The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1909-03-26

as illustrated, holds the line wire In
position.
Cement posts should be reinforced
in order to give them sufficient
strength. This reinforcement can be
common fence wire embedded in the
cement as the post is made. II smooth
wire or rods are used the ends should
be bent over to prevent slipping.
Twisted or barbed wire may be used,
the former being the most easily han.
died Galvanized wire is not neces.
sary as II is protected by the cement
from rusting. A reinforcing member
In each corner of the post Is probably
the most efficient arrangement. These
will give the desired strength
In using mold similar 20 those II.
lustrated, II is necessary to provide a
perfectly smooth and even platform
OF size depending upon the number
OF posts to be nodded A cement
floor. II accessible. may be used 10 ad
vantage. The molds when in place
are given thin coating of soft soap,
/ the platform or cement fioCr serving
as bottom of mold, being treated in
same way. About one and one half
I inches OF concrete are spread evenly
over the bottom and carefully tamped,
/ so as to reduce To a thickness OF
about one inch. A piece of board cut
/ as In illustration will be found useful
in loyeliag off the concrete to de.
] sired thickness before tamping. On
top OF this layer two reinforcing
members are placed. about one inch
] from the sides of the mold. The
molds arc then filled and tamped in
thin layers to the level of the other
two reinforcing members, the fasten.
ers for fence-wires being inserted dur.
ing the operation. These reinforcing
members are adjusted as were the
first two and the remaining one inch
of concrete tamped and leveled off
thus completing the post so far as
moiding is concerned To avoid sharp
edges, which are easily Clipped
triangle strips may be placed at the
bottom of the mold along the sides
and when the molds have been filled
and tamped, similar strips may be in
serted at the top. The top edges may
be beveled with a trowel or by run
ming an edging tool having a triangu
lar projection on its bottom along the
edges.
The ends and sides of the mold may
be removed after twenty-four hours
but the posts should not he handled
for at least one week. during which
time they must be sprinkled several
times daily and protected from the
sun and wind. The intermediate
strips may be carefully withdrawn a
the end Of two or three days. but 1,
Is better to leave them in place unit
the posts are removed. Although 6
post may be hard and apparently
strong when one week old, It will not
attain its full strength in that time
and must be handled with the utmost
care TO prevent injury. Carelessness
in handling green posts frequently re
suits in the formation of fine cracks
which. though unnoticed al the time
give evidence of their presence later
in the failure of the post.
Posts should be allowed to cure al
least six days before being placed IN
the ground, and for this purpose il /.
recommended that when moved from
the molding platform they be place.
upon a smooth bed of moist sand ar
protected from the ssin until thorough
ly cured. During this period they
should receive thorough drenchinl
at least once a day.
The life of the molds will depend
upon the care with which they ar,
handled. A coating of mineral oil o
shellac may be used instead of soaI
to prevent the cement from stickinl
to the forms. AS soon as the mold,
are removed they should b. cleanseC
with wire brush before Icing usec
again.
The cost of reinforced concrete
fence posts, OF course. depends upor
the cost OF labor and materials. anC
must necessarily vary in different 10
calities.