Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-06-08
THE AGE OF CEMENT.

Seyenty-ive per cent. of the farms Of
America are a disgrace to their own
ers from the standpoint of n~eatness and
appearance of the buildings and sur
roundlnSS. Wooden 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. If these
farmers could be awakened to the i'm
p~ortance OF building for all time in
stead OF for a day, the sum total of
prosperity and enjoyment in country
life would be UNNECESSARILY increased.
1t has been suggested that the huge
stones used by the ancient Egyptians
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 I'm molds on the site OF
their final occupation. Their process
may be another Of the lost arts and IL
50 we are but repeating history, for we
most certainly are entering upon an
era when cement is b0und TO constitute
our dependence Ia permanent buildings
Of all sorts.
The hold which rement as a building
material has in the world today is as
strong n lasting as the material it
self. Timber Is becoming scarcer, n
al the pESS6llL rate OF COuSuTDpllOH Iut
supply In the United States will not last
longer than forty years. A durable and
satisfactory successor of wood may be
L in Portland cement combined
with sharp sand and gravel i'm the pro-
portions of one part of cement to w
Of SANE n % of gravel or ton for
very strong n waterproof work, or
one part OF cement with two and q half
of sand and five of coarser material for
ordinary work, M one Of cement TO
three of sand and six of stone or graV-
I'll where strength is of minor impor-
lance. Mixed for ordinary work a bar
rel or $50 pounds of cement g cubic
feet), will make about 27 cubic feet of
concrete. AS the sane fills the spaces
between the stones Cor graveD 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
broken stone.
Portland cement costs $1.40 a barrel
ut the mill, n other materials cost
according to the hauling distance. At
so cents a yard for sand or gravel the
cost per cubic foot of concrete is
around s cents, exclusive of labor.
It is often found that concrete con-
struction is absolutely cheaper than
lumber, and possessing the additional
advantage of being f%ireproof n 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
simpleness with which 1T is handled
commends it to those unskilled in car
pentry. Cement should be mixed with
it's bulky companions in a dry state II
Just enough water added to make 1t
.a,1- all ,an11 Gov the fnpnn w
uuired is then filled and tamped down
hard and allowed to set for tw~enty-four
hours, when the mold may be removed;
or If made with hinges, as are fence
post molds and other small forms, il
may be removed within a few minutes.
Surfaces are generally finished off with
a smooth coating of pure cement.
Buildings are made from separate
blocks or constructed in a solid wall.
One of the latest methods is to build
this wall hollow, thus making a FROST
proof structure, warm in winter and
cool in hot weather.
OF the several kinds of cement, Port
land possesses the highest Cementing
and an additional virtue of hard
ening under water. All cement should
be kept dry. When properly protected
il often improves with age. Crushed
stone makes a somewhat stronger con-
crete than gravel: cinders are frequent
ly used. The mortar may be colored to
suit the fancy of the builder, and some
very beautiful houses are now made of
this material.
The department of agriculture has
issued a farmers bulletin No. 235, on
Cement Mortar and Concrete" with
special reference to its preparation and
use for farm purposes. This bulletin
is for the asking, n gives in detail
many valuable hints and methods inn
possible in this space.
Farmers should use nothing but a
good grade of cement. 1t is made by
a number of concerns. Do not buy from
unknown dealers. Several firms max
iron molds for fence posts, tile, build-
ing blocks, etc, and these will greatly
facilitate construction, being cheaper
usually than to have one made by a ma
chinlst.-Farmers' Voice, Chicago.