14 MICHIGAN ROADS AND FORESTS 



GROWING USE OF CONCRETE. unless he is built that way. Good concrete accepted on its merits, and not on imaginary 



_ work means, above all things, a good con- qualities. 



Over 6,000 Monoliths Built in This Country tractor to execute the plans of the architect Unlimited Use for Concrete. 



in 15 Years arul e n g ineer - The real qualities of good concrete are so 



,. 



r,: i^f ltrl W T" b one , y 



should learn to distinguish the different first, faulty design; second, poc .Is; In sp:te of the tremendous volume of pubhc 



th romcr and third, careless or inexperienced execution. , vork wn ich has been executed in reinforced 



grades of concrete, the same as they i ..^ design> , genera ,, y includes the fol- concrete, there remains a still greater use of 



nize first and second-class grades of work in Iowing . this material along other lines, which may be 



masonry, brick, wood, or steel construction. Primarily, the selection of concrete for in- divided roughly into three classes, namely, 



The trouble today is that nearly every one correct use, such as for conveying acids, for commercial, private, and farm enterprises. 



- mnrrptp and attributes waterproofing cellars and walls, where the Commercial work generally includes fac- 



looks at concrete as concrete, a water is under static head, or the use of con- tories , warehouses, lofts, office buildings, ho- 



qualities to concrete which 11 t crete ; n tensionj wner e current practice does t els, chimneys, reservoirs, foundations, and 



possess or possesses in some cases, but not not permit tensile stresses in concrete. similar industrial structures. Practically no 



in the one in question. The truth of the mat- Secondly, the incorrect designing of con- progressive industrial executive goes ahead 



that concrete is a eood material in crete to take loads without providing the w j t h new building work, or for that matter, 



proper reinforcement or proper amount of with alterations to existing structures, with- 



fact, a most excellent material, b 3 concrete Such designs occur frequently in out investigating and taking estimates on 



in no way foolproof. other materials, and are in no sense the fault concrete or reinforced concrete. Although 



It cannot be disputed that concrete and of the material, but the fault of the designer, the commercial development of this material 



reinforced concrete construction are of proven We cannot expect inexperienced men to de- ; s not muc h over fifteen years old, its use i 



^ u K sign properly in concrete any more than you very extensive. In Europe, moreover, par- 



merit ana recognized worth. One has but c ^ ^ ct * them tQ design in terra cotU) ticl / larly in Germany, concrete is used in 



to glance about him to be impressed with the brick. steel, or wood, if they do not know many lines to which we have not yet adapted 

 wide usage that this material has had. It is wria t they are about. it. France also relies on concrete for prac- 



idle to say that concrete is essentially un- Tne condition referred to above as "poor tically every class of construction. 

 worthy and dangerous. Surely such conserva- materials" has been the basic cause of the The use of concrete for residences, garages, 

 live interests as the great railroads of this ma j or jty of the few failures which have oc- stables, fences, sidewalks, and other small 

 country, the United States government, the curre d ; n connection with concrete construe- structures has been extensive, but not nearly 

 Prussian government, the English govern- tion p oor materials may be used either as muc h as it will undoubtedly be in the fu- 

 ment. and, in fact, capital throughout the through ignorance of the requirements of ture. There are many problems in connection 

 world would not have put the cash they have concr ete, or may be used intentionally by a w |th the same which have not been solved as 

 into this material, unless they had become dishonest contractor; in either instance, their satisfactory as they should be. Nevertheless, 

 convinced that it was safe and permanent. use nur t s concrete, but the resulting damage a great number of residences and bungalows 



The irrigation work throughout the West, ; s not inherent to the use of concrete. One have been built of concrete in all parts of 

 both dams and canals, the New York subways m ight use poor brick themselves in an ordi- the country. As more and more work is 

 and railroad tunnels, the Panama- Canal, the nary building, and, if the structure collapsed, being done, the architectural and practical 

 New York Barge Canal, the Catskill water as ; t undoubtedly would, the builder of the treatment of the small home is being success- 

 supply system, the Florida East Coast Rail- structure, and not the whole brick industry, f u n y worked out. 



road viaducts, stretching for miles across the would be blamed. Farm wcrk i s very widespread, and the 



sea, and a host of other great engineering The thlrd condition referred to as being adoption of concrete has been more success- 

 works, all attest the merits of this material, responsible for any failure of concrete, name- ful tne rein than along any one line. A list 

 One prominent Eastern railway in a period ]y _ " care less or inexperienced execution," is of but a few of the more com mon types of 

 of nine .years has used concrete in rebuilding something which is growing less and less as structures which can be built by any one 

