/ / f t< ? e<^ft (jL V Ary -e cr Digitized by the Internet A[$h#ve in 2017 with fundi Columbia University Libraries https://archive.org/details/northwesternstatOOnort THE NORTHWESTERN STATES PORTLAND CEMENT COMPANY ■ The entire data of this Prospectus is based on actual conditions exist- ing today; the prevailing prices of the manufactured product, existing iate> of transportation and the cost of production. Our information is obtained from the United States Geological Surveys. Government Reports, Directory of American Cement Industries, Cement and Engineering News, Cement and Slate, Cement, Cement Age, Concrete, Rock Products, Engineering News, Municipal Engineering, and other sources no less authentic. The Pantheon at Home is the most perfect existing classical building in th.ir famous old city. It was built by Agrippa, 27 B. C.. nearly 2000 years ago. The circular walls are about 20 feet in thickness, and the roof is a hemispherical ce- ment concrete dome with a thirty-foot opening in the top and spanning in the clear 142 feet 6 inches. This is the most remarkable instance in the world's history showing the great strength, durability, and permanence in cement con- crete constructions. It has baffled the destructive elements of time for nineteen centuries and shows not a single crack to-day. t . The Northwestern States Portland Cement Company incorporated under the laics of the State of West Virginia. OFFICES: Jackson, Mich.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Mason City, Iowa. MILLS: Mason City, Iowa. AUTHORIZED CAPITAL Seven per cent Preferred Stock, .... $1,750,000 Common Stock. ........ 1,750,000 In Shares of 8100 each. Full Paid. N on-Assess a ble. OFFICERS: W. F. COWHAM, President. E. J. BREEN, Vice President . N. S. POTTER. Treasurer. W. H. BOARD OF IV. F. COWHAM, Jackson, Mich. President Peninsular Portland Cement Co. President Western States Portland Cement Co. E. J. BREEN, Fort Dodge, Iowa. President Iowa Savings Bank. President North Iowa Loan and Trust Co. President Aseanda State Bank. Vice-President Rothsay Bank. Proprietor Emmet County Bank. \Y. H. L. McCOURTIE, Minneapolis. Director Western States Portland Cement Co. President Osage Window Glass Co. N. S. POTTER, Jackson, Mich. Vice President Jackson City Bank. Treasurer Peninsular Portland Cement Co. Asst. Treas. West'll States Portland Cement Co. Treasurer Jackson, Ann Arbor & Detroit R. R. Treasurer Jackson Wagon Works. L. McCOURTIE, Secretary. DIRECTORS: A. C. STICH, Independence, Kas. President Citizens National Bank. Treasurer Western States Portland Cement Co. President Coffeyville Vitrified Brick & Tile Co. C. H. McNIDER, Mason City, Iowa. President First National Bank. Head Banker M. W. A. THOMAS H. DINSMORE. Ph.D., 350 Broadway, New York. President National Underwriting Co. Director Western States Portland Cement Cc J. H. McNAIR, Halstead, Kas. Cashier Halstead Bank. President Kansas Milling & Export Co. President Blackwell Milling & Elevator Co. Sec'y and Supt. Halstead Milling & Elevator Co. W. W. HAWLEY, Huntington, Ind. Director Huntington County Bank. Director Peninsular Portland Cement Co. Director Western States Portland Cement Co. Director Western Lime Co. Address all communications to THE NORTHWESTERN STATES PORTLAND CEMENT CO., Minneapolis, Minnesota. COPYRIGHT, I 90 h, BY THE NORTHWESTERN STATES PORTLAND CEMENT CO. Portland Cement Building Blocks. HE Northwestern States Portland Cement Company is incorporated for the porpose of manufacturing and dealing in Portland Cement, lime, crushed stone and all products of which they form a part; the manufacture and sale of other mineral products and by-products; the mining or digging of minerals, gas and oil, and the sale thereof; the dealing in gas and oil rights; the purchase and leasing of gas, oil, and mineral lands and the re-sale and re-leasing thereof. The owning, holding and operating of any railroad nec- essary primarily for said Compan}ds operation and the holding or owning of any interest in any railroad or other corporation or joint stock company permitted by law; the purchase and holding of real estate for the laying out of a town at or near the works of said Com- pany, the erection of buildings thereon, and the sale or lease of any of said lands or buildings ; the carrying on of a general merchandise business in such town or at said works. The production, development, transmission and sale of electric and other power and such other things as may be convenient or necessary to its said business. The object of this prospectus is to bring The North- western States Portland Cement Company before the people and to interest them in this enterprise. It will treat briefly of the nature of Portland Cement, the modern proc- ess of manufacture, and the varied and constantly increas- ing uses to which the material is being adapted, illustrating late developments and suggesting the future possibilities of the cement business. It will also present a brief account of the property of the Company ; its great natural advantages in the way of raw materials, fuel, location as to markets, transportation, etc. ; the nature of the factory proposed to be built and the character and ability of the men upon whom the development of this enterprise rests. A careful study of the facts here presented will, it is believed, lead to favorable deductions, and the conclusion that this enterprise offers returns seldom equaled in con- servative and safe investment. * A The following table shows the constantly increasing consumption of Portland Cement in the United States since 1880: 1880 229.000 Barrels. 