Cement and Concrete Fence Posts. 13 
would be able to make at least twice as many posts as two men 
working by hand and the cost for making would be very much less. 
The Effect of Alkali on Cement and Concrete Posts .—It has 
been found that some soils contain an excessive amount 
of alkali, which has a tendency to destroy concrete work. 
While no experimental work has been done to test the effect 
of such soils upon cement or concrete posts, it has been conclusively 
proven that cement drain and sewer tiles which come in contact 
with water which has percolated through these alkali soils are soon 
destroyed. 
While it might be possible that the action on cement or con¬ 
crete posts would be slower than in case of the tiles, it is probable 
that the post would eventually be destroyed. 
For further information in regard to the effect of alkali on 
cement construction see Bulletin No. 69, of the Montana Agricul¬ 
tural Experiment Station, and Bulletin No. 132, Agricultural Ex¬ 
periment Station of the Colorado Agricultural College. 
TABLE NO. 2.—Poured and Tamped Posts.* 
Size, 5x5 inches from base to ground line, tapering to 3x3 inches at 
top. Length, 6 feet 6 inches. Cured weight, 115 to 120 pounds. Mixture, 
1 part cement and 3 parts sand, by measure. Cost for cement per post, 
16.2 cents; sand, 3.7 cents. For cost of reinforcement, see table. 
REINFORCEMENT 
COST 
FINAL, BREAK 
Poured Posts 
Tamped Posts 
Kind of Wire 
Weight 
per 
Post 
Cost 
per 
post 
Cost of 
material in 
each post 
Pounds 
to 
break 
Remarks 
Pounds 
to 
break 
Remarks 
No. 10, 4 twisted 
strands of 2 wires 
2^ 
10.0c 
26.9c 
222 
Mixture broke, 
wires not well 
placed 
192 
Wires 
broke 
No. 6, 4 long wires 
hooked at ends 
2% 
10.6c 
27.5c 
222 
Wires slipped 
162 
Wires 
slipped 
No. 10, twisted 
4 long and 2 short 
3 
12.0c 
28.9c 
322 
Mixtures and 
wires about equal 
Old barbed 4 long 
strands 
1?3 
3.3c 
20.2c 
95 
Wires broke, 
poorly placed 
137 
Wires 
broke 
Old barbed, 4 long 
and 2 short 
2 
4.0c 
20.9c 
127 
Poor wire. Wires 
broke 
142 
Wires 
broke 
New barbed, 4 long 
and 2 short 
2 
8.0c 
24.9c 
172 
Wires well placed, 
cement broke 
170 
Wires not 
well placed 
Old barbed, 4 long 
and 4 short 
2% 
5.5c 
22.4c 
196 
Wires 
broke 
New barbed, 4 long 
strands 
II 3 
6.6c 
23.5c 
160 
Wires 
broke 
* This table is a summary of Tables 3 and 4, Bulletin 148, Colo. Exp. 
Sta. 
