The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-08

wish to PROFOUND question my
NIT plans for a house to several con
tractors who work in concrete and they
declined to take the time to figure on
them for the purpose of estimating the
cost, for the sole reason that they can
not obtain the men possessing the neces-
sary skill and intelligence to execute
the work. Ny experience suggests the
need of practical training school for
this class Of workmen. With a new
method of construction steadily gaining
trained workers to do the. work, it
would seem necessary to provide the OPP
portunity for ambitious and progressive
workmen to widen the field Of endeavor.
I have a plan for such q school. How
many will respond to this with prom
Used supports Send in replies at once.
numerous uses to which cement is now being
applied upon the lumber business2 It would
ssem that Its multiplied uses would seriously
affect the demand. u. J.. ~, Sheldon. Iowa.
Answer: It's effect in reducing the
demand for lumber is hardly percepti-
BILE as yet, but if it were, dealers in
| lumber would not be greatly disap-
pointed. They know timber resources
are practically exhausted in the readily
accessible portions of the country, and
that the extra cost Of bringing it out
Of remote and inaccessible forests, COM
bined with the extraordinary demand,
justifies selling price which they
know seems to the consumer to be ex-
cessive. The manufacturers Of lumber
will welcome the adoption Of concrete
wherever it can be substituted for their
own product, for they know they can
find ready sale at remunerative prices
for all they put upon the market.
Can erect fireplace. mantel and chimney
entirely Of concrete and have it modelled thru
out, not built of blocks7 VIII such fireplace
stand the heat? II. B. o.. Madison. MINI.
Answering the second question first,
I will say that the ability Of concrete
is no longer conjectured; it Is fact
which has been confirmed in England
for nearly twenty-five years, whore
deliberately decorated freplaces are nu-
merous, and successfully meeting the
promises Of their builders. 80
II The execution of this particular class
Of work-indeed, Of all lines Of concrete
development-is. delayed thru the lack
of trained and intelligent workers. The
work. admit that they cannot obtain
satisfactory help, and for that reason
they will undertake none Of the lighter
lines of construction, such as I am adj
vocating thru these columns, in the
erection Of dwelling houses. What 8
field there is for the young and am
bilious artisan can only be fully. ap-
preciated by trying to obtain trained
help, as have been doing for the past
the passing of time, unless an opportu-
nifty for theoretical and practical in;
struction is developed. I have sug-
gestion to offer in another place.
I What proportions Of sand, cement and crushed
( rock should use for basement wall Mx2Sxt
{ feet high and 1 foot thick? How much?, Will
: coarse gravel take the place Of rock and sand
} and of what proportions? Can cement house
I be built for the same price as wooden frame
7 r. l.. J., Chicago Avenue, City.
Answer: Here are four questions
) which may be reduced to three. The
I second question, how muchq" is oh
{ scure.
s In substituting crushed rock fol
coarse gravel, the proportions Of cement
: and sand will not vary, since the rock
takes the place Of one essential ingre
dient-coarse gravel. The question o.
relative cost of gravel and rock. Eithel
will make a strong, safe wall, with TIL
proportions Of 1:2h or 8 and 4. Their,
> will be less sand required if the crushed
. rock has considerable proportion O.
fine dust in 1t, consequently the rul
can only apply to specific cases rathe
than to general practice. Expert ad
vice, based upon an inspection of thu
materials, is what you need on thi
point, and it will be necessary to oh
tain. it before beginning the work.
The second question gives emphasi
to the closing sentence above, since
implies total lack of knowledge VIII,
certain proportions Of the ingredient
composing concrete should be observed
in order to obtain strong and at tn
same time an economical wall. TIL
coarse material; otherwise they mus
be fitted with neat cement, which woul
not only be expensive, but the wa
would also be weak. think you wou1
better send me word when you begi
the work and save money and trouble
AS for the third question, I will sa
that at present the concrete house car
not be erected cheaper than In wood
butt do say that it can be erected fo
the same money, and that the divers
ence in cost will soon be in favor o
concrete.
VIII 1t be possible to repair an old shingl
roof by placing upon it coat ofEcement morts
one and one-half or two inches thick2
~. N. T., New Ulm, MINI.
Answer: Cement will sumbit to som
pretty difficult tests, but it won't stan
for this. Like oil and water, cemer
and wood have no affinity for eac
other, and in the case Of an old roo
the shingles will absorb the water j
Fl the mortar before setting Is flnishe.
II rendering the cement friable and usele,
as roof covering. You may able
stop leaks by making a thin wash {
cement and fine sand, ! to 1, and appl,
ing several coats with q large brus
It's worth trying.
In testing a piece Of concrete which vi
placed in furnace FIRE which was very hot,
crumbled away In time, while brick plac,
L In the fire at the same time remained Who'll
Does this show that concrete possesses less fr
resisting qualities than brick?
-E. B. W., Pierre, s. D.
Answer: Tests Of theoretical cha
acter varying widely from practic
conditions are Of little value, and ma
carry an impression the exact OPPOSE