The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-07-20
MAKES TESTS OF CONCRETE
Cement Being Used Meets Tests De-
manded in Specifications and Gravel
Works Well After Being Washed
Start Outlet Soon.

LII OIueE BHaG Tie p6Upl6 VI VIC CIty
may be properly advised as to the pro-
gress that is being made on the trunk
sewer and the nature of the materials
being used, City Engineer August
Baltzer has issued a formal statement
Of tests which have been made Of ma
terials. The report bears the stamp
Of the engineers Office and it will be
read with interest by people interested
in the proper completion of the sewer
The report follows:
1T herewith beg to submit report on
conditions of materials, used in the
construction of the trunk sewer, also
on the progress of the work.
The bank gravel which was con
demned by the inspector has been care
fully tested as to it's tensile strength
and its adhering qualities to cement.
[ find that considerable dirt and
loan was mixed in with this gravel
but by careful washing same, L al
lowed it to be used. About seven or
eight carloads have been used, and
there remains but very little of it at
the present time.
The stone now used in the concrete
on the sewer is known as Number 8,
medium crushed limestone, the size of
which all will pass through an inch and
half ring. 1t is very good stuff, and
almost entirely free from dust or other
ingredients, injurious to concrete.
The sand that we now are getting
is medium, torpedo sand, sharp and
clean. I have caused several tests to be
made of the cement, taken from diff
ferent bags, and in regard to it's
ineness, find that ten per cent
will be retained upon a Number
100 sieve. This is what the specifca
tions call for. The soundness has been
tested, and is found to be very good.
In regard to the tensile strength of
the cement, we have made several bri-
QUOTES and find that when mixed neat,
and after seven days, the average
breaking load Of same is 5S51a pounds,
which is 85@ pounds more than the
specifications call for. The mixing of
the concrete is carried out as required
by the specifications. In no instance
have [ found that the shell of the
sewer is less than it's required thick
ness, but on the other hand, in many
places, it runs from Is to SO per cent
above what is called for.
Since the steel forms have been put
in use, the interior of the sewer is left
very smooth and straight.
About forty ienal feet of the sewer
is being put in daily, and when all
curves and angular parts have been put
in, and a straight stretch is encounter
ed, it is no reason why at least sixty
to eighty ineal feet of the sewer
should be put in daily.
At the west end Of the sewer, two
shafts have been sunk, one on Lyman
avenue, and one on Quinton street.
These shafts are approximately thirty
feet deep and the excavation for the
sewer is done by means of tunneling,
tunnels being extended both west and
east. I find that the conditions governing
the materials, and the mixing of the
concrete are practically the same as
on the east end of the sewer.
The diameter of the sewer at this
end, is seventy eight inches, and the
thickness of the shell is eight inches.
I find that the average thickness is
close to ten inches, and in no place,
less than nine.
Owing to the difficulty in getting the
material out of these shafts, this work
is not progressing as rapidly as on the
east end of the sewer. Fifteen lineal
feet is about the average that is being
put in, in twenty-four hours.
There is about a carload and half
of crushed gravel on this place, but
said gravel is carefully washed before
going into the mixer. After this stuff
has been used up, will not permit
any more of it to be used, and the
contractors have assured me that moth
ing but the best of crushed lime stone,
as specified, will be used in the con-
struction hereafter
In conclusion, I might state that the
work on the outlet and breakwater will
start within a very few days; material
and piles having been ordered.
August Baltzer,
City Engineer"