CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION IN MANILA AND THE 

 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 



By W. C. Reibling. 

 (From the Chemical Laboratory, Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I.) 



INTRODUCTION. 



Careful, systematic inspection of the sand, gravel and stone, as well 

 as of the cement used in all concrete construction, is necessary to secure 

 satisfactory permanent results. The aggregates available for concrete 

 work in the Philippine Islands vary greatly in quality. Many of the 

 sands and gravels which have been used for this purpose are of poor- 

 quality, and their nature together with that of other available material 

 should be thoroughly investigated, since until such information is secured, 

 reliable and economic practice in concrete construction can not be assured. 

 It is therefore desirable to establish a comprehensive, reliable and 

 practical working standard to be embodied in building specifications 

 for projects involving concrete construction, such specifications to be 

 based on the results obtained by testing- the available materials both 

 in the laboratory and in structures. 



CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION. 



Cement of the value of 1,384,202 pesos was imported in the Philippine . 

 Islands during the fiscal year 1909. These figures represent only a 

 small fraction of the total for the concrete constructed, as they do not 

 include the cost of the aggregate used and construction expenses. An 

 industry involving such an outlay should be fostered and given careful 

 scientific assistance. 



Portland cement concrete is eminently fitted to be used as a building 

 and structural material in the Tropics and its increasing use in the 

 future in the Archipelago can be foretold by its history in other parts 

 of the world. In America, the rise in importance of concrete during 

 the past ten years has been phenomenal ; in fact, Portland cement manu- 

 facture now ranks second of nonmetallic industries in point of value. 

 New ends to which it may be applied with advantage are being discovered 

 continualty, and new machinery and a better knowledge of the value and 

 characteristics of the raw and finished products are reducing its cost. 



117 



