Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-10
How to Defy Cyclones.

"A dlSpatch from Alexandria during
the late bombardment stated that
''some houses in Fort Mex, apparently
of concrete, withstood the fire of the
heaviest guns of the Monarch" This
is significant statement with regard to
the power of resistance of concrete
walls. and it contains hint of the solu.
ton of the much agitated problem how
to secure immunity from the horrors of
the deadly cyclone. s..
The presumption is that cyclones are
not new phenomenon of Nature, but
that the localities which know them now
have known them for thousands of years.
That their visitations were not previous
'1y noted is owing to the fact that the re-
gion where they prevailed, and still pre-
vail, was until recently uninhabited ex-
cept by savages. Iowa and Kansas,
where cyclones are most destructive, are
now States. In the former as late as
1860, twenty-five years ago, there were
only twelve Inhabitants to the square
mile, and in the latter at the same date
there were only one and fraction
100000 persons on $1,000 square miles
of territory.
Cyclones will doubtless continue and
become increasingly destructive of prop
erty and human life in the ratio of the
increase of population within their
range. It will be the part of wisdom,
therefore, to make permanent, substan-
tial provision against their ravages.
Caves in the earth are not sufficient,
neither are retreats constructed in the
corners of cellars. They do not COM
port with the dignity of civilization.
They are powerless to relieve the mind
of the constant terror inspired by ap-
prehension of the coming storm. Be-
sides, they do not avail in the least to
avert the destruction of property, which
entails in many cases Immediate if not
lasting privation.
Judge Jameson reaches the conclu-
sion, after careful investigation, that
''buildings of brick and stone are gen.
orally, but always, safe from lorna
does.' Architect Randall believes that
frame buildings may be so constructed
and SO anchored to stone foundations
as to resist the most formidable cyclone.
If these propositions be true, there Is
substance out of which buildings may be
constructed which would stand firm
against the assaults of any known
storm of wind. This substance is con-
crete, composed of one part cement to
six or seven parts gravel. A wall COM
posed of it costs only One-third to one
half as much as a wall of brick or stone.
The wall of concrete is a solid mass,
without joint or seam, or exactly equal
strength throughout its length and hight.
The far greater power of resistance OF
the concrete wall over that of brick be-
comes apparent when the workman at
tempts to break through it. a few blows
shatter the surface of the brick wall and
disintegration proceeds rapidly. Not so
with the concrete wall. 1t must be
literally drilled and chiseled out.
If any one doubts the power of resist
ance of concrete wall let him examine
the large building now in process of
erection by the Messrs. Farwell on Mar
ket street. The main walls are of con-
crete, two feet thick, and when COM
pleted they will constitute solid mass
from foundation to turret. No one
after seeing these walls can doubt their
practical indestructibility. The better
opinion now is tina. the huge blocks of
stone of which the pyramids were con-
structed 1000 years ago were manufac-
tured of cement, sand and gravel, mold
ed on the spot.
The English and German Portland,
the cements now in such general and
successful use throughout the world,
are proof of the recovery of q secret of
the aucients. They bear new names,
but their composition is undoubtedly the
same as the famous Roman cement, nu-
merous evidences of the indestructibility
of which may be seen to this day in the
Eternal City.
The ietties which form the harbor of
Port Said, the Mediterranean terminus
of the Suez Canal, "were constructed of
blocks of concrete made of hydraulic
lime from Tell mixed with beach sand"
Concrete has been used in the harbors
of Marseilles and Toulon; the piers in
closing the harbor at the ocean termi
nus of the North Sea Canal of Holland
are laid in Portland cement, and the
same material enters into the structure
of the Cherbourg breakwater. The
elaborate work of Mr.. Henry Reid, of
on the "Science and Art of
the Manufacture of Portland Cement"
and the treatise on lime, hydraulic ce-
ment, and mortar, of Gen. Q. A. Gill
more, of the United States army, show
the wide adaptability of concrete to
works of struction-harbors, fortifi-
cations, buildings, etc.
For long period concrete has been
used in the construction of houses in
and on the Continent of Eu-
rope, especially in Germany. The rea-
son of its use in house construction in
Europe is not for protection against cy-
clones, for they are comparatively I'M
known there, but on account of its
cheapness where lumber is dear.
Why should not concrete be used in
the construction of houses almost uni
Walls of concrete are cheaper
than walls of brick and stone, nearly, if
not quite, as cheap as wooden walls,
and stronger than any known wall used
in the construction of houses. It is be-
yond question fact that houses of one
story constructed of concrete the walls
being, say, foot thick-would resist the
action of any of the cyclones of recent
history. All farmers houses and barns
can be made as convenient and as COM
IL ,f - no