The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-11-19

fessional men at the College of Ha-
wall last night to listen to an address
by w. r. Ryan, representing the Truss
ed Concrete Steel Company (Kahn
System Of Reinforced Concrete) of De-
troit, Michigan. The main section OF
the lecture began at 1880 O'Clock, but
so interested were those in attendance
in the discussion that it was nearly
IL when the meeting came to an end,
MIR. Ryan came to the islands
short time ago at the request of the
Honolulu Iron Works to explain and
assist in introducing the Kahn sys-
TEN of reinforced concrete-the mate
local concern. Last nights lecture
was arranged at the meeting of the
contractors, builders, architects, Unit
ed States engineers, local government
engineers and others, and the lecture
room was crowded with officials and
men of this class
The meeting was presided over by
Prof. John M Young chair of civil
engineering of the College of Hawaii,
who introduced the speaker of the
evening, Mr.. Ryan.
Mr.. Ryan began by remarking that
reinforced concrete had become one of
the Invest topics of the day, one of in
terest to everybody. He described the
elements of concrete and led into its
interesting history, from it's first use
by a Frencnman with which to make
flower, pots, improvements upon it by
the Germans, beginning with 1879, and
the taking up of the industry in the
States on a large scale about ten years
ago.
Some of the advantages of concrete
| in building construction were fire and
rust proof, freedom from shock vibra-
ton and durability. In fireproofness
several tests were described, and rust
was impossible in correctly made con-
crete. In fact it would disappear in
concrete, as had been proved over
and over again. AS for the durability
of the material attention was called TO
the fact that some of the buildings of
ancient Rome had endured 1000 to 1000
years. It's one-piece character en-
sured stability, a stability that was
amply proved in the earthquake at
San Francisco.
The speaker read extracts from a pa
per concerning the destruction of Mes
sina and Calabria earthquake in which
two concrete houses in Calabria were
| 1oft ,to oil
He referred to large buildings in
eastern cities, in which were printing
plants, the heavy machinery on the
upper floor did not cause vibration
in the lower parts of the building.
Offices above and below this machinery
never noticed the vibration at all.
Other advantages Of the concrete
were that repairs to it are insignifi-
cant. 1t is vermin proof, clean ana
sanitary. Moreover, it is capable of
exact computation. Structural steel
was considered the standard as re-
CARDS reliability but recent tests open
ed the eyes of the world to the fact
that we do not know all about steel
Concrete is an understandable PROPOSE
ton as tests are continually being
made on completed structure and not
alone on small test pieces.
Reinforced concrete would develop
fifty per cent more strength than a
steel beam designed for the same
, load
Reinforced concrete can be used in
any and every sort of building where
ever a structure was to be depended
upon under all circumstances. In the
States the cost of concrete construction
has been found to be from five tC
twenty per cent higher than mill con-
struction buildings costing about $4O,.
900 it was cheaper than either wOoC
and brick mill buildings costing $780,.
900 or more.
In the matter of insurance costs the
advantage was very largely on the
side of concrete the insurance on rein
forced concrete buildings being one
third to one-ffth tnat of the bes
type of brick and wood construction
The insurance on the contents of con
crete buildings was less than half tina
for others.
Add to this depreciation, results o
vibration and consider the value o
extra light and you have a difference,
\ of two per cent year or $4,000 saving
I on a 100000 building in favor of tn
\ concrete structure.
By reinforced concrete buildings w
N n1aaO in mbiob tho dOOrs fOO
beams and floor girders are OF thi
material The walls may be reinforce
> concrete, brick or stone. A building
3 having a reinforced concrete wall witt
3 wood floors IS not a reinforced cOncret
5 structure ana is not fireproof
In the east the time required 10
: the erection Of a concrete building wa
Z less than for others.
There was at one time objection Il