830 [Assembly 



colored paints are made by grinding the raw ore of tlie zinc to 

 fine powder. The pure white is formed by heating the ore suffi- 

 ciently to sublime the zinc ; this impalpable flour is caught in 

 large sacks of cotton muslin. This beautiful article is about from 

 sixty to eiglity per cent, of the ore in weight. Any colors may 

 be ground with it in oil. This flour of zinc is entirely pure from 

 all grit. The paint, when dry, retains a polished surface like 

 porcelain. The flour has no smell, is free from all those delete- 

 rious matters which render white lead so dangerous to painters 

 and others exposed to the fumes of the lead. The unbounded 

 extent of these mines and the richness of the ore will soon render 

 it impossible to produce white lead in competition with it, on ac- 

 count of its far greater cheapness as well as its other good quali- 

 ties. As far as trials have been made, it stands all weathers far 

 better than white lead. Many painters who have used it, have 

 already abandoned, chiefly, the use of white lead ; some wlioare 

 largely employed prefer the zinc; this painter is crowded with 

 ordejs for the zinc paint. 



The comparative qualities of white lead and zinc are properly 

 as follows, viz : briefly, 



White lead is pernicious to health. 



Zinc white is perliectly harmless. 



White lead turns quickly yellow. 



Zinc white }reserv< s perfectly its original purity. 



White lead has an offensive smell. 



Ziac white has no odor. 



The workmen in white lead works are seeking employment in 

 the zinc works, owing to the dangerous qualities of the white lead. 

 It is said that the zinc paint has received the approbation of the 

 French Academy, the snnitary councils of Paris, and of distin- 

 guished painters and architects of Europe. It has bee i used for 

 six or eight montlis in the cabin of the steamboat Erie, which 

 plies between our city and Piermont — the Erie Railroad boat. 

 It has been repeatedly washed and exposed to the causes in the 

 cabi 1, heat, sm>ke, &c. ; it is fjr any one to visit and examine 

 that Si)ecimen and he will see that it is worth all that has been 

 said of it. The boat is at the foot of Duaiie street. This paint 



