PREFACE 



The publishers have not attempted in this 

 work to produce a condensed cyclopedia cover- 

 ing the broad field of concrete engineering, but 

 they have aimed to present to the public a 

 handy reference book convenient to carry in 

 the pocket a pocketbook in reality and con- 

 taining rules, formulas, tables, and diagrams 

 that are often used and needed by architects, 

 concrete engineers, inspectors, superintendents, 

 foremen, carpenters, contractors, draftsmen, 

 designers, house owners and prospective house 

 owners; in fact, every one engaged in any pro- 

 fession or trade connected with building of con- 

 crete, or in any way interested therein. 



The aim of the publishers has been to select 

 from the vast amount of material on hand only 

 that portion which is most likely to be used in 

 connection with daily work, or which will be 

 most frequently consulted. Although the treat- 

 ment of some subjects is of necessity brief, it 

 has been the aim to so distribute the space 

 available that it would cover the more important 

 subjects as fully as possible. It has been found 

 impracticable to give tables for the strength of 

 concrete beams and slabs, because the stresses 

 employed are subject to city regulations. Until 

 the large cities adopt uniform requirements, such 

 tables cannot come into general use. The tables 

 selected throughout this work are those most in 

 demand, and the applications of the rules and 



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