The San Francisco call., 1906-06-13
CHIEF FACTOR
IS WORKMANSHIP
Reinforced Concrete Is
Not the Only Safe
Construction.
Good Mortar and Wet
ting of Brick Too
Much Neglected.

There is argument pro and con as to
which is the better TO use in the con-
struction of a class A building, rein
forced concrete or terra Gotta and brick
Much has been said and written in re-
gard TO the respective merits of the two
building materials now being specified
in the plans for new structures. The
Call has obtained the opinions of two
well known building material men
and they declare there is no appreciable
difference in the strength and lasting
qualities of the two methods of build
ing, except that architecturally the
terra Gotta and brick construction is
more pleasing TO the esthetic eye.
Percy W. Rochester and John L.
Howard of the Western uel Company
are engaged in selling building mate
rial of all kinds and they give unbiased
statements to the values OF the
building materials. They are well
versed in the lasting qualities, strength
and architectural worth of materials in
general. having gained their knowledge
from long experience and scientific ex-
pertinent. Rochester has been associ-
ated with Professor Hunt of the engi-
neering department of the University
of California and with him has expert
mented extensively with brick, mortar,
concrete and cements.
He said: The great trouble in the
construction of many brick buildings is
that the quality of mortar used is not
what it should be. Taking a brick with
a crushing power of 5000 pounds to the
square inch and cement il with mortar
having but crushing power of 400
pounds to the square inch, you may as
we'll lay the bricks with no mortar at
all. If e proper binder is not used, the
walls of the building made of brick
have no tensile strength, that is, they
cannot withstand jarring. OF course,
as long as the building is not subjected
to earthquake shock or jarring of any
nature, the result of using a poor NOR
tar is not evident. II is the same as
making a silk dress for woman and
sending it out with a calico binding.
MORTAR IS CHIEF CONCERN.
I'VE sell lime, cement. terra Gotta
and bricks. so / have no reason to dis
parage one building material or boost
another In the destruction Of build
ings in the recent earthquake and fire,
you will find that the buildings which
fell We're put up with a poor binder.
The mortar was either not mixed right
or was made with too much lime. To
make a substantial wall the binder or
mortar must form with the bricks
compact mass of consistent strength
throughout
I'm my Judgment, the best mortar for
brick or stone is mortar mixed with
+ three times as much cement as lime.
+ Professor Hunt of the University OF
California and eminent engineers and
architects have experimental and found
this mixture to be the best
Reinforced concrete has an intense
crushing strength. but it has no
tensile strength; it will crack.
L
use to give the required tensile
strength Commercial chemists have
/ discovered that the expansion and con-
traction of the steel and concrete are
the same. SO that the concrete rein
4 forced gives a good structure in any
climate Reinforced concrete is ideal
/ for certain construction work, but in
many ways it has not the merits of the
clay products. Reinforced concrete has
not the architectural beauty of the clay
products.
In conclusion, / can but say that the
style Of building material is not near as
important as the quality of mortar
used. The authorities would not go
amiss If they would specify the style
of mortar and the manner of mixing"
BRICKS SHOULD BE SOAKED.
John l. Howard. president of the
Western Fuel Company. said: The
great trouble with builders is that they
90 not employ a proper binder Too
much lime is used in the mortar and a
poor quality of sand is used. They
cannot go out into any lot in San
/ Francisco and secure sand fit for
! mortar. The sand of San Francisco
contains too much loan. II is not
sharp enough
Every mason and builder knows that
the bricks should be soaked in water
I of he he
mortar is applied The brick we sell
is like a sponge. 1t absorbs an inn
mense amount of water Now the
bricklayer is well aware that brick
should be thoroughly wetted before il
is set in mortar but he does
not do it because it makes
brick laying more difficult The
brick. wetted. tends TO slide on the
mortar and necessitates more care to
secure an even wall Using thor
oughly soaked brick, il becomes neces-
sary to allow a small portion of the
wall to set before its building is con
tinued- This takes time and masons
VIII not adhere to this method. the only
proper one in laying brick
THE mere sprinkIing of the bricks
with a hose or a bucket of water does
not give the brick all the water it
needs. When bricks are laid this way
they absorb the water from the mortar
or cement and prevent a proper set
ting Of the binder, thus making a sandy
mortar of no strength. Brick walls
should be laid in sections. allowing the
cement or mortar to set, and bricks
should be saturated with water so that
they do not take up the water needed
by the mortar in setting.
Tunnel WALL GOOD EXAMPLE.
The tunnels on the new bay shore
cutoff of the Southern Pacific Railroad
were built of water-soaked Bricks
Each brick was Immersed in a tank of
water for a certain length OF time
When the earthquake destroyed the
water mains in the Potrero. the brick
tunnels of the railroad company were
not dana ged at all.
Ihe best advice can give is to use
good mortar o. cement. Soak the
| bricks we'll and lay the walls slowly
and carefully. Secure a sharp sand
free from loan in the mixing of the