 1,002 bridges on its lines Over 900 000 cubic more concrete work is being executed, and without much experience, and with little skill 

 yards of concrete have been placed on this m ore contractors, engineers, and architects and great satisfaction, may be of interest; 

 one system alone. come to understand the requirements of the Cow ba rns, stables, floors of all kinds, steps 



Complicated Inspections. material. Some three years ago there were and sta j rSi foundations, cisterns, watering 



If concrete is properly handled, it is a most several bad failures of bridges and buildings tr0 ughs, tanks of all descriptions, silos, horse 

 excellent material. What this means in the constructed of concrete. In almost every blocks, pigpens, and chicken houses. A num- 

 essence is that, in concrete construction, the case tne failure was traceable to the inexperi- ber of tne i ar g e cement companies have pub- 

 inspection has to be made at the site of the en of the contractors. They had built their ]j sne d, anc i are qu j te willing to furnish upon 

 work, whereas, in other materials, such as f rm s or moulds incorrectly; they had not demand, books showing just how to handle 

 structural steel work, the inspection is at the cleaned the same, and they had used no dis- concret e in such work. The forms and mould 

 mills where the manufacturing of the mate- cretion in removing the forms. are easy to prepare, and the materials neces- 



rial is even more complicated than is the case Although it may appear that concrete re- sary are generally to be found locally. 

 with concrete. Almost any inspector on a quires technical consideration to be success- -phe advantages of concrete for all classes 

 concrete building can tell by looking at con- ful - the inference should not be drawn that o f construction are briefly as follows: 

 crete as it goes into the forms whether it is there are not innumerable opportunities for First, the relative cost of concrete and oth- 

 jrood. bad or indifferent, and whether or not tne use of concrete where professional atten- er materials. Compared to any other method 

 the architect's specifications are being lived tion is unnecessary. Many thousands of small of fi rep roof construction, reinforced concrete 

 up to. No man can by a mere physical in- farm structures and outbuildings have been w j]j save f rom 10 to 2 per cent, in initial 

 spection of steel or iron say whether the built o{ concrete, to the complete satisfaction costj and w j]j resu ]t in obtaining minimum 

 specifications have been fulfilled. It requires of tne owners. Square miles of sidewalks and i nsurance rates, and will, further, result in a 

 careful laboratory work to determine the roadways of cement exist throughout the reduction in maintenance and repair charges, 

 amount of carbon, sulphur, and phosphorus country, all having been made by compara- so tria t, compared to any other form of fire- 

 present. Any material variation in the quan- lively inexperienced labor. In fact, it would proo f construction, it has no superiors. The 

 tity of one of these elements seriously affects be impossible to enumerate the uses of con- maximum height for the economical construc- 

 the strength of the steel. Concrete on the crete easily open to the general public. tion of a re i n forced concrete building is ten 



other hand has demonstrated time and time There is an old saying among concrete peo- sto ries. owin to the size of the columns, but 

 again that it is stronger than ever its most P le tnat "concrete, once up, stays up. Once a combination of structural steel columns and 

 enthusiastic adherents will acknowledge. It the forms or moulds are removed, and the re i n f orc ed concrete floors is being used in 

 can be made in any place and in a great many concrete has set, there is little danger of its m any of the large buildings in this country 

 ways, providing certain simple requirements ever collapsing. Of course, if concrete has at tne pre sent time. There are over 3,000 of- 

 are followed. The lesson for the layment been selected for use in a place where the fice an d loft buildings on Manhattan Island 

 here is to employ technical advice before en- conditions render its use unfit, one cannot wn j c h have been fireproofed with concrete, 

 gaging in building work. Hire an architect vouch for the results. The majority of such and t h ere are probably six or seven thousand 

 or an engineer who will see to it that the deleterious conditions are known to the con- buildings solely of reinforced concrete con- 

 proper designs are prepared and the proper crete profession, and it is only when inexperi- stn iction scattered throughout the country. 

 materials used in the proposed structure. ence governs the work that concrete is used Comoarison of Expense 



Give the contract for the new work to a re- in sllc)l places. Precisely the same situation 



liable bidder. Don't be fooled by the low bid exists with any other material. One would Compared to brick and wood construction 

 Look into the contractor's financial standing not think of using steel where the water could concrete is more expensive by trom 5 to .20 

 and, in general, investigate him as you would Ret at it and rust it, nor would conservative per cent, but if the ultimate cost of the build 

 your doctor or your lawyer before you en- interests specify wood when they wanted a ings be considered, even though the concrete 

 gage him. All the bonds and inspectors in fire-resistant material. The crux of the mat- structure may have a higher initial cost it 

 the world won't make a man do honest work ter is that concrete must be understood and possible to show by careful calculation of cer> 



