pores of the
wood and renders 1t immune to decay
for long time. roof OF that kind
costs little more at first, but it is
cheaper in the long run. Woods
which are usually classed as inferior.
such as foblolly pine, beech, syca-
more, and others which are quick-de-
caying, readily take the preservative
treatment and are given largely in
creased value.
The preserving apparatus is neither
expensive nor hard to operate. One
such Outfit will serve several farmers.
The main items are an iron tank Can
old engine boiler will do) with pre-
servative fluid in it and a fire under
it, and another tank of cold preserva-
tive. The shingles or other woods to
be treated are immersed for a sufi-
cient time in the hot creosote, and
then in the cold. Full details of the
operation are given to applicants for
informtion by the Forest Service at
Washington.
Shingles are one of the most inn
portant lumber products in this coun-
try. Last year nearly twelve billions
We're made. Even this enormous num-
her was a heavy falling off from the
toll of the year before. 1t is a sig
ficant fact that the chief source or
shingles supply is now the forests OF
the far northwest, from which shin
giles are brought even to New YORK.
The eastern sources of supply are not
able to meet the eastern demand. 1t is
therefore fortunate that shingles are
SO easily given preservative treat
ment by which their life is lengthen-
ed.
Many handsome residences in all
parts of the country have their sides
and gables covered with shingles.
This architectural use often calls for
staining or painting in harmonious
colors. Such coloring is less frequent
Ivy seen on roofs, where it does not
last long. because rain washes it off.
The Forest Service has been exper
imenting in this field, also, and has
found that stains may be carried into
the shingles, along with the preserva-
tives by the new process The color
lhS HALTER Is mixed WIN the creO-
sote, reaches every fiber which the
creosote touches, and lasts as long
as the creosote lasts-and that is a
long time. Such stain does not
easily weather out. whether on walls,
gables. or roof 1t is expected to
prove much superior to the old way
OF staining or painting the surface
only.