New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-03
Material Used BY Builders
Centuries Ago Still Perfect
INVESTIGATION Shows Condition is as Good To-day
as when RACED Between Stones and Brick
Neither Time Nor Weather Hos n..~-s. ~

slime has been considered one of the
,..;e materials of civilization ever
.;,es 1t has been known that mortar
..rnosed of lime and sand would hold
.,anss and brick in place in buildings.
srsAlinS mankind to provide more com
s,table and durable housing than the
a,;m;tive skin and waffle hats" writes
Tvrrel B. Shertzer, construction en-
riaeer, Eastern Bureau. National Lime
Association
sThe oldest structural works of man.
snch as the pyramids and many other
nrehistoric works, now ruins, were built
rith lime mortar as the material for
binding the individual structural units
sogethsr.
sThis mortar has resisted the raw
aras Of the elements throughout the
succeeding centuries, thus demon STRAIT
me the durability of the material. The
monumental structures of Continental
Europe were all constructed with lime
mortar. giving further evidence as to
the time resisting value of the material.
even when subjected to the severe and
varying climatic conditions.
No structural material ever used by
man has shown itself to be superior to
properly prepared lime mortar, pre-
pared from lump or quick lime, as in
ancient and medieval times.
Step in Civilization
"Soon after man discovered that he
could build better houses by binding
durable units together with lime NOR
tar, his sense of refinement and inner
ent desire for order and decoration be-
gan to be awakened. He became dis
satisfied with rough interiors, and so
smeared the rough surfaces of his
structures with some OF the mortar.
Thus the art of plastering was born.
"The chambers of the pyramids, the
ruins of Pompeii and other examples of
ancient structures are plastered. At
Pompeii and other ancient ruins lime
plaster in many instances has resisted
the ravages of time and the elements
better than the surface of stone or
brick to which it was applied. Many
museums and private collections con-
tain specimens Of wonderful >frescoes
upon great slabs Of lime plaster, which
it was found possible to remove intact
from the structural surface to which it
was originally applied.
"All of the remarkable examples of
Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Florentine,
Medieval and Renaissance structures
were plsstered with lime plaster, to
which were applied the priceless
works of the ancient artists either by
the frescoe or the 'laid-in' method.
The remarkable preservation of these
art gems as regards both color and de-
tail is irrefutable testimony as to the
durability and stability of lime plaster.
Severe Test in England
"The interesting buildings of the
Elissbethan period, which were plas-
tered both inside and outside with lime
PLASTER, and which have resisted the
climatic conditions found in England
during the intervening centuries, bear
further testimony as to the lasting
quality of lime plaster.
"No substitute yet devised can COM
pare with properly prepared lime plas-
ter, as to durability, stability, cheap
ness and sound deadening. Lime plas-
ter can be worked to absolutely true
surfaces and angles, due to the fact
that it remains plastic long enough to
permit perfect working. Lime has a
most remarkable sand-carrying ca
pacity, thus making for economy. Lime
plaster will dry out as rapidly as any
other material, but requires slightly
longer to attain the same degree of
hardness. 1t is perfectly feasible to
run three-coat lime plaster work from