The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-19
GROWING USE OF CONCRETE.
Described as Being Sanitary. Durable and
Earthquake Proof.

From every section OF the country come
reports of building operations involving
the use Of concrete. In many instances
brick walls or facings OF brick and stone
ara specified, but in a majority Of cases
where large structures are planned con-
, crete Is to be an important factor. On the
Pacific Coast the number Of concrete build
ings planned or under way is conspicuously
large.
Concrete foundations, cage construction,
bridges and dams comprise an old story II
| considered from the standpoint Of extended
use instead OF time, but from its application
In these and kindred projects there has
been remarkable expansion.
There is now general recognition OF the
value Of concrete for every type of build
ing In which the contents or manufacture
Ing processes may nave to do with sani-
tary considerations and the life Of the
structure; that Is to say, buildings in which
meats, fruits and other foods are prepared
or stored or in which chemicals are used.
In all structures Of this character, says
the Cement Age, concrete is regarded
as an economical and sanitary substitute
for materials subject TO rust and decay.
In the way OF more recent uses Of con-
crete may be mentioned the railroad tie.
telegraph and telephone poles, flooring
in steel cars, mine supports, shingles, doors,
window sash and fencing. The list ex-
tends from the ordinary TO the most novel
applications, such as the s~toppage Of leaks
in vessels and the filing OF trunks Of decay
ing trees,
In view Of the increasing scarcity and
growing expense Of wooden telegraph
poles the Pennsylvania Railroad Lines
West are testing a reinforced concrete
pole at Rochester, Pa. II the various tests
prove successful it is likely the Lines West
will make general use Of such poles.
The pole is moulded about iron rods used
for reinforcement. When completed 1t is
about the size and shape Of the ordinary
pole.
The Pennsylvania already has n mile
of line equipped with concrete poles near
Maple, Ind.
There was enough reinforced concrete
construction In the earthquake belt to
convince every one that buildings of This
type have little to fear from earthquakes,
and that they are far more rigid and more
free from vibration than n construction
known. The steel sinevs forming the
Reinforcement give to the concrete sufficient
elasticity to Withstand admirably the
blTdlI1 pIOuuOCu W isbSohhCt ohN ANh
ample bracket connections between column
and floor beams, which this method supplies,
it would require a greater shock than
California has experienced to- produce
1t were strained to the extent Of producing
CRACKS, it is believed the strength Of the
structure would be but little impaired
because Of the Reinforced metal.
Take for example the museum at Stan
ford University. the first reinforced concrete
building in California. 1t was built seven
teen years ago. AS compared with modern
methods it Is a very crude example OF work,
but nevertheless it stood the earthquake OF
last April admirably.
One statue was thrown from the top
OF the building and all the marble statuary
in the interior was thrown to the floor
and broken. Even the pictures were swung
with their faces toward the wall. Not
withstandinR all this, the building sustained
no damage, not even being cracked in the
slightest extent.