The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-06-19
DANA BAXTER
WINS FIRST
PRIZE OF SIS
His Essay On Cement
Wins Over Five Hun
dred Competitors

Dana III. Baxter recently enter
cd the competitive essay contest
conducted by the Portland Cement
| Association who offered prizts fol-
the best essay on "The Farm Uses
of Concrete. Students from AZ
states and Canada to the No. OF
1913 submitted essays with separate
prizes for high school and college
entrants. The first prize of SIS
was awarded Dana Baxter whose
essay here follows:
Years ago the farmers chief
building material was wood. In
those days wood was plentiful,
handy and cheap, but now on ac-
count of forest fires and constant
use it is very high and scarce. On
this account a building material
with all the good points, and none
of the bad points of wood had to
be provided. 1t was found concrete
was an excellent substitute, and
although the first cost was a little
higher, in the end it was far more
satisfactory.
st. JohnSbury, Vermont, is a
typical rural Ntw England town of
about 5000 population and agri-
culture is one of its important in
dustries. At the Junior High
school which | attend Farm Mech
anies is one of the subjects taught,
and one of the lnost interesting
branches, has been the course in
concrete construction. The history
of cement is taught from its earl
lest beginnings in ancient times
down to its present method Of con-
Struction.
For the past four years a team
of boys from our school have dem
onstrated concrete work at the
Great Eastern States Agricultural
and Industrial Exposition at
Springfield, Massachusetts, repre-
senting Vermont, and have won
the Inter-States Championship
each year We have always dem
onStrated some phase of concrete
construction on the farm.
We have constructed concrete
horse weights, horse blocks, flow
or boxes, fence and hitching posts,
lawn pedestals, garden benches,
troughS, walls steps and walks.
A concrete walk is a very valua-
bic asset about the farm home, a.
good walks and roads help make
the farm work easier, besides add
ing to the general appearance of
the ground.
Building construction on the
farm Is an Investment, and in any
investment we are anxious to
know what dividends we will get
from our monev invested
When you build with concrete
you build for pcrmanency. In
most constructions the yearly
charge for permancncy is cXpcn-
sivc, high Fire Insurance and wear
and tear the buildings and their
upkeep.
Concrete construction has many
valuable advantages. 1t is fire
proof, saving fire insurance pre-
mlumS. 1t does not wear out, and
therefore has no expense for re
newll and painting. 1t protects the
contents and live stock through
proper sanitation, which has
VIDE community effect through the
proper output Of pure milk.
1t Is a prccaution against sick
ness and death of live stock and
against vermin and filth.
Concrete stable floors, water
tanks and drains are examples Of
conservation and increased value
to farm property.
Concrete silos transmutc their
benefits in preserving silage, thus
lnsuring better feeding value. This
is carried on to better beef, veal,
milk and dairy products which
mean more profit.
Concrete manure pits return to