TH K IRRIG AT I () X AGE. 



215 



THE STORAGE OF PORTLAND CEMENT. 



Portland cement is easily affected by moisture. It is 

 purposely made so; for, combined with water and other 

 substances, it forms the best of all building materials 

 everlasting concrete. But moisture must be kept away 

 from cement until it is needed for actual use. This means 

 that cement must be stored in places which are and can 

 be kept absolutely dry. Upon the proper storage of 

 cement are dependent the reputation of the contractor or 



Cement on the Work Piled Properly on Wooden Platform. 



builder, the trade of the local dealer, and the satisfaction 

 of the user. 



On account of the quantity which they keep on hand, 

 dealers and contractors often build special houses for the 

 storage of Portland cement. Almost any material will 

 do for the construction, provided it will shed water and 

 remain weather-proof. Frequently, for temporary stor- 

 age, contractors build sheds of "up and down" plank, cov- 

 ered on the outside with one or more thicknesses of 

 tarred paper. The floor must be above possible high 

 water and open, so that the wind can circulate under it. 

 To make the house more completely damp-proof, the 

 floor should be double or its equivalent. Often the same 

 effect is obtained by a makeshift double floor of loose 

 timbers and boards laid upon the regular floor. 

 For such a temporary shed there is nothing 

 better than a well-made one-way slope tarred 

 paper roof on sheathing laid with tight 

 joints, lengthwise or in clapboard fashion 

 crosswise. Let the roof have a drip or over- 

 hang of at least a foot on all sides. See that 

 it is absolutely water-tight, that the rain can- 

 not beat in under the eaves, and that the roof 

 is fixed so firmly that a wind storm will not 

 raise it. It is advisable to put no windows 

 in such a house, and to have the door so 

 securely hinged and fastened as to keep out 

 intruders. Where use of cement in the work 

 is dependent upon acceptance by test, provi- 

 sion for piling should be made in accordance 

 with instructions given below for dealers. 



The same general principles stated above 

 apply to storage houses for dealers. Naturally 

 the house is made more permanent in char- 

 acter. Consequently, it should be supported 

 by a concrete foundation extending into the 

 ground below the frost line. Likewise, for a 

 permanent building, there is no material so 

 good as well proportioned concrete. Place 

 the concrete floor on sufficient coarse, compacted gravel 

 or broken stone, and fill to bring the floor level a foot 

 above the surrounding ground. Slope the surface of the 



floor toward the door. For a one-story building, a 6-inch 

 reinforced wall is strong enough. With a reinforced con- 

 crete roof, the cement will be protected from all possible 

 danger of dampness. 



Since Portland cement weighs practically 100 pounds 

 per cubic foot, the beams of the floor elevated above 

 ground must be heavy and be supported at frequent inter- 

 vals by concrete piers. If window openings are neces- 

 sary, do not use sash. A strong door, hinged at the top 

 and capable of being fastened on the inside, 



is much better for keeping out dampness. 



Often the building has a solid or skeleton 

 lining on the inside, for reasons given 

 under directions for storing cement. It 

 should be well sway-braced on the inside, 

 to prevent springing of cracks or bulging. 

 The size of th'e house is dependent upon 

 the extent and character of the dealer's 

 trade. An average carload of Portland 

 cement contains about 175 to 200 barrels of 

 four bags each. In determining the neces- 

 sary size of the cement sheds, consider that 

 each bag of cement stored will occupy one 

 cubic foot. Do not build too small. There 

 is an increasing demand everywhere for 

 Portland cement, and the trade of local 

 dealers is far surpassing expectations. 



The character of the trade has much to 

 do with fixing the size of the storage 

 house. Especially dealers who supply 

 contractors should have sufficient room to 

 keep every shipment separate; for cement 

 used by contractors and builders must 

 often pass a seven- or twenty-eight day 

 test before being used. Moreover, every 

 cement storage house should be large 

 enough to have aisles between the piles 

 of various shipments, so that cement may 

 be removed from storage in the same rotation as it was 

 put in. 



Many users of Portland cement need to store it only 

 for the short interval between the time of hauling it 

 from the dealer and using it in the concrete work. Any 

 building with a good roof, tight side walls, and a dry 

 floor will do. Make a temporary double floor by means 

 of small beams or logs and loose boards. See that driv- 

 ing rains or damp air cannot reach the cement. 



Portland cement weighs nearly 100 pounds per cubic 

 foot, therefore judgment must be exercised in loading the 

 floor. Likewise, on account of its weight and possible 

 damage from dampness, do not pile the cement against 

 the side walls of the building unless the house is full 



Cross-Section of Concrete Storage House with Cement Correctly Piled. 



lined or skeleton lined on the inside. Store the cement 

 so as to leave an open space or an aisle along the side 

 walls and aisles at places necessary to separate ship- 



