PART II 



CEMENT AND CONCRETE 



CHAPTER XI 



HISTORY OF CEMENT 



100. Preliminary. The fact that concrete is now being 

 used so universally, both on the farm and in the city, makes 

 it desirable, if not necessary, that every one should study 

 its possibilities and learn at least the first principles of cor- 

 rect concrete construction. There are too many poor jobs 

 of concrete work, the failure of which is due to lack of knowl- 

 edge on the part of the man doing the work. Concrete, 

 when properly made, has too many good qualities to be 

 condemned merely because of lack of information and judg- 

 ment on the part of the man who uses it. 



The main reasons concrete is being used to such a great ex- 

 tent are : 



a) It is permanent. 



6) It is more nearly fireproof than any other building 

 material. 



c) It is rat-proof. 



d) It is attractive. 



e) It is sanitary. 



With the aid of steel, it can be used for most any 



purpose in building. 

 g) It can be used with success by the average farmer 



with less special training than is required with 



other available materials. 

 h) It is economical. 



ill 



