Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1912 — SQUARE SILOS. [ARTICLE]

SQUARE SILOS.

Ira Wampler, Carthage, Missouri, writes as follows: “I wish to build a square silo in one corner of my barn, but do not know the best way to pn> ceed. Any information you can give will be appreciated.” The square silo is fast going out of use, because of the difficulty in constructing same in such a way as to make it profitable. Several years ago, or, in other words, when silo building was in its infancy, a good many square silos were constructed, but they were soon abandoned for several reasons, mainly because it was impossible to prevent leaking at the sides, and second, the silage spoiled in the corners. The next step of advancement was to board up the corners, which made the silo more of a round structure, and the latest development has been the round silo, which is considered far superior to the square type of construction.

We are sending you under separate cover our farm barn plans, and you will note that there is a plan for a silo. This is a concrete silo, which is similar to many that are being built in various sections of the corn belt When properly constructed, the concrete silo is more permanent than the wooden silos, and preserves the silage equally as well as the other types. The first cost may be a little bit more, but the permanency offsets this objection. There is another type of silo which is being built very extensively throughout lowa, which is known as the lowa silo, and is built of hollow tile or hollow building blocks. For further information on this silo, we suggest that you write to Professor M. L. King, Ames, lowa.