1881 281,000 •882 455406 1883 576,418 1884 685.768 1885 704-396 1886 800,032 1S87 1,320.400 1 888 2.085.504 1889 2,040.356 1890 2.275.186 1S91 3,443,126 1892 2,988.094 1893 3.264.801 1894 3,436,864 '§95 3,987,719 1896 4.532,620 1897 4,768,699 1895 5,706,102 1S99 7,760,654 1900 10.868,703 1901 13.633,651 1902 19,191,657 1903 24,594.94 2 1904 27,474,290 1905 36.929.945 During the first half of this period the greater portion of the Portland Cement consumed in this country was foreign or imported cement — the domestic production not equaling the importation until the year 1897. Dur- ing the second half of this period the imports have averaged about two mil- lion barrels annually. There is today more foreign Portland Cement in transit to the United States than ever before in the history of this country, and, because of the tremendous increase of consumption of this material occasioned by the recently recognized merit of this form of construction, the indications are that the present will be a record year for the importation of foreign Portland Cement — AND A CUM HAT FAMINE HAS PREVAILED ALMOST CO NS TANTLY. . , yV e st t RN Si a 1 1 s N , r { , InH 1 ' 'v DnlJl l A NDV NOT ONE BARREL =- O F PORTLAND CEMENT Is Produced in — Iowa M innesota W isconsin Nebraska N. Dakota Wyoming Montana The Natural Markets of this Company COWMAM . CEMEHl i» v sTt»Ji V A BRIEF STUDY IN PORTLAND CEMENT. T HERE has recently been so marvelous a growth in the consumption of Portland Cement, and its uses in great works of construction have multiplied so rapidly that a little digest of information concerning it will doubtless prove acceptable here. Portland Cement is a mechanical mixture varying within narrow limits, containing several definite compounds produced by the proper calcination of finely divided limestone, marl, or other calcareous material with clay. To manufacture a good article there must be proper selection of material, careful workmanship, and the exercise of precaution to prevent entering into, or remaining in, the finished product any inferior or injurious materials. The limestone or marl supplies calcium, while the clay furnishes silica, alumina and iron oxide. At a temperature of about 3,000 degrees Fahren- heit chemical action takes place in the kiln, resulting in the formation of cement clinkers composed of calcium silicate, calcium aluminate, and alum- inum silicate. This clinker, when finely ground, is the Portland Cement of commerce. If the composition, in molecule and mass, is correct in this mixture the addition of the proper amount of water to the finely ground material causes crystallization, whereupon the mass begins to harden into rock and continues to increase in strength for several years before reaching its maximum. This process is markedly different from that of the manufacture of natural cement which consists simply in the calcination and grinding of a natural rock containing approximately the ingredients for a cement, but lacking uniformity and definiteness in composition. Portland Cements range much higher in specific gravity than do natural cements, and there- fore the latter are sometimes called the light cements. If sufficient care be not exercised in the manufacture of Portland Cement free lime will be present when the product comes from the Kiln, and must be removed by exposure to the atmosphere. If this be not done the free lime will cause swelling of the cement in barrels and checking and “blowing” in finished work. Sufficient care and the correct process ot manufacture will, however, make practically unnecessary this maturing and “purging,” as it is called. Magnesia and sulphuric anhydride are always found, to a greater or less extent, in Portland Cement ; and occasionally the alkalies, potash and soda, occur also; but these are unimportant if in very small proportions. Purity of raw materials, their correct chemical combination, a perfect system of manufacture together with experience and scientific accuracy are essential for the production of a uniform, high-grade Portland Cement. Great strides have recently been made in this direction ; the method of manufacture having been continually perfected, until to-day high grade Portland Cement is regarded throughout the world as the best building material known and one of the necessities in all modern construction. 10 N. i AMERICA’S SUPERIOR PRODUCT, AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE. NLY a few years ago all Portland Cement was imported from England V>/ and Germany. Gradually English makers lost control and the German product became the standard because of the greater care and more advanced methods employed by the Germans, who produced, in consequence, a higher grade of cement. To-day, however, the quality of the cement manufactured in the United States excels the foreign product. This is extremely grati- fying, when the degree of technical skill required in making a high-grade article is taken into consideration. The reason for the superiority of American Portland Cement lies, not only in unsurpassed raw materials, but also in the modern and improved method of American manufacture. No better testimonial of the quality of the Portland Cement now pro- duced in this country can be found than that given in the reports of Mr. Richard Humphrey, Cement Inspector for the City of Philadelphia, for the years 1896 to 1899. These reports include tables showing graphically the results obtained from all cements tested in the Philadephia City Labora- tory in the years mentioned. These tables show that the average of all American cements, both neat and with sand, is distinctly higher than either the