TiiiRTv-sixTii Annual Convention 1011 



well attfiidcd - — he put it that wuy — he did not want to i2,'et a 

 nnin from out of the state for tliat reason. I am certainly very 

 much .a:ratified to see so many here. I will ask vour indulgeuce 

 in present iiiii,' at least the tirst part as a paper, since I can collect 

 my tliou<;hts much better and i;ive it in a more condensed form 

 than otherwise. Afterwards, if there are any questions on 

 creamery or other special construction, I will try to answer "them. 



Concrete is a manufactured stone formed by mixing cement, 

 sand, and stone or gravel together, with water. It is as durable 

 as rock, stronger than laid masonry, is practically fireproof, and 

 adaptable to any and all forms of construction. However, it is 

 with steel as a jDartner that has placed the two above and beyond 

 all other materials in modern construction. 



With the increa-sing cost of timber construction, which at best 

 is unsatisfactory because of its being subject to the ravages of 

 tire, wind and water; the steady toll of insurance, depreciation 

 and paint is monstrous against the interest of Urst cost over wood 

 construction, thereby proving the economy of concrete construction. 



Brick and stone masonry has been used for years, but was too 

 massive and cumbersome to ever satisfy the conditions which have 

 developed in our stables, and especially in our cities. For 

 example, a two-foot thick masonry wall shuts out too much light, 

 also the extra foot of floor space occupied around the entire base- 

 ment is inqjortant and must be figured in cost per square foot of 

 space. 



The glories of concrete could be expanded indefinitely, but it is 

 my purpose to limit this paper to its field of utility as found in 

 our modern dairy and farm construction. 



Although Portland cement has been manufactured in the United 

 States for forty years, it is only during the past ten years that its 

 use has been common. In 1906 our annual production first 

 reached over a million barrels ; to-day it reaches hundreds of 

 millions. So rapid has been its development that its nse on our 

 farms is the rule, rather than the exception. 



While admitting the development of high skill and practice, 

 concrete construction can be done, under direction, with home or 

 cheap labor. Yet because of this apparent ease, many have made 



