Re(2): GBlist: Re: Natural sealants

greenbuilding Conference @ txinfinet.com (XINCLXgreenbuilding@txinfinet.com)
Fri, 28 Feb 97 11:22:29 CDT

I don't know about the carcinagenic properties of pitch, however it
originially was made from charing the root ball of Pine trees and drawing off
the burned sap. Also asphalt was used by the native Texas Caronqoia (Sp?)
Indians as waterproofing for boats and collected off the beaches along the
Texas coast. Oil and tarnaturally seep from the Gulf of Mexico and mix with
sand. They used it as paving when Galveston was becoming settled. There was a
good market in Texas for pitch and pine trees for masts by the British Navy
when they were trying to expand their fleets, so they were trying to colonize
this area quickly.
Sue Barnett 

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