The new South-news., 1908-04-11

Preesss ~ Preserving Rees~s ~
NoSiAl.


tosial.
CUF1ed and warped shingles on rocfa
q suburban and country houses are .
common but not a pleasing sight In
all parts Of the country where build
tnEs are covered with wood. Shingles
warp and curl because after = wctsing
and they get nany-the upper side
dries nrst- In few years the roof
leaks. decays and must come Oh.
Many years ago farmers made what
they called their everlasting roofs
Of white pine. cedar and black walnut
shingles. free from sap. rived with
frow and shaved with q drawing knife.
Such shingles cannot now be had. for
the fne, straight-grained timber ns<'-
essary for their manufacture is scarce
and very expensive.
Formerly good wood was plentiful
and shingles cheap. II costs more 10
replace leaky roof now. and earnest
search has been made for ways to
check the warping and decay Of shia-
giles and make the roof last longer.
The forest service has studied the
shingle problem along with that OF the
preservation of farm timber. II is
found that shingles treated with ereo-
sote by special process which the
service has invented warp but little
and decay sloely. because water is
kept out OF the tissues Of the wood
One such roof will outlast 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, but II keeps vat
er from entering the pores OF the
for long time roof Of that kind
costs a little more at first, but ii Is
cheaper in the long run. Woods which
are usually classcd as inferior. such
as loblolly pine, beech, sycamore and
others which are quick decaying. read
ily take the preservative treatment.
and are given largely increased val
ue.
The preserving apparatus is neither
expensive nor hard to operate. One
such outfit will serve several farmers.
The main items are an iron tank ian
old engine boiler will do) with pres
ervation fluid in It and Are under II.
and another tank of cold preservative.
The shingles or other woods to be
treated are immersed for a sufficient
time in the hot creosote and then In
the cold.
Shingles are one OF the most impor-
tant lumber products In this country.
Last year nearly twelve billion were
made. Even this enormous number
was heavy falling OF from the total
Of the year before. II Is a significant
fact that the>chief source Of chingle
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 II is there
ore fortunate that shingles are so cas-
lily given a preservative treatment by
which their life is heightened.
Many handsome testdences in all
parts IL the sountfy havs their sfds1
and gables covered With shingles. This
architectural use often calls for stain
ing or painting in harmonious colors.
Such coloripg is less frequently seen
on roofs. where II does not last long.
because rain washes It of.
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
ing matter Is mixed with the creosote.
reaches every fibre which the creosote
touches. and ..sts as long as the ere
osote lasts and that Is long time.
! Such a 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 nly..-Washingtcn Star