Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-09-18
A BASEMENT or CONCRETE
How 70 Mix Your Materials and Other
Helpful Suggestions.


Fred c, Wiehelman, r. No. 5, Still
water, MINI. seeks Information on the
building OF a concrete basement,
matter of general interest to farmers
In this community, and has received
the following reply from the Editor,
Cement User" 1905 Stock Exchange
building, Chicagol
You state that your barn Is "a by 40
feet, that YOU desire basement wall
z feet high. that the structure is 20
feet TO the square and that above the
basement wall you VIII place a gran
airy and hayloft For this purpose a
basement wall OF well made concrete,
9 inches thick. will be sufficiently
strong, Mix the concrete in proper
ton OIL part Portland cement to 212
parts good, clean sand to parts of
the course and fine gravel such as
you say you have on your place.
See that your forms are tight and
mix your concrete mushy wet For this
work there Will be required about AZ
cubic yards OF your coarse gravel, 81
cubic yards OF sand and 81 barrels or
22S bags OF Portland cement. In max
ing these calculations we have not
counted out the space for windows
and doors, as We do not know the size
OF the same. but you will also have fur
Their use for concrete in the pillars
which will support the up-rights, in the
Interior of your barn. consequently
these two items Will nearly balance
We are enclosing herewith a sketch
of your barn wall and also of a sug-
gestion for your pillars. You will note
that this basement wall extends
feet above ground, as you desire, and
also feet below ground AT the bot
tom the wall has been increased in
thickness to AFFORD footing IS
inches wide and l foot thick. OF
course the width Of such footing de
Ponds upon the character of the
ground in which you are building and
this must be determined by you, who
are on the spot. However, for average
conditions. this size of footing is suf-
foient. We have extended this foun-
dation feet into the ground with the
idea of getting below frost line. I'm
/ der any conditions such foundation
should 40 down at least 3 feet TO keep
ont rats and to prevent the washing
out of the foundation. As to a greater
depth this Is also matter for your
own decision With regard to the
! pillar for the inside up-rishts, We
would say that we have used the sSme
kind OF a pillar in our owu harms 'aa}
have been vely much pleased with It,.
/ You viii notice that the base is I foot
( square and extends feet H. the
/ ground The height Of the pillar above
I the ground is foot while its size is
4 gradually decreased until the top is
/ Q inches square Also note that cor
/ ners are beveled, not only for appear
/ ance. but also 10 prevent sharp edges.
/ AS soon as the pillar is built, in the
/ exact center, set a 1-inCh bolt or a
hsrrow-tooth SO that the same may
/ project above the pillar and into the
future wooden upright, If such be
used. or course these same pillars can
+ also be extended up to the hsylofi
floor and the same is very advisable
In that case we should say reinforce
the pillar IN each corner. inch from
the outside, with & inch iron reds, ex'
tending from the base to the top OF
the pillar and hoop these four rods
together at intervals Of inches with
heavy. smooth wire.
Every bain of whatever material
should have coed system OF vsntila
ton. For alr-yents place inch