The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-06-08
rhE ACE oE ceMENr.

The ACE OF CEMENT.
Scventy-fve per cent. of the farms OF
America are a disgrace to their own
ers from the standpoint of neatnessa and
appearance of the buildings and sur
roundings. Woodea structures In vary
Ing stages Of collapse; rotting fence
posts; inefficient watering troughs and
floors of barns n cellars all speak OF
decay and temporary use. II these
farmers could be awakened to the i'm
portance Of building for all time In
stead of for a day. the sum total OF
prosperity and enjoyment In country
life would be immeasurably increased.
1t has been suggested that the huge
In the building OF the pyramids and
} Other monuments which have endured
thousands OF years. were not Quarried
out of solid rock, but were made from
some substance resembling our modern
cement. formed In holds on the site OF
their ana occupation. Their process
may be mother of the lost arts and II
so we are but repeating history. for we
most certainly are entering upon an
era when cement Is bound to constitute
our dependence In permanent buildings
OF all sorts.
The hold which rement as a building
material has in the w".ld today is as
strong and lasting as the material IT
self. Timber Is becomtng scarcer. n
at the present gate of consumption the
supply In h onited States will not last
longer than@forty. years. A durable and
found In Portland cement combined
with sharp sand n gravel in the pro-
portions of n part Of cement to two
of sand and four Of gravel or stone for
very strong and waterproof work, or
one part of cement with two and a hall
/ 0f Cor1 on1 GNa NJ rSor yonfAviol f0r
ordinary work. and one of cement to
three of sand and six Of stone or grav-
el where strength is of minor impor-
tance. Mixed for ordinary work a bar
re! or $50 pounds of cement (3h cubic
feet>, will make about % cubic feet of
concrete. AS the sand fills the spaces
between the stones Cor gravel) and the
cement fills the spaces between the
grains OF sand, the total quantity of
concrete will be but Slightly in excess
OF the original quantity Of gravel or
broker stone.
Portland cement costs $1.4o a barrel
at h mill, and other materials cost
according to the hauling distance. At
so cents a yard for sand or gravel the
cost ger cubic foot Of concrete is
around 8 cents, exclusive Of labor.
1t is often found that concrete con-
struction is absolutely cheaper thar
lumber, and possessing the additional
advantage of being fireproof and per-
manent. 1t Is used for cutters in sta
bles. cellar and stable floors, drain tile,
silos. sidewalks. fence. posts. bridges,
houses. barns. watering and feed
troughs, ice houses and cisterns. There
seems no limit to it's usefulness. The
s%impleness with which 1t is handled
commends 1t to those unskilled in car
pentry. Cement should be mixed with
Its bulky companions in a dry state and
Just enough water added to make II
pack we'll. A mold for the form re-
quired is then filled and tamped down
hard and allowed to set for twenty-fou1
hours, when the mold may be removed;
or ii made with hinges. as are fence
post nlolds and other small forms, II
may be removed within a few minutes
Surfaces are generally finished off with
a smooth coating of pure cement
blocks or constructed in a solid wall
One of the latest methods is to builG
this wall hollow, thus making a frost
proof structure. warm in winter anG
cool in hot weather.
OF the several kinds of cement, Port.
land possesses the highest cementing
power and an additional virtue of lard.
ening under water. All cement should
be kept dry. When properly protected
it often improves with age. Crushed
stone makes a somewhat stronger con
crete tina gravel; cinders are frequent,
ly used. The mortar may be colored t.
suit the fancy of the builder, and SOM
very beautiful houses are now made O.
this material.
The department of agriculture has
issued a farmers bulletin No. 235, or
Cement Mortar and Concrete with
special reference to it's preparation ant
use for farm purposes. This bulletin
is for the asking, and gives in detail
many valuable hints and methods i'm
noSsihla i'm this Space.
Farmers should use nothing but {
good grade of cement. 1t is made b,
a number of concerns. Do not buy from
nknow dealers. Several firms make
iron molds for fence posts, tile. build'
ing blocks, etc, and these will greatl,
facilitate construction. being cheaper
usually than to have n made by a ma
chinlst.-Farmers' Voice. Chicago.