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HOLLOW CLAY-BLOCK SILO, AT NORTHWEST EXPERIMENT FARM.
By C. G. Selvig, Superintendent, Crookston, Minnesota.
A hollow clay-block silo was completed early in August. The brick work was done by Mr. Edward Starz, of Zumbrota Falls, who had gained valuable experience in constructing a similar silo for Mr. J. J. Sprenger, of that place, and for others. The time for the entire work was 11 days. The method of constructing such a silo is given quite fully by Mr. Sprenger, on page 252 of Institute Annual No. 23 (1910). The cost of our silo is the only information, therefore, that is needed. We shall be glad to answer inquiries regarding our silo at any time.
The hollow clay blocks were purchased from the Zumbrota Clay Manufacturing Company, at Zumbrota, Minnesota. They were furnished for $160.67; but, on ac-
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count of the increase in rail rates, the cost of 3,400 pieces delivered at Crookston in the future would be about $173. The silo is 14 feet in diameter and 34 feet high.
A cement foundation was given a two-foot base 3 feet below the level of the ground. This was built up to within 6 inches of the surface, where the hollow brick wall was started. When completed, dirt was graded up against the silo, so the foundation is practically 4 feet under ground.
A statement of the cost of this silo is given below.
Cost of Silo.
| Cost of Foundation: | |
| 30 hours labor at 15c | $4.50 |
| 22 sacks cement at 50c | $11.00 |
| 5 yards gravel at $1.10 | $5.50 |
| $21.00 | |
| Cost of Reinforcement: | |
| 401 lbs. iron rods, at 3c | $12.03 |
| Cost of Body: | |
| 3487 clay blocks, f. o. b. | |
| Crookston | $160.67 |
| 6 barrels lime, at $1.50 | $9.00 |
| 6 yds. sand and gravel, | |
| at $1.10 | $6.60 |
| 38 sacks cement, at 50c | $19.00 |
| 110 hrs. labor of brick- | |
| layer, at 35c | $38.50 |
| 171 yrs. Labor of helper | |
| at 15c | $25.65 |
| $259.42 | |
| Cost of Roof, Doors and Chute | |
| - old material was used: | |
| Hardware | $1.50 |
| Labor | $30.00 |
| $31.50 | |
| Net cost of silo | $323.95 |
| Capacity of silo. 14'x34', in tons | 104 |
| Cost per ton capacity | $3.11 |
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The cost includes everything that we could record, including all the ordinary labor as well as the brick-laying. Considering the permanency of this silo and its ease of construction, it would appear to be a very desirable form to build. We constructed here, at the same time, a solid-wall concrete silo, and shall keep a careful record of conditions affecting each of these two types of silos.
Source:
Minnesota Farmers’ Institute Annual
Number 24, 1911
Jones & Kroeger Company, Winona, MN