CO129-229 - Acting Governor Marsh & Public Offices - 1886 [11-12] — Page 533

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

530

"tested and comes to 103 lbs instead of 112 lbs"

I refer you to the weights per bushel as given in my Reports.

It is a well-known axiom that Portland cement, upon exposure to the air, increases in volume, and loses in weight with age up to certain limits, and further that it can be made to weigh within a range of, say 20 lbs, whatever the operator likes.

If, therefore, the Resident Engineer had made the 1½ lbs cement of the "Glenogle" or the "Changsha" weigh say 110 or 111 lbs, it would have been what I should have expected - and I should have assumed that he had weighed it in accordance with the method used by your Departments, but when he reports that it only weighs 103 lbs, I have no hesitation in saying that his method of weighing has been different to that adopted here, and that, as a check upon your Inspector's weighings, his results are useless.

It is stated "About February 16 of this year Robins & Co's (some of) cement showed white and flour-like on the surface, after being mixed as Concrete". The tests were low - 363 lbs and got "lower - 320 lbs".

He appears to assume that the cement alone is at fault, so with the results of his mud tests before him, he, in a panic, ...

Edit History

2026-05-25 08:15:51 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
530 "tested and comes to 103 lbs instead of 112 lbs" I refer you to the weights per bushel as given in my Reports. It is a well-known axiom that Portland cement, upon exposure to the air, increases in volume, and loses in weight with age up to certain limits, and further that it can be made to weigh within a range of, say 20 lbs, whatever the operator likes. If, therefore, the Resident Engineer had made the lbs cement of the "Glenogle" or the "Changsha" weigh say 110 or 111 lbs, it would have been what I should have expected - and I should have assumed that he had weighed it in accordance with the method used by your Departments, but when he reports that it only weighs 103 lbs, I have no hesitation in saying that his method of weighing has been different to that adopted here, and that, as a check upon your Inspector's weighings, his results are useless. It is stated "About February 16 of this year Robins & Co's (some of) cement showed white and flour-like on the surface, after being mixed as Concrete". The tests were low - 363 lbs and got "lower - 320 lbs". He appears to assume that the cement alone is at fault, so with the results of his mud tests before him, he, in a panic, ...
Baseline (Original)
530 "tested and comes to 103 lbs instead of 112 Cles" _ I refer you bushel as Reports- to the weights per given in Yest my It is a well known axiom that Portland bement, upon exposure to the air, increases in volume, and loses in weight with age up to certain limits. and further that it can be made to weigh within a range of, say 20lbs, whatever the operator likes_ If therefore the Resident Engineer had made the 11/4'/2 lbs cement of the "Glenogle" or the "Chang Ws" weigh say 110 or 111 lbs it would have been what I should have expected - and Ishould have assumed that he had weighed it in " 1 in accordance with the method used by your Departments but when he reports that it only weighs 103ths, I have no hesitation in saying that his method of weighing has been different to that adopted here, and that, as a check upon your Inspector's weighings, his results are useless- It is stated "About February 16. of this year Robins & Cis (some of) 'bement showed white and "flour-like on the surface, after 11 "being mixed as Concrete" The tests were low- 363 lbs and got "lower - 320 lbs - He appears to assume that the cement alone is at fault, so with the results of his mud tests panic, increases before him, he, in a ncil ide dia the asury !
2026-05-25 08:15:51 · Baseline
View content

530

"tested and comes to 103 lbs instead

of 112 Cles" _

I refer you

bushel as

Reports-

to the weights per

given in

Yest

my

It is a well known axiom

that Portland bement, upon exposure to the air, increases in

volume, and loses in weight with age up to certain limits.

and

further that it can be made to weigh within

a range of, say 20lbs, whatever the operator likes_

If therefore the Resident Engineer had made the 11/4'/2 lbs cement of the "Glenogle" or the "Chang Ws" weigh say 110 or 111 lbs it would have been what I should have

expected - and Ishould have assumed that he had weighed it

in

"

1

in accordance with the method used by your Departments but when he reports that it only weighs 103ths, I have no hesitation in saying that his method of weighing has been different to that adopted here, and that, as a check upon your Inspector's weighings, his results are useless- It is stated "About February

16.

of this year Robins & Cis (some of) 'bement showed white and "flour-like on the surface, after

11

"being mixed as Concrete" The

tests were low- 363 lbs and got

"lower - 320 lbs -

He

appears to assume that the cement alone is at fault, so with the results of his mud tests

panic, increases

before him, he, in a

ncil

ide

dia

the

asury

!

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.