UNIVERSAL PORTLAND CEMENT CO. 
99 
The Zeeland 
Silo 
A very interesting type of concrete block silo is being used extensively 
through the region between Holland and Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is 
known as the Zeeland silo and has been built exclusively by 
Chris DeJonge, of Zeeland, Mich. 
About 50 Zeeland silos have been put up by him in Ottawa 
County alone. The Zeeland silo has a number of unique features. It is 
the only silo of its kind using solid blocks made "tongue and groove" 
so as to fit any diameter of silo. The blocks are made 24 inches long and 8 
inches high and have a thickness of only 3 inches. They are laid up in 
1 :'2 cement and sand mortar and the inside of the wall is plastered off with 
mortar of the same proportion. Reinforcing consists of a heavy iron rod 
around each course, laid in a groove provided in the top of the blocks. 
Mr. DeJonge has secured patents on a semi-circular steel chute and 
ladder which is placed on the inside of the silo. This permits the silo walls 
to be built up full all around, the only opening necessary being a door in the 
bottom. The chute is held to the silo wall by means of hooks and eyelets, 
the latter being placed in the wall at the time of building. When it is de- 
sired to feed off the silage, two top sections of the chute are removed, and 
as the height of the silage is lowered successive sections are removed and 
hung two spaces higher. 
Sectional view showing construction of the Perfect Silo and method 
of reinforcing continuous doorway. 