English or the German. This evidence, with numerous similar records obtained by government and private engineers, warrants the claim that there is to-day no Portland Cement made in any foreign countries that is equal in quality to the leading American brands. Mr. William Harper. Manager of the Commercial and Intelligence Bureau of London, in a report says : “The Americans have adopted a proc- ess of manufacturing cement by means of rotary roasting mills which will drive England, France and Germany practically out of the field. By the aid of simpler and better machinery the Americans are able to make their article in eight hours, while England, with its ancient, cumbersome equip - ment, requires three or four weeks. The cost of the American product is less than half that of the English.” So noted an expert as Mr. LI. Howard LIumphrey, M. I. M. E.. A. M. I C. E., recently read a paper before the British Architectural Association in which he plainly declared: “The cost of producing Portland Cement in America by the rotary kiln process is approximately three-fourths of that of the cheapest process in vogue on the River Thames, and Medway, and the output is also very largely increased.” City Engineer Ericson, of Chicago, is quoted in one of the daily papers of that city as saying: “I do not know of a barrel of Portland Cement of foreign make which has gone into construction here in Chicago during the "last two years. There never was a brighter industrial future than that now before American makers of Portland Cement.” 11 n'O . llV vi sii un States S 1 " ^PonHAND (l MI N I (o. COWHAW CEMENT v SVSTC^ V P ORTLAND Cement is daily becoming a more and more important factor in the industrial and commercial development of all countries. Its ready adaptability and superior qualities for use in constructions of all kinds are being demonstrated throughout the land, and it is now regarded as the chief building material of the age. The consumption of Portland Cement in all countries is increasing with most wonderful rapidity. A reference to the table given on page 8 will show that in the United States alone during the five years preceding the year 1900 the consumption of Portland Cement increased at the average rate of nearly 1,000,000 barrels annually. For the five years following the year 1900 the average rate of increase reached the enormous sum of over 5,000,000 barrels per annum, and for the year 1905 (although a veritable cement famine prevailed throughout the country and large and important works were delayed or suspended for the lack of cement) the rate of increase was far in excess of that of any previous year and the total consumption for the year 1905 was 36,929,945 barrels. This is a rate that has not, perhaps, been equaled by any other article used by man, and is due to the multitude of new applications which Portland Cement is constantly finding and its rapidly increasing use in place of other building materials in con- structions of all kinds. It is a noticeable fact that while the consumption of Portland Cement in the United States is constantly increasing at such a tremendous rate, dis- placing wood, brick, stone, steel, terra cotta and other building materials, the consumption of natural rock and slag cements is rapidly decreasing (the consumption of natural rock cement having decreased from approximately 10,000,000 barrels in the year 1899 to 8,000,000 barrels in the year 1900, and 4,000,000 barrels in the year 1905; and the consumption of slag cement having decreased at even a greater rate), which proves beyond question that Portland Cement by reason of its merit is not only sweeping before it every form of the usual structural materials but is also destined to completely replace natural rock and slag cements in America as it has already done in Germany, where, previous to 1852, every barrel of cement consumed was natural or hydraulic cement. The supply of cement in the United States can not by any means meet the present demand, much less the increasing demand. Notwithstanding heavy importations, together with a marked increase in home production, a cement famine prevails, in consequence of which the amount consumed is considerably less than that required by the country. Many of the large government, municipal, and railroad contracts are of necessity being carried 12 rJo^ rH vV ESTtRN S i A I i S Pori 1 \M) (lMIM(n. over to next season for the sole reason that a sufficient quantity of high- grade Portland Cement cannot be procured. The building of new railroads and canals now projected, also the extension and permanent improvement of the old lines will for years to come consume millions of barrels of Portland Cement. In view of the great extent of territory still to be developed, the magni- tude of building operations, public works, etc., and the general progress and development sure to come, it is absolutely certain that the consump- tion of Portland Cement in this country will continue to grow from year to year as experience proves the utility and permanency of concrete con- struction. Furthermore, the consumption of cement per capita in this country is still much less than the amount consumed per capita in some European countries, showing that the industry here is still in a comparatively undeveloped state. It therefore seems certain that no country presents a better field or a more promising market for high-grade Portland Cement than does the United States. U. — -w/ NATURAL ADVANTAGES. The natural advantages determining the value of a Portland Cement manufacturing proposition are of a complex nature, depending upon a num- ber of distinct factors, ignorance of the respective importance of which frequently leads to disaster. The most important of these are : Amount of raw materials available. Physical character of the materials. Chemical composition of the materials. Location with respect to water supply. Location with respect to labor. Location with respect to fuel supplies. Location with respect to markets. Location with respect to transportation routes. Choice of mechanical appliances. All of these the Northwestern States Portland Cement Company possesses to an extent nnequaled and unknown to any other producer. Coupled with these natural advantages, it is especially fortunate in having that no less important factor of success, the competent and expert manage- ment of men thoroughly familiar with every detail of cement manufacture. 