138 Re-inforced Concrete for Farm and Estate Purposes. 



showing the cost of materials and labour in the actual erection 

 of 436 yds. of wire fencing, using re-inforced concrete posts 

 12 ft, apart, and five wires : — 



Materials. & s. d. 



103 Small Posts @ 1/11 9 17 6 



8 Straining Posts ® 2/6 10 



8 Struts @ 1/11 15 4 



8 Plates @ 1/2 9 4 



Loading and carting the above . . 11 5 



H Loads Ballast and carting . . . @ 2/4 7 



14 cwt. Cement ,, „ ... 17 6 



4 i cwt. Wire, 6X7 ply galvanised strand . @ 16/6 3 14 3 



Carting 2 3 



Carting 3 barrels of Water ... 069 



25 Eye Bolts with Eye Screvrs ... 18 8 



30 Butterfly Ratchets @ 7/6 per doz. 18 9 



25 Eye Bolts and Nuts .... 18 



Lahmr 5 2 11 



£25 19 8 

 Cost per yard — 1.*. 2d. 



Coming to the last point for consideration, the question of 

 the extension of the use of re-inforced concrete, it seems 

 probable that there must be a steady development in this 

 method of construction in various directions. At the same 

 time, the matter is one that calls for the exercise of much care 

 and considerable caution where large constructional works are 

 in contemplation. It must be remembered that the material 

 has its detractors, and that cases are not unknown where ferro- 

 concrete structures have collapsed without warning. It is a 

 fact that the co-efficients of expansion of steel and of concrete 

 are not absolutely identical, though they are so nearly the same 

 as to make it improbable that the internal stresses from this 

 cause would be sufficient to destroy the bond between the two 

 materials. Nevertheless, where farm buildings are to be 

 constructed on a scale sufficient to justify tlie expenditure on 

 moulds and forms, the systems of ferro-concrete construction 

 exemplified at Hardwicke, Burderop, and elsewhere would be 

 well worthy of detailed consideration, for they have much in 

 their favour from architectural, economical, and from sanitary 

 standpoints. 



As regards workmen's dwellings, to the construction of 

 which ferro-concrete does not yet seem to have been applied, 

 by-laws stipulating for 9 in, walls are a stumbling block 

 in many districts, and, moreover, it is objected that thin- 

 walled concrete cottages would be both cold and damp. 

 Probably both these difficulties could be overcome, and 

 the fire-resisting properties of the material are a very 

 strong recommendation for it, not only for cottages, but 



