Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-30
HOW TO MIX MORTAR.
An Expert Furnishes Recipe Of
Value to Local Builders.
BRICK IMPERvIOUs TO WATER,
The Brokers Still Unable to Raise Wind
Enough to Fly Their Goods.
THE NEWS AND GOSSIP OF THE CITY

Everything appertaining to house-build-
ing, whether relating to work or material,
is of prime Importance in Pittsburg, where
it is one of the leading industries. All
builders know the difficulty Of obtaining
good mortar, upon the strength and dura-
bility OF which everything depends. In
answer to numerous inquiries for directions
as to the best way. to combine and mix
mortar, Prof. Ira o. Baker, of Illinois, has
contributed to the Society of Engineers of
that State an exhaustive study of the subject,
from which the following is taken:
Mortar may be made practically non-absorb-
ent by the addition of alum and potash soap.
One per cent, by weight, of powdered alum, is
added to the dry cement and sand. and thor
oughly mixed, and about per cent of any
potash soap (ordinary soft soap made from
wood ashes is very good) is dissolved in the
water used to mix the mortar. The alum and
soap combine and form compounds of alumina
and the fatty acids, which are insoluble in
water. These compounds are not acted upon
by the carbonic acid of the air. and add con-
siderably to the early strength of the mortar.
With lime mortar the alum and soap have a
slight disadvantage in that the compounds
which render the mortar Impervious to water
also prevent the air from coming in contact
with the lime, and consequently prevent the
setting of the mortar. On the other hand, the
alum and soap compounds add considerably to
both the early and ultimate strength of the
mortar.
This mixture could be advantageously used
in the mortar of outside walls, for masonry in
wet places. for pointing mortar, for the plaster
ing of cellar and basement walls, for lining
cisterns, etc. The efficiency of the alum and
soap compounds is shown by the fact that the
walls of the Croton reservoir, in Central Park,
New York City, were rendered impervious by
simply washing them four times alternately
with the alum and the soap solutions Before
being coated the walls allowed the water to
pass freely. -Four coatings-two pairs-made
common brick absolutely impervious under
40-foot head of water.
The use of the alum and soap as above would
in all cases greatly diminish, and in most cases
entirely prevent efflorescence or ''whitewash,"
which so frequently distigures brick walls.
Business News and Gossip.
Sales of houses before completion are COM
mon occurrences in this city. This shows that
they are in demand.
A gentleman who lives in the Twenty-third
ward remarked yesterday: II have it on the
best authority that the railroad to Homestead
will be built. The scheme has been delayed by
difficulty in closing two or three deals. but as
soon as they are out of the way something will
be done to put the project on its feet"
A car load of geese from Kansas City for
Philadelphia passed through the city yester-
dap. They utterly ignored the rule of the
road not to put heads out.
Twenty-one mortgages were on the Record
er's file yesterday. The largest was for $1,000
- m
80 were paid off.
Mr.. George Thornton. Of Chattanooga. Tenn,
was visitor on Fourth avenue yesterday. In
speaking of the financial stringency he re-
marked; Zone cause of it. which is generally
overlooked, is due to the prosperous condition
of the South, where more money is employed
than ever before, most of which is drawn from
New York. As there is not enough to go
round. This diversion of funds from the usual
channels of trade leaves many localities un-
comfortably short"
The Lohr block on Wood street, Wilkins
burg. is ready for the roof 1t will be the best
business house in the borough.
The colored man shot and killed at Swissvale
had been for long time in the employ of John
McKelvey as a farm hand.
The Standard Underground Cable Company
has had its stock placed on the list at the Ex.
change. The works are at wilmerding.
The sale by Ewing & Byers of IL acres on the
New Brighton road at something over 81, 900 an
acre shows that property is in demand down
there. 1t is district full of possibilities which
will begin to materialize as soon Us rapid tran
sit is introduced.
Aretail drygoods merchant said yesterday
that he had sold more goods this season than
ever before in the same length of time. He
gave the Exposition credit for good share of
his prosperity.