16 The Colorado Experiment Station. 
near the surface, there is great danger of the post being split by this 
straightening process. 
Band iron and strap iron are also being used as reinforcement. 
In case the mixture has a good chance to get a grip on the iron, it 
will probably prove satisfactory, but unless the iron is roughened 
there is a danger of it slipping. 
For very large posts, the twisted steel rods will prove as sat¬ 
isfactory as twisted wire. Smooth rods or smooth wire slip. 
CURING THE POSTS. 
In order for the cement to become thoroughly cured or “set,” 
water must be supplied to aid in the action. This action goes on for 
a long time, some authorities estimating the total period at from 15 
to 20 years. For the first thirty days the cement should be kept wet 
if the best results are to be expected. This means that the posts must 
be kept wet, and the question arises, what is the best system of 
keeping them in this condition? 
The answer is a simple one. The most favorable conditions 
for conserving the moisture consists in curing the posts in a shed 
where the wind does not strike them. Under these conditions 
neither the sun’s rays nor the wind have a chance to dry out the 
posts too rapidly. The only thing that now remains is to keep 
the posts in a wet condition. 
After the posts are placed in an upright position in the curing 
shed, as described in “Handling the Posts,” sprinkle them thor¬ 
oughly every day. This may be done either by a hose and nozzle in 
connection with some form of pressure supply, tank or by means of 
a garden sprinkler. In the latter case provision must be made so 
that the person doing the work may walk upon some structure 
above the tops of the posts. 
The posts should be thoroughly sprinkled every day for at 
least 30 days. 
HANDLING OE POSTS. 
In removing the posts from the molds great care must be taken 
not to allow the posts to sag or crack. A post may be 1 cracked in 
handling and still be fit for service, but it cannot be considered to 
be as valuable as an uncracked one. 
There are two general methods of removing the posts from the 
molds. 
The first method consists of laying the molds with the posts 
in them on a level bed of soft sand. The mold is then turned up¬ 
side down and the post allowed to settle into the sand. The mold 
is next removed and the post allowed to lay undisturbed for several 
days. When the post is sufficiently strong it is placed in an upright 
position to be cured. While this method requires more space it is 