13 PROPERTY COWHAM „ YEMENI V SvsTtl^i T HE property to be utilized by the Northwestern States Portland Cement Company consists of about 500 acres of Portland Cement rock and clay shale deposits lying in close proximity but distinctly separate from each other, and situated immediately adjacent to the corporate limits of Mason City, Iowa, at the intersection of the Chicago, Great Western Ry., Chicago, Northwestern Ry., The Iowa Central Ry., The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rv., The Mason City & Clear Lake Interurban Ry., and the projected Des Moines, Iowa Falls & Northern Ry. The mill sight is most favorably located on high ground near the water’s edge of Calamus Creek, which flows through the cement property, and is also near Lime Creek, which forms the Eastern boundary ; from these streams the cement plant is assured an unfailing and abundant water supply. The unique location of this Company's property, it being situated in an adjoining township just outside the corporate limits of Mason City, as- sures a low tax rate on this Company’s property permanently, while at the same time the location of the mill site, being so close at hand and directly connected with Mason City by street car lines, places the Company in a position to easily procure and retain the high class of labor necessary to keep the plant in constant uninterrupted operation, and gives to the Company many other advantages. The physical properties of the raw materials are excellent, as both the rock and shale extend to the surface, hence will require practically no strip- ping in handling; and as the rock is soft in texture and when blasted frac- tures along both horizontal and parallel lines into small cubes, it should be quarried, delivered to the crushers, and reduced to the fine powder required for mixing at a comparatively very slight expense. Raw Materials. nr HE quality and quantity of the raw materials contained on the Com- pany’s property have been thoroughly examined and tested, core bor- ings and analysis having been made by eminent experts and chemists especially fitted for this work, and their reports show all the materials to be practically pure and almost entirely free from certain foreign substances, which as a rule, are found in sufficient quantities to render the materials worthless for the manufacture of a high-grade Portland Cement. Our own engineers and experts have examined the entire property in detail and all report it to be a rare deposit of superior quality, unlimited in quantity, and perfectly adapted, as to location, -for the business to be conducted success- .WESTERN Siam s ' pmsii " V.dO V 'A, fully and profitably. Such raw materials are hard to find ; so hard indeed that we believe it to be practically impossible to find in the Central North- west another such property containing the two raw materials of equal quality so admirably located. The discovery of the property will be more fully appreciated when it is understood that to-day fully 85 per cent of the Portland Cement produced in the United States is made east of the Missis- sippi River, and at least 75 per cent of that manufactured in this eastern division from these materials is made in the Lehigh Valley region of Penn- sylvania. entirely within a radius of fifteen miles of Allentown — -and not one barrel is produced in the territory naturally tributary to this Company’s plant. FUEL. PIE expense connected with the manufacture of Portland Cement is A divided into several items, viz., getting out raw material and trans- porting it to the mill ; reducing and preparing the raw material by grinding and mixing; burning the prepared mixture of raw materials to produce clinker ; grinding the resultant clinker into an impalpable powder, which is the finished product, Portland Cement ; packing and getting ready for shipment. One of the most important and largest items in the cost of manufactur- ing this product, is fuel. Fuel is necessary not only to furnish power for operating the mixing, grinding, conveying and all other machinery, but also for generating the immense amount of intense heat, which it is necessary to maintain in the furnaces for calcining the raw material after it has been properly prepared. In this respect the Northwestern States Portland Cement Com- pany is most favorably located ; the great Iowa coal fields being close at hand and immediately connected by two Trunk Line Railroads running di- rectly from the mines to the cement plant and direct connections being also had with the great Illinois coal fields, a certain and ample supply of cheap and desirable fuel is thus assured at all times. Fuel can be secured at this point at a minimum cost and this Company, by reason of its exceptional location, holds an unequaled position in the possible Portland Cement manu- facturing