The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-06-15

The success OF this
method Of construction has been thor
oughly proven in A great number Of
cases, in the large structures'now stand.
ing, number ofwhich are very old and
quite beautiful buildinss.
Many Of thS- most successful con.
structors of such buildings make build
ing blocks by molding the concrete,
when mixed In simple mold Of wood
formed by mailing together four one.
inch planks, which are eight inches
wide, and setting these on q smooth sur
face, preferably Of rough timber. then
pouring the mixed concrete into them
and allowing 10 stand until solid. The
sketch illustrates one Of these devices.
Many Of the larger but roughly con-
structed concrete works are being built
BY pouring the concrete between the
temporary walls built Of one-inch
boards. Practically all OF the heavy
foundation work now being constructed
In the cities, under large buildings, 10
made in this way. For small farm
structures this is perhaps the cheapest
method to employ. The procedure Of
such building Is about as follows:
First there Is constructed solid wall
Of one-inch planking on the inner side
Of the ground, where the foundation Of
the wall is to stand. This Is erected to
a height of some four feet, with the
smooth side out, being firmly braced
within. Another wall Of the same nature
is constructed and placed facing 1t six
to eight inches away, as the thickness
Of the wall is desired. When this has
been constructed all around in the
manner described, concrete is poured
into this mold and allowed to harden
AS often as the mold>i is filed some
boards are added above and the con.
crete poured In, In layers Of one to two
feet deep. The board walls are allowed
to remain until the concrete Is quite
solid.
The double wall Is by far the most
practical. since it has an air-space ex
tending from cellar to joist, which re-
tards the passage of moisture, heat OF
cold and makes the building much more
stable. The inside wall supports the
floor joists and is consequently made
thicker than the outside wall. Usually
the inner wall is five inches and the
outer wall three inches thick, and the
space four inches wide. The two mus
be fastened together, as they are bull
by the insertion of number Of small
iron rods, which to prevent rustinf
should be galvanized. These may b,
rvo In ha Ie -.
raised.
Several machines are on the marke
for building these walls, consisting sim
ply of frame for the two outside sur
faces, with mold for the cavity. Blu,
very good success has been obtained by
the use Of constructed molds, says Farm
and Home. These walls are usually
smooth enough on the inside to take I
putty finish and paint without further
treatment.
The concrete used for this purpose
which is meeting with widest success
Is made Of one part of cement, thre,
parts sand and five parts of broker
stone or nut gravel This mixture Il
prepared as It is used, since If allowed
to stand any length of time after mix
Ing 1t will harden and not make solit
wall.
Such building Is practically fire
proof, and II the walls are not thick will
be very dry within. II the walls ar,
very thick, however, the moisture will
collect upon the insides of them and will
not allow the plaster to remain withou
cracking.
A comparison of cost between franz
and brick construction Is considerably
In favor Of concrete. In an estimate OF
building 24xS6 feet. two stories high
the frame cost $500, brick $72S, while
similar construction OF concrete, wit
two walls, the outer three inches an
the inner Ave inches thick, would cos
about $432.
Machines for the molding of singl
and two-piece building blocks are O.
the market, ranging In cost from e
to $500. but for ordinary frame struc
lures the scaffolding molds are by ia
the cheapest and most practical. Fo
fancy structures, dwelling houses, etc
nodded concrete blocks are very sery
! iceable and may be introduced In an
| part of the wall to decorate It.