The Minneapolis journal., 1906-08-15
LIQUID STONE AGE
IS NOW WITH US
USE OF CEMENT AS
A BUILDING MATERIAL.
skyscrapers, Bridges, Telegraph Poles,
Residences and Many Other Utilities
Are Constructed Of This Important
20 2
Product Greatly Increased Output.
Tecbn;cal World Marazine.

Concrete is the new medium n OF the
fngiaaee1ing thg nt monderT0scga with ne
wooden mold of the desired width
mold he forces the liquid stone, and
waits few hours for it to harden.
Then the wooden shields are removed,
and there stands smooth wall. which
grows harder with the passage of each
day and will Withstand greater pres
sure than granite or steel itself. Or
he builds a great bridge, leaping a
hundred and fifty feet at single span,
Of slender steel rods, forces concrete
which marks the desired shape, and
has, next morning, structure Of
strength and beauty, which will defy
all the power Of winds and waves
alike. Or, where twenty years ago q
tall chimney would have been labor
iously built up, brick by brick, and a
dozen feet in thickness at the base,
he spins his steel spider-web. pours
his liquid stone into thin shell Of
less than dozen inches and behold a
feet into the air and strong enough to
stand anything short Of a cyclone.
Varied Uses Of Cement.
skyscrapers, sidewalks, bridges, fence
posts, dams, roofing tiles, telegraph
poles, railroad ties, residences, piles,
chimneys-these are q few Of the uses
to which concrete has been successfully
put within the last few years.
In 1890 the total production Of Port
1and in The United statss sa
900 barrels were produoed-an increase
Of nearly 10000 per cent in fifteen
years. That marks the growth Of the
concrete industry in the same period
for cement is the essential element in
concrete.
Fifteen years ago concrete was used
principally for foundations and side.
walks. 1t is estimated that during these
fifteen years enough concrete walks
aays aysn BEEN s%e. a hd9 70 Es gd the sa5h s
than walks Of natural stone, and are
more attractive and durable. But the
day when concrete was only trampec
under foot went by several years ago
The industry Of making concrete
building blocks has become large one
| within the last FIVE years, and in al
most every city and town can bt
found residenc and business blocks
built of this material. The growing
scarcity and increasing price Of lum
Der make it certain that concrete, vii
be more generally used for building
Of concrete building blocks. They ar,
comfortable, being cooler in summe
! and warmer in winter than building
| constructed of other materials.
Office Buildings and Bridges.
Recently there has been built at Lo
Angeles a reinforced concrete girder TO-
feet long. In other places there are
tho Is and 20 feet are the more com
spans fteep yed ssteen storie
high have been built Of reinforced
concrete, the largest pieces of steel j
them being rods Of only IN inches i
diameter. .".
both in this country and abroad, an
during the last two or three years
great number Of highway bridges ar
Being built. It is safe. to say that with
4 in a short time other material tina
; concrete will ever be employed i
. bridge construction.
Used for Railroad Ties,
In a, number Of cases, reinforce
} railroad ties have. been used with SUI SUI
There is still some nf ttie d1fneust
. there is absolutely no doubt that tn
= and other difficulties will be overcom
\ and within the next ten years concret
will be the. material from y Wh1ch o. g!
, railroad tie; and roadbeds will be bull
) We are approaching in this countr
an era of track elevation such as
, emnIoved in European countries, an
! here % concrete is used almost exclusivel
For retaining walls. In fact, the,
seems to be no place IN whneh eonsre; one;
T cannot be used to :dvantage' aunoree a,,t aee
: Of patents are being taken OUT eac
: month for applications OF this ~onde
: full material. -..,s. ..s-