Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 139, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1913 — Why Steel la Painted Red. [ARTICLE]

Why Steel la Painted Red.

"Why is Iron or steal invariably painted red?” Tbla question has been asked by scores of men and women recently, who have walked over Huagerford Bridge on the way to Waterloo Station from Charing Cross. Workmen have been busy for some time painting tha steel work of the structure a beautiful carmine. In America It has been noticed that most of the skyscraper steel frames are first painted red and than some other color. Tbla la alee the ease with steal bridges and Ironwork of all kinds. One of the workmen on toe Huagerford bridge Job was asked why the bridge was being painted red. "Oh, it’s not toe color that oounts," ha arid, "but Ufa what the paint la composed ot This la rad lead, sad any steal man will toll you that red lead la tha best preservative against dampness and ruat Becently a dark green lead has coma Into use as a first coat for Iron and steal, but, after all, red lead seems to hold its own as a covering to preserve steel work. When the red lead la once on It the structure can be printed in any ether color to suit the taste.—The red lead lasts years.”