Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-06
Concrete for Farm Buildings.

Concrete in some form, that is a
mixture of common lime, or hydraul-
ic cement, and the requisite amount Of
sand to form mortar, with gravel or
fragments of stone, is building ma
terial of great antiquity. 1t was en-
ployed by the ancient Romans soon
after they commenced to erect sub
stantial buildings. Its use in nearly
every civilized country in the world
has been general for more than two
thousand years. 1t has been employ
ed in this country to only limited
extent for the reason that timber is so
cheap, plenty and generally distrib-
uted. In Mexico sun-aried bricks
and concrete have been the building
materials most generally employed.
The former have been used for the
walls Of buildings, and the latter for
floors. Concrete in many places may
be made at small cost, and it is nearly
as enduring as natural stone.
Various circumstances indicate that
concrete will soon be largely employed
in the construction of farm buildings
in this country. 1t is not well suited
for the construction of buildings re-
curing great strength and high finish
like those wanted in large cities, but
it is admirably adapted to the require.
ments of farmers. Many farms that
are remote from any supply of lumber
contain limestone, sand, and gravel liz
abundance. Others are so situated
that these materials can be obtained
within a reasonable distance for the
trouble of hauling them. Little
skilled labor is required to erect Or
binary farm buildings from concrete.
There is a practical treatise on the
subject of the preparation and use of
concrete that contains directions that
will enable any ingenious man to
erect ordinary buildings for protect
ing stock and farm products
The growing scarcity and advancing
price of lumber will soon render the
employment Of some other building
material necessary and nothing seems
SO likely to take the place of wood as
concrete. Split stone and brick are
both expensive. 1t is troublesome to
haul them over ordinary roads, and
the services of skilled mason are re-
CURED to lay them in q wall. Con-
crete possesses many advantages over
wood for the construction of farm
buildings. 1t requires no paint to
protect it from the elements. 1t is in
combnstible, and nearly indestructible.
Buildings made Of it are fire, water,
rot, and vermin proof. They are
never beautiful, but their appearance
improves with age, while the contrary
is the case with buildings made of
most materials.
Concrete is an excellent material to
employ in making floors for stables
and barns. Unlike wood it absorbs
neither urine nor the wash of manure.
| Wood that becomes saturated with
these substances gives off foul odors
that are deleterious to animals as we'll
as to men. A concrete floor will last
an average lifetime and may be kept
as clean as piece of crockery. Con-
crete is also an excellent material to
use in making pens for pigs. Not only
the walls and floor but the troughs
for holding food and drink may be
constructed of the same material. A
concrete pig-pen is more conducive
| to the health of the occupants than
| one made of wood as it will absorb
no vile substance, while it may be
washed with very little tronbie.