The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1916-05-05
CONCRETE FENCEP0STS.
Scarcity of Suitable Timber Makes
Substitute Necessary.

substitute Necessary.
Prepared By United States department OF
agricultural
The growing scarcity of suitable tim
Der for fenceposts in many parts of
the country is tending to develop
more widespread use of steel and con-
crete for this purpose. Steel posts are
very easily handled, and fences may be
erected in short time with them.
They have been criticised, however,
on the ground that they are bent by
heavy stock rubbing against them.
This may be avoided by constructing
the fence so that it is tight enough to
transmit the strain of pressure which
Is brought TO bear upon it TO the end
posts and the intermediate line posts.
The use Of heavier steel posts will also
do away with this objection.
For concrete great argument Is Its
durability. To secure this, however.
much care must be exercised in the Sc
lection Of materials and in the con-
struction of posts. Gravel or crushed
rock should be used which does not
exceed one-half inch or run under one
quarter inch in diameter. The sand
should be clean and fairly close. The
best results are obtained from very
rich mixture, which should contain one
part cement, two parts sand and three
parts gravel. 1t does not pay to stint
the quantity of cement, for the slight
reduction in cost obtained In this way
will be offset by a great difference III
the quality OF the post.
Homemade wooden forms may be
used, but better results are obtained
however, should be thoroughly cleaned
and oiled before using. The best time
for cleaning is just after the green
posts are removed from the molds and
before there is time for particles Of
concrete to harden on them. Oiling
should be done before the concrete is
put In, a small amount of machine oil
applied with a brush answering the
purpose.
The concrete should contain just
enough water to enable 1t to be pour
ed and no more. After it Is In the
mOlds 1t should be Jared or vibrated
In order that It's settling may force
essential to the making Of a strong
smooth post. Ordinarily the posts can
be removed from the mold at the end
of twenty-four hours. They should
then be laid on a smooth floor and
kept covered for a week or ten days.
During this time they should be sprin-
killed. with water daily to prevent their
drying out too rapidly. At the end of
this period they may be stacked on
end in piles, where they should be left
for at least a month. or better, three
months.
Owing to the excessive weight of
concrete posts ii Is doubtful whether
fencing can be erected as quickly with
them as with wooden posts. They must
also be handled very carefully and
well set in the ground to prevent heav-
ing. If the post does heave sufficiently
to lean over its weight may pull the
fence down.
In experiments conducted by the
state college in Iowa the cost of the
cement used in concrete fence posts
was found to vary from to 8 cents
a post. The cost of reinforcing rods
was from 8 to II cents per post. If
sand and gravel are available on the
farm and the work may be done at
season of the year when the time
might not otherwise be profitably en-
plOyed the construction Of concrete
fenceposts at these costs Is quite
feasible. In the winter, however. care
must be taken not to allow the con-
crete to freeze.