Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-12
Government Issues Statement
Regarding Asbestos.
OUTPUT SAID TO BE SMALL I;
Less Than Seven Hundred Tons Pro-
duced Last Year.
TRACED BACK TO ANCIENTS
First Used Only for Spinning and
Weaving-United States Is
Largest Manufacturer.

The mad roar of explosive delight
through which the city passed July in
it's celebration of the nations birthday
anniversary, with its resultant accidents
to individuals and its destruction of prop
erty by fire. is followed by the announce
ment that asbestos is within the reach or
those who construct theaters, halls and
other public places of amusement, and
home as we'll.
The information concerning the useful
material contained in recent bulletin OF
the United States geological survey In
dicates that only 653 tons constituted tho
output of asbestos I'm the United States
during the year 1907.
The sporadic use of asbestos can be
traced back to ancient times it is ex-
planned. but it was not until about forty
years ago that Investigations were begun
in Europe to develop its application on a.
commercial scale. About the same time
specimens of fine Canadian asbestos were
exhibited abroad. In 1873 fifty tons were
shipped from Canada to England, and
after that date the advances in the appli-
cation of asbestos in commerce became
rapid
Nature of First Use.
Asbestos was at first used only for
spinning and weaving. to make incom-
bustible thread. yarn, rope and cloth.
and this use has continued to be it's most
important application ever since the days
of the Greeks and Romans. OF late how
ever. it has been widely used in the cleo
trical arts as basis of insulation which
must withstand rather high temperatures.
and also as fibrouS binder for great
number of insulating compounds. 1t is
practically the only fiber of refractory
nature that is at the same time an cleo
trical insulator of high order Further
asbestos lis not affected by many of the
active chemical agents likely to attack
most insulators. 1t is also extensively
used for boiler and pipe coverings to pre-
vent heat radiation. we'll as for theater
curtains and other fireproof cloths or
fabrics. Mixed with other substances 1t
forms various ncOmbustible and insulat-
ing pastes and moldable or solid materials
suited to many different purposes. Such
compounds are asbestos building lumber,
century shingles. asbestos wood. asbestos
slate, asbestic for stucco and plaster and
asbestolith.
"A mass of asbestos broken into fibers
and then compressed is highly porous; vet
1t may he rendered not only waterproof.
but an especially effective insulator under
conditions of varying moisture by being
saturated with certain varieties of as
phaN.
Non-Conductor of Heat.
LAS a non-conductor of heat it is used
not only in the preparation of fireproof
safes and vaults. but also for cbld-storage
and cooling structures. Houses made Of
asbestos materials or coated with asbest os
throughout are not only warmer in win
| ter. but cooler in summer.
Although the United States is the
| largest manufacturer and consumer OF
asbestos products in the world. the as
bestos used in its factories comes almost
wholly from Canada. The quantity mined
in the United States is insignificant. the
total output for 1907 being only 653 short
tons the smallest annual production
since 1896. The cause of the decline is
found in the better quality and the
greater abundance and accessibility Of the
Canadian asbestos, which completelr
dominates the industry in the United
States.
Nearly all of the domestic output
comes from the Sail mountain and Holly
wood mines in Georgia. which is the only
state that furnished asbestos for the mar
ket in 1907.
Virginia. which has been a producer
for years, failed TO show any output in
1907. its mines and mills having been
closed The formations that contain
asbestos in Canada extend into Vermont
where a large enterprise was started sew
eral years ago. but soon proved unsuc-
cessful. Texas produces a small amount
of asbestos. which is used locally iu<khe
manufacture of asbestos paint. DepItfta
that may prove valuable are found 1fst6
in Wyoming, Arizona and Califef11n h1aS
none of these has yet been explotf