The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-02-22
DRY CELLARS
FOR YAKIMA
Process Now Being Used in
Barnes-Woodin Building Be-
lieved to Solve Problem
CITY ENGINEER TO
INVESTIGATE METHOD
If Successful Process Will Revolu-
tionize Building in North Yak
ina and Make 1t Possible to
Use one Store Below Ground

If certain work that is under way
here proves successful, and there is
every reason, in the minds of those
who have the work in hand, from
previous experience and a thorough
knowledge of their business, to be-
lieve that it will, there need be no
more wet cellars or Easements in
North Yakima. For some time Henry
B. Scudder, owner of the building &C.
cupied by the Barnes-Wo COM
pany, has been seeking for something
to waterproof the concrete basem ent,
which can be used as storeroom
only during the dry season. During
the summer time, when the irriga-
ton bitches are flowing, there has
been such a seepage that it was i'm
possible to store goods in the base
ment.
Scudder Lets First Contract
After a thorough investigation of
the process that is being used, Mr..
Scudder decided to let contract
with the Ironite concern to water
proof his cellar. In regard to this,
Mr.. Scudder said:
where any person is willing to
back up his proposition to the extent
that he will put in the work and wait
for his money until such a time as
the practicability Of the process is
proven, 1 believe it should be worthy
Of trial. I have investigated every
process for waterproofing concrete
brought to my notice, and you may
believe the processes have been nu-
merous, but until this was offered I
had been unable to find anyone VIII >
would back his with such a guar
antee. Each one was, willing to guar
antee the work, but not to that ex-
tent. The company to which I have
given the contract do not expect to
be paid one cent for their work until
late in the irrigation season when
time will have proven or disproven
the practicability of the process. 1
have sent a number of people inter-
ested to see the job, for I believe if
successful the process will be used
generally and will be of great benefit
to the city"
City Engineer to Investigate
City Engineer Doolittle, who had
heard Of the process, expects to make
a thorough investigation Of it as ap-
plicable to water and sewer pipes.
Process in General Use
Ironite, the material being used in
interpreting the basement Of the
Barnes-woodin building, has been
used on some of the largest buildings
in Chicago, Milwaukee, New Orleans
ana other cities In the middle west.
The fact that it is used as extensive
ly as it is, speaks for it's effectiveness.
c. B. Andrews, who has charge Of
the work being done for Mr.. Scudder
has this to say Of the process:
"Ironite Is a metallic waterproofing
for all sorts Of cement products,
brick, stone, and other porous sub
stance. Ironite is in the form Of a
fine mineral powder, and is shipped
in metal cans. In the process of
manufacture, pure iron is reduced to
a powder so fine that in the making
Of It, it has to be handled by air. 1t
is strictly mineral substance and
has no Oil, parafflne, asphalt or other
similar substances in it.
"In applying it, 1ronite is mixed
with water to about the consistency
OF ordinary Wn1IeWdSH dHu SpTcdu
upon the desired surface with a
brush. The water VIII carry the Iron
tie into any porus object and into
any cavities that moisture will pene-
trata. It's value as a waterproofing is
due to the fact that when thus intro
duced into the voids of concrete,
brick work, ETC., the Ironite particles
oxidize, and form both a mechanical
and chemical union with the con-
crete, and become a part and par
eel OF the same. 1t cannot be re-
moved except with strong mechanl-
cal force as with hammer and chisel:
and then only by taking a part Of the
concrete with 1t.
"1n the process of oxidiZing, the
particles Of Ironite enlarge and COM
pletely fill the voids into which they
penetrate. The chemists say that in
this process new substance Is
formed (similar in many respects to
iron ore) that 1t is practically indie
structible, and impervious to water,
air, heat, cold, oils, acids, alkalis, etc.
Ironite may also be used by mixing
with the dry cement before the con-
crete is made"