Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-10-07
CONCRETE FOR PENCE POSTS
They Last IA Lifetime and Are Much
Cheaper in the Long Run.

Concrete--cement, sand, gravel
and water combined in proper pro-
portions-has become one of the
leading building materials of the day.
1t has shown its worth as a substi-
tute for wood houses built entirely
of cement, the trimming and supports
of wood being merely for decorative
effect 1t is used by the govern
ment, by railroads, by farmers in
hundreds of ways either alone or re-
inforced and has been found to pro-
duce even good fence posts. It's
moderate cost, its durability, the
ease with which it is handled, the
wide distribution of the sand, gravel
and stone of which it is composed,
commend it to the consideration of
all builders.
Cost Sometimes Differs.
AS a material for fence posts con
crete has been found to possess but
few of the disadvantages of wood,
to have practically all its advantages
and to be superior in some respects
to timber. OF course the first cost
may be more or less than the best
wooden posts, but that depends on
local conditions-the limb II supply,
the deposits of sand, gravel and rock
and the skill of the WOrkmen. II
manufactured as usual and cured for
three months, concrete posts are as
good as the best wooden posts. After
three years wooden posts possess
only one-third to one-half of their
original strength, whereas concrete
grows stronger with age and needs
no repairs, as neither weather nor
fire Injuries it. Under ordinary cir
cumstances concrete posts will last
forever, and even if in the course of
years a few should be broken by UNI
usual strain it is cheaper to replace
them than to replace an entire fence
of decayed posts with a material
Are Very Attractive.
Concrete posts are attractive in APP
pearance because of their uniform
size and color, and can be made
either square, triangular or round
either straight or tapering toward
the top. They can be purchased
from dealers or made at home, and
this latter plan, together with sug-
gestions as to the construction of the
fence after the posts are made and
cured is the theme of farmers bulle-
tin No. 403, recently issued by the
United States department of agricul-
ture. The author takes up in detail
the selection of sand, gravel, crushed
rock and Gem ent; the choice of molds
--ci Their steel or wooden, and if
wooden, the proper way to make
Reinforcement--the insertion of steel
rods or wire in the molds when max
ing the posts, is discussed as to the
principle involved and the kinds of
reinforcement best suited to certain
needs. The work of mixing, mold
ing and curing is explained with min
uteness, and the variety of styles
which can be produced described
Under fence building is given in
fn ct
taching the wire, stretching the
fencing and the use of line anchors
Nine illustrations give detailed draw.
ings Of molds, methods and results
The pamphlet closes with a warning
to persons intending to buy post
molds, either steel or wooden, tic
beware of travelling agents who are
selling molds or rights for the sale
or use of their respective molds Nc
dealings should be had with these
agents except when fully satisfied
by a lawyer that the company rep.
resented by the agents has authorized
them to represent it. Patents
nave Deen issued on special types OF
reinforcement, and they cannot be
generally used without danger of in.
fringing patent rights, but none OF
the simple forms described in the
bulletin are patented or patentable
and they are just as good as the
special forms advertised and recon-
mended by the agents. No one need
hesitate to use the simple form of
construction recommended, for it
has been in common use in all coun-
tries for number of years, and all
claims that the general use of rein
forced concrete fence posts is con-
trolled by patent rights are untustif-
able and untrue.
Try THE