The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-05-15
ASBESTOS.
Last Years Production the Highest Re-
corded.

.
corded.
In the animal and vegetable KING
doms fibrous structure is common ana
renders many materials most useful &c
man. The discovery and utilization Of
fibrous structure is one Of the early
steps in the development Of eiylliza,
ton. But organic fibers are ephemeraI
They are easily destroyed
In the mineral kingdom fbrous struc'
ture is unique. It is practically nm
tied TO asbestos, according to ] p
Diller, geologist Of the United States
geological survey, in a recent report,
The possibilities of usefulness possessed
by this mineral are far from being
fully appreciated, not only by the gen
eral public but by the manufacturer
in search of material for special pur
poses to which asbestos may well %
applied
Asbestos in its highest development
Is not only fibrous but its fbers nave
a high degree Of hexibility and gooC
degree Of tensile strength and elasticity
Furthermore it is incombustible, being
thus strongly contrasted with organl'
fiber and rendered most valuable tol
fire prooling
Has an Important Role.
Asbestos plays more important
part in the national life than is gener
ally credited TO it The well made as
bestos theater curtain assures TN
safety Of the audience from stage hires
In the home the asbestos covering o
the furnace and heating pipes, or OF TN
gas logs in the open fireplace, makes
fcr economy and comfort Wherever
steam is used as a motive power u
factories on trains, or on ships, u Il
asbestos packing that holds the steam
to its work; on the other hand II eiec
tricity is employed the wires are prop
ably insulated with asbestos tape an'
the adjacent parts are made Of as
bestos lumber" Asbestos shingles an'
sheathing make houses cooler in sum
mer and warmer in winter and reduc'
the FIRE risk. From the ice hous'
where asbestos protects the brine pipe
from the heated air, to the foundry
where it shields the workman from tn
molten metal in the workshop, TN
home, or the place of amusement, as
bestos contributes materially to humai
welfare
United States Asbestos Deposits.
The United States has long he'll
first place as manufacturer of as
bestos goods but the raw material 10
that purpose was freely drawn iron
Canada, at present the chief source
the worlds supply II Is however
gratifying to learn from Mr. Diller'
report that the production Of asbesto
| in the United States is not only III
creasing in quantity but improving =
quality The total output for III
was the greatest credited to the Unite
| States. being 1898 tons valued a
sGs. 35T. This was an increase OF z
pei cent in quantity over the produee
! tion in 1909 with brighter prospect
for the future
There are two varieties OF asbestos
the serpentine variety (chrysolitel an
the amphibole variety. The former
tho more valuable Georgia and Yer
mont are the chief asbestos producer
the former OF amphibole and the latte
of chrysotile which Is reported by man
ufacturers TO compare favorably Wit
that imported from Canada. The pro
duction in Wyoming and Idaho ia
advanced, but in those states the N
dustry il still in the development stag
and has not become permanently estsn
/ lished
Mr.. OILERS report is published a
an advance chapter Of Mineral Ke
sources Of the United States" for lsls
and copies may be obtained from tn
director of the United States geologica
survey, Washington, D. G.