June, 1911 
THE MIXING OF CONCRETE 
HE question as to how much water 
should be used in mixing concrete 
has often come up for discussion 
among engineers in Europe, and opinions 
seem to be divided in this regard. The 
German Concrete Association has been giv- 
ing this matter its attention for some time 
past, apropos of the standardizing of con- 
crete testing methods. In order to eluci- 
date this point, tests were made by prepar- 
ing concrete in two different places and by 
different workmen. A great number of 
samples were then prepared having an ag- 
gregate weight of nearly 100 tons. Dur- 
ing a period of five years these men put 
through a series of tests as to resistance to 
various strains. These experiments are 
now completed and the results have been 
published. Among other results the work 
carried out at the testing laboratory of the 
Stuttgart Technical School with samples 
made at the laboratory itself by the same 
workmen and under the same conditions, 
showed that for a proper composition of 
concrete the maximum strength appears to 
be obtained by using the smallest possible 
amount of water compatible with the pro- 
duction of a good mixed concrete. 
However, the use of the minimum 
amount of water requires the greatest care 
and can only be practiced by very skillful 
workmen. Otherwise it is to be feared that 
the concrete will not be homogeneous. The 
conclusion is drawn that in proportion as 
the workmen are less skilled, greater se- 
curity, is given by increasing the amount of 
water. It is also to be noted that other 
factors enter in here, such as the variable 
humidity of the sand, gravel, etc., varia- 
tions in the hygrometric state and tempera- 
ture, and others, and that these also have 
an influence on the amount of water needed. 
CONCRETE CATHEDRAL 
HE cathedral of Poti on the Black 
Sea in Russia is built entirely of re- 
inforced concrete. It is of the 
Byzantine type, designed somewhat after 
the St. Sophia structure of Constantinople. 
As the loose sandy soil near the Rion River, 
upon which the building is located, will ad- 
mit of but little weight on the pile founda- 
tion, reinforced concrete answered the pur- 
pose very well, and it took less than a year 
to build, against ten years for the Batoum 
and other Russian cathedrals, besides cost- 
ing much less. It has a main dome sur- 
rounded by half-domes covered with sheet 
iron. A pressure of but twenty pounds per 
square inch was permitted upon the foun- 
dations. 
A REMARKABLE CONCRETE 
BUILDING 
SIX-STORY reinforced concrete 
building in Boston, for the use of 
a motor car company, has circular 
columns of the same diameter in the upper 
and lower stories and has a long span floor 
construction, permitting a deep turntable 
well of large diameter in each story. The 
exterior faces of the walls are relieved by 
panels and moldings integral with the body 
of the wall. The front wall corresponds 
with the brick and stone face of an adjacent 
building and has a rather elaborate trim- 
ming of cornice, dentals, and carved stone, 
all of which, except the last, are cast in- 
tegral with the body of the wall. 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
Suggestion 
Nabisco Sugar Wafers play an 
important part during the month 
of brides and roses. 
NABISCO 
Sugar Wafers 
served with ices, frozen puddings and bever- 
ages, add the final touch of elegance and hos- 
pitality to every repast—simp 
le or elaborate. 
In ten cent tins 
Also in twenty-five cent tins 
CHOCOLATE TOKENS—Confections 
of rare goodness with a coating of 
creamy chocolate. 
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Modern Plumbing 
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400 (1034x734) Paces 
55 FuLL PaGEs OF 
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@ A comprehensive and 
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@ Many of the subjects treated in the text and illus- 
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MUNN ©  CO.,Inc., Publishers 
361 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY 
SOME OF THE SUBJECTS TREATED 
Connections, sizes and all working data for 
Plumbing Fixtures and Groups of Fixtures 
Traps — Venting 
Connecting and Supporting of Soil Pipe 
House Trap and Fresh-Air Inlet 
Floor and Yard Drains, etc. 
Rain Leaders 
Sub-soil Drainage 
Floor Connections 
Roof Connections 
Local Venting 
Bath Room Coanections {ete. 
Automatic Flushing for Factories, School Houses, 
Use of Flushing Valves 
Modern Fixtures for Public Toilet Rooms 
Durham System 
Plumbing Construction without use of Lead 
Automatic Sewage Lift— Sump Tank 
Dispose of Sewage of Underground Floors of 
igh Buildings 
Country Plumbing 
Cesspools 
The Electrolysis of Underground Pipes 
Septic Tanks and Sewage Siphons 
Pneumatic Water Supply, Rams, etc. 
Examples of Poor Practice 
Roughing — Testing 
Continuous Venting for all classes of Work 
Circuit and Loop Venting 
Use of Special Waste and Vent Fittings 
Cellar Work 
House Drain— House Sewer — Sewer Connections 
Plumbing for Cottage House 
Plumbing for Residence 
Plumbing for Two-Flat House 
Plumbing for Apartment Houses 
Plum bing for Office Building 
Plumbing for Public Toilet Rooms 
Plumbing for Bath Establishment 
Plumbing for Engine Houses 
Plumbing for Stables 
Plumbing for Factories 
Plumbing for School Houses, etc. [by Electricity 
Thawing of Underground Mainsand Service Pipes 
