Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1906-09-28
Building Problems Solved BY
kConcrete. SIS


material of the future. The answer is
cement.
But for cement, many large building
operations would be at a standstill, Tor
wood has become too expensive TO be
used in house construction, and the en-
forced wait for all kinds Of structural
steel virtually eliminates that material
W he re quick work is desired.
Almost everything can be done with
cement, and with incredible swiftness
and cheapness of price. The new pro-
cess, the mixing of cement, sand and
gravel with cinders or broken stone,
flooded with water from hose, is being
used to build houses, raise giant hotels,
build the piers and bridges for railroa Is
erect barns, lay sidewalks, fix girder
or fashion a chimney cap.
Almost anything is possible to the
new material.
Probably the best instance of work
ing against time with cement as med
ium is shown in the experience OF an
Atlantic City hotel company. They
wanted structure 400 feet long, 125fee:
wide and 1874 feet high. 1t was to be
elaborate, and 10 have capacity for l2OO
guests. Bids were asked for steel
building, and not only were the prices
lofty, but the delay in getting the grid
ers and other structural parts made iii
certainty that couple of years must
pass before the new hotel could be
ready for guests.
In this predicament the proprietors
had recourse to the new process of rein
forced cement. The work went with
gratifying CELEBRITY. In eight months
and three days, without the lost of a
life, the new hotel was completed. 1t
is work of genuine Architectural
beauty the pride of the City-by-the-Sea
and as great an expert as Thomas Alva
Edison, after going over the structure
from cellar to the Moorish dome, said
that it was the first perfect building he
had ever seen, and that it was built OF
material destined to be the great sta
pie of the futuIe.
The concrete building solves the que
ton of fire insurance. The under
writer's who examined Atlantic City's
new model hotel were 80 much pleased
that they made price per ceut lower
than for other hotels OF the same class.
The farmer or suburbanite, who con-
templates building home, always
looks at the fire question thoughtfully
for in outlying districts there is little
facility for fighting flames, and once
they get hold.an intlamableis likely to
be destroyed. But home built of ce-
ment cannot burn, for the reason that
there is nothing TO be consumed, except
insurance to cover the cost ofthese de
dorations and furnishings is really
about ali that is needed in such cases.
A Staten Island man who recently
/ put up a cement house at cost OF
! So SO, most elaborate and pretentious
country home, estimated that the out
lay would have ben $1,000 greater for a
frame house, and with that kind OF
building would have been the ever pre-
sent danger of total destruction by fire.
| A cement house does away with all
need of plaster and lathing. Paper
can be put right over the walls, or if
preferred they can be frescoed or other
wise decorated.
Building such home does not re-
quire much expert labor, The army of
metal workers, bricklayers, carpenters
and other artisans required in wood or
steel construction, is almost complete
| ly done away with ON a cement build
ing. All that is needed is an expert to
superintend the mixing of the cement
and a carpenter and staff to construct
the molds or frame work into which
the soft cement is poured.
Once cement house is finished the
work done, and done to stay, accord
ing to all natural laws. In a century
the building ought to be in as good
shape as ever. There is nothing to rot
or fall into need of repairs. The build
/ in5 does not have to be painted yearly,
As in the ease of wood, or gone over for
/ rust, as in the case of steel. The found
atoms and pillars never need replacing
because they have rotted away. Wood
en- porch posts are always rotling.
" hilc The building Of low priced con-
crete house is still in its infancy the
farmer LA. been SO impressed with The
tteu that hci~ extending It TO his barn
and owh3iMnes, and finding that it
works admirably.
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