UNIVERSAL PORTLAND CEMENT CO. 
47 
fire the silo contained about 50 tons of corn silage, and as hay was then sell- 
ing in the vicinity for $15 per ton, dry feed to take the place of the silage 
would have cost probably $500, an amount greater than the cost of the 
silo and silage combined. 
A striking example of the value of fireproof silo construction is pre- 
sented in the illustrations on page 44, showing the 550-ton concrete 
A B Main's block silo of Arthur B. Main, Delaware, Ohio, before and after 
s'llQ ' the disastrous fire which destroyed his barn in October, 1910. 
This silo was built for Mr. Main during the summer of 1909 
by the Perfect Cement Silo & Cistern Co. of Delaware. 
At the time of the fire Mr. Main was feeding between 80 and 90 head 
of cattle and had on hand 530 tons of corn silage and 180 tons of hay, the 
latter being stored in the end of the barn adjacent to the silo. The barn 
burned to the ground, leaving nothing but the concrete footings, which 
will be noticed in the lower illustration. 
Although the silo was subjected to intense heat, the only damage 
done was the burning out of the continuous wooden doors. Perhaps the 
most remarkable fact brought out in connection with the fire was that of 
the small amount of silage lost. After the destruction of the doors the sur- 
face of the silage presented to the flames was seared and charred to a slight 
extent, but the charred or spoiled layer had a thickness of less than half an 
inch, and the amount actually lost was insignificant. 
Had Mr. Main been deprived of his silage by fire, it is safe to say that 
his dairy business would have been ruined, temporarily, at least. At the 
McCoy Silo near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, unhurt by disastrous fire which completely destroyed the 
barn and other buildings. Photograph was taken ten days after the fire; proves the fire-proof qualities 
of concrete. 
