Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-10-08
The Use of Cement.

The making of concrete payements having
claimed the attention. of our people lat,eriy,
| it has been suggested to us that we publish
the following suggestions as to the proper
use of cement
Depth of excavation depends greatly on
on soil; If walks are bounded on each side
| by soil, Is to IS inches should be excayated
and fl led up to within inches of level with
ashes, clinker gravel or stone, sprinklcd and
rammed well: this is necessary to prevent
frost getting under pavement. Stakes and
strips PA should be set on the outside to
keep the walk straight, then fill to within
one-half inch Of top of strips with concrete
mixed IN proportions as hereinafter stated
ram well as previously directed, Before the
sub-suiface is hard-set fill the remaining
one halt inch with top surface which should
be composed of one part of cement to two
parts of sharp sand or coarsely ground mar
bic dust, limestone or trap rock screened from
one. sixteenth to one eighth inch in size
Obtain an even surface by working the top
dressing backward and forward with the
edge Of u board resting on the strips on the
SIDE; when it is sufficiently worked TO have
filled AL the pores, trpwcl even SUI face Too
much 'trowcIiug is objectionable 81 ckS
should hc la!d in four or five f OF squares;
lay every other block, returning to lay inter.
vcujng blocks when the first ones are sun
GENTLY set to allow of strips being removed.
Water proof paper should he laid between
Joints to prevent the sections adhcring to-
each other. Never use pure cement for dust.
ing, but use equal parts OF cement and sand.
Busting should be avoided, and only done
in cases where il is found too much water
has been added to the mixture Protect the
SUI, face against hot rays of sun and against
currents Of air,
Walks laid according to the aboye rule
will require seven to eight pounds of cement
to the square foot. Curbs and cutters should
be made in one that they may bind together,
and should be made in lengths of four or five
feet each, the facing or curbing should be
finished with a coating Of one part of &C.
ment to one Of sand, carefully worked and
travelled as soon as the boards can be re
moved to admit of same; the edges should be
hevcled off, One barrel of Lehigh will lay
about forty-fve square feet of good sidewalk.
Sand should be clean, coarse and sharp. A
loamy sand should be avoided; it will give
bad results, and retard the set. Gravel or
crushed stone should be clean, and vary from
one quarter to two inches in size.
| Mix cement and sand well together until
| it shows uniform color, then add the re
CURED quantity Of stone and mix well to
gether by shoyeling over three or four times
the oftcner the better. Add sufficient wa.
ter to bind the materials together, so that
when handled by shovel it will not crum-
bic or fa! off. When concrete is tamped
into place water will come to the surface
The general opinion is that an excess of wa
ter is preferable than otherwise
Varying proportions of sand and Stone
can be mixed with one part of cement and
give good results but for all ordinary pur-
poses, such as foundations of sidewalks, mill
or machinery foundations, house foundations
ciserns, retaining walls, reservoirs, etc. one
part of cement, two parts OF sand and five
parts of broken stone; or one part of cement,
three parts of sand, and seven parts of bro
ken stone, will give excellent results. If alb
solutely watertght work is required, an ex,
cess of water is found to be preferable, rs in
setting the yoids will be more easily filled
Never mix large quantities, but only rs much
as can be put in place within fifteen or TWEEN.
ty minutes after mixing.
See that the mixture is rammed well into
place with tamping iron or heavy wooden
rammcr, lay quickly So that the layers. adhere
to each ether; and in cold weather, to ayold
freezing, use one pound Of salt to fifteen or
eighteen gallons of water. in hot weather,
after concrete has set (say twelve hours,
wet frequently with water, especially on side
walk work.