The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-06-09

nNE Of the most practical as well as
u the most promising fields for the
use of cement Is In the manufac-
ture OF concrete fence posts. In most
sections Of the state material for their
construction is easily obtainable, and
they give such a promise of lasting
qualities that consideration OF the
essentials In their construction is
worth while.
We shall not attempt to describe in
detail the method OF making. A great
deal of this information Is being wide
ly distributed by the various manufac-
turers of cement, who thereby in
crease the sales Of their product Some
attention Is also given the matter by
the agricultural press, and the depart
ment of agriculture, Washington, d.
c., publishes Farmers Bulletin No.
403, which gives in detail the steps
to be followed.
Much of the published material
which Is intended to show the superior
advantages Of concrete for posts may
leave hazy notion as to the essen
tfal points to be observed In their
manufacture. The lasting qualities of
this kind Of post have been brought
forth so prominently that the matter
of cost may disappoint these who take
for granted their cheapness or those
who may sacrifice strength for cheap.
ness.
Strength is the first requisite of the
concrete post. This can only be Sc
cured by the careful proportioning of
material and the proper placing OF a
sufficient weight Of reinforcement
which should always be used. In
wood posts strength may be of Sec
ondary importance since post Of
ordinary size may be many times
stronger than actually necessary when
new, but this factor If omitted in the
construction Of concrete posts may
make them worse than useless. We
Eere note that while making concrete
posts Is a comparatively simple pro-
cess and not beyond the average man
it does require considerable care and
judgment.
In the matter of material the sand
should be clean and not contain more
than per cent OF clay. 1t should be
sharp, and the grains should vary In
size from very fine to that which will
just pass through a screen Of quarter
inch mesh. The proportions usually
recommend are 1:2:4; l. e., one Of
cement, two Of sand and four of gray
ell where gravel is considered to be
pebbles OF such size as will not pass
through screen Of quarter-inch mesh.
II bank run gravel is used 1t should
not contain too much fine sand nor
pebbles large enough to interfere with
the proper placing of reinforcement.
proportion Of IA of cement and bank
run gravel is right enough and IL the
grains Of gravel are found properly
graded in size win correspond favor
ably with the proportions of cement,
sand and gravel named above. Any
great excess Of cement above that re-
quired TO coat and bind the grains
together and fill the voids Is a pure
waste OF the most expensive part of
the mixture.
IN the matter OF reinforcement. it
will be found necessary to use not
less than two pounds of metal per line
post to secure the desired strength.
This may consist of single wires hook.
ed at each end and placed one in each
corner Of q square pest not more than
one inch from the outside. Two wires
twisted tog ther may also be used, and
there would be less probability of
these slipping in the concrete under
strain. II single wires are used, No.
8 ungalvanized or two No. IL twisted
may be procured in straight bundles
cut to the proper length Galvanizing
is not considered to be necessary since
IL The posts are properly made the
wire will be properly protected from
the air by the concrete. Reinforcing
wires should be placed from ga to
inch from the surface and should be
reasonably straight and free from any
bends or kinks which would tend TO
straiehten out under strain and there
by defeat the purpose of the reinforce
ment.
Too much stress cannot be laid on
the time required for curing. They
should not be handled for 10 days at
least and should be kept moist during
that time. This can be conveniently
done by covering with sand and wet
ting occasionally. Some authorities
recommend that they be kept moist
for period of 30 days. They should
not he used for 60 days at least.
Handling posts too green may develop
cracks invisible at first, but material
ly weakening the post
The cost of a good concrete line
post will not be less than 80. cents,
material and labor considered. A
rough estimate shows the cost to be
divided in about the fol owing prcp.r-
tons: Labor, one-third; cement, one
third; sand and gravel, one-sixth, and
reinforcing, one-sixth The weight of
line post 4 1-2x4 1-2 at the top, 4 IL