The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-10-31
DURABLE FENCE POSTS.
Good Points That Are Claimed For
R~c-enfor IA Cement.

Good Points THAI Are Claimed For
Rc-enfor IA Cement
There Is Il constantly increasing de.
mand for some form of fence post
which is not subject to decay. The life
of wooden posts is very limited, and
the scarcity Of suitable timber in many
localities has made 1t imperative to
find Il substitute A foncc post - prove
thoroughly satisfactory must fulfill
three conditions: First, it must be OBJ
tainable at Il reasonable cost; second.
1t must possess sufficient strength to
meet the demands of general farm use;
third, it must not be subject to decay
and must be able to withstand success
fully the effects of water, frost and
tire. Although iron posts of various
designs are frequently used for orna-
mental purposes, their adoption for
general farm use is prohibited by their
excessive cost. Then, too, iron posts
exposed to the weather are subject to
corrosion, u prevent which they should
be rcplintcd from time to time, and
this item will entail considerable eX-
pense in cases where a large number of
posts are to be used.
At the present time the material
which seems most nearly to meet these
requirements is REINFORCED concrete.
The idea of constructing fence posts
of concrete reinforced with iron or
steel Is by no means n new N but on
the contrary such posts have been eX-
~pcr.mcntcd with for years, and a great
number Of patents have been issued
covering many of the possible forms Of
reinforcement. 1t Is frequently stated
that n ro:enforced concrete post can be
made and put In the ground for the
same price rs II wooden post. OF
course this will depend in any locality
roan the relative value Of wood and
tie various materials which go to make
up thu concrete post, but In the great
majesty Of cases wood will prove the
cheaper material in regard to first cost.
on II" other hand. n concrete post will
last Indefinitely. its strength increasing
with age. whereas the wooden post
must be replaced at short intervals,
probably making 1t more expensive in
the long run.
In regard to strength, it must be
''orne in mind that it is not practical
lie to make concrete fence posts as
%trong as wooden posts of the same
size. but since wooden posts. as Il rule.
are many times stronger than is neces-
AIRY this difference in strength should
not condemn the use of REINFORCED
concrete for this purpose. Moreover,
strength in many cases is Of little i'm
iortance. the fence beng used only as
Il dividing line, and in such cases small
concrete posts provide ample strength
and present a very uniform and neat
appearance. In any case, to enable
concrete posts to withstand the loads
hey are called upon to carry sufficient
,Irength may be secured by means
If reinforcement, and where great
strength is required this may be OBJ
aimed by using Il larger post with a
raater proportion Of metal and well
raced, as Is usual In such cases. in
p)int of durability concrete Is uliSur'
assed by any material of construc-
ion. 1t offers a perfect protection to
the metal reinforcement and is not
'tse!f affected by exposure, so that a
ost constructed of concrete re-enforc-
ed with steel will last indefinitely and
require no attention in the way of re-
pairs.-Farmer's Bulletin.