field of this Central Northwest district, which gives it a decided advantage over possible competitors in the way of cheaper fuel. This is an advantage that no other possible location for a cement plant in this district can offer, and, taken in connection with this Company s ad- mirable shipping facilities, doubly insures the permanent advantage of pro- ducing cement, in its best form, at this company's plant, and delivering it out upon this market at a total cost immeasurably less than it could possibly be done from elsewhere; and renders this proposition one of the most de- sirable Portland Cement properties ever discovered. S A I A- - — 15 \0 ,, vS i snu\Si \rt„ c - pi“ MW'A' d( £ MLNT ^ N EXT in importance to the abundant supply of good raw materials and fuel comes the question of location with reference to the markets at which it is proposed to deliver the product of the mills, as this factor alone enables manufacturers favorably located to survive competition, which would prove ruinous to others. In this respect Mason City is an ideal loca- tion. Situated, as it is, near the geographical center of the Central North- west District, it is in the very heart of the producing region of the United States. Within this territory lie the majority of the fertile lands of this country west of the Mississippi River. This great Central Northwest section, rapidly growing and endowed with unlimited natural resources, is to-day, and must be for years to come, one of the best and most extensive markets in the country for Portland Cement. The rapid development of this region and the constantly increasing uses to which Portland Cement is being put, insures that for years to come the demand well be largely in excess of the local supply. The ability to reach such markets often determines the destiny of manufacturing undertakings. The advantages of transportation cannot be over-estimated in an enterprise of this nature. To locate a Portland Cement plant with poor shipping facilities is simply to invite disaster. Cement is a heavy substance and the cost of transporting it to markets is commonly a very considerable portion of the cost to the consumer. A mill which enjoys the advantage of low freight rates can sell its products at a profit at prices with which other mills paying higher rates cannot compete. Cheap transportation is such an important factor in an enterprise of this nature that it alone may add very materially to the profits on the investment. Over do per cent of the Portland Cement produced in the United States is made in the Lehigh regions of Pennsylvania. This eastern section, to- gether with the Michigan territory, constitute the two great cement pro- ducing sections of the United States, leaving but a very small percentage of the output of this country to be made west of the Mississippi River and not one barrel of Portland Cement is manufactured in Iowa, Minnesota , Wisconsin, N. Dakota, Nebraska, liyoming and Montana, the natural mar- kets for this company's mill. Minneapolis, St. Paul. Des Moines, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Ft. Dodge, Sioux City, La Crosse, Omaha, Council Bluffs, Lincoln, Sioux Falls. Fargo, Grand Forks, etc., the distributing points for these great locally unsupplied states, are constantly demanding more cement, and their dealers are obliged to contract with eastern and foreign mills for large quantities annually, and to pay the high freight rates incident to the is jjo '’ 1 {N5TA1LS fiKttx, i. long haul by rail. The products of distant Portland Cement plants now consumed in this territory, though enormous and still increasing, should be largely excluded from this market by transportation charges alone, as soon as a high-grade Portland Cement is produced within this market. This Company, with its warehouses directly upon the tracks of four of the most important northwestern trunk line railroads, The Chicago Great Western, The Chicago Northwestern, The Iowa Central, and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, is in direct communication with and has facilities for reaching the important cities and towns of the west and northwest, at a freight rate that renders successful competition in this territory from other factories less favorably located practically impossible. Situated as it is, at the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, which is one of the greatest railroad sections of the Central Northwest, this Company will be further enabled at all times to move its products rapidly and will be inde- pendent of the congestion of traffic which at busy seasons frequently delays shipments. In this respect it is given so distinct and great an advantage over all other producers that it can without doubt control the cement trade of this particular territory and do so up, on a highly profitable basis. It is evident from the foregoing that, with its splendid deposits of raw materials, its abundance of cheap fuel, its proximity to great, increasing and locally unsupplied markets, and its remarkable transportation facilities, this Company has one of the finest cement properties on the continent. It would be difficult to name any respect in which the location at Mason City could be improved upon. These natural advantages when developed by the corps of experienced men associated with this Company and handled by conservative and reliable men experienced in the commercial side of the Cement business should insure the success and stability of this enterprise. 17 1 DomngmlD iToomaDDm |1 mm a mm 1 ocammmm l : ii jj □□ DDiad □□□□□□□□cue m j i j I- ir-L 2 ! ' ^ \ . - " i fcr V omoppre 7 / L_ i „„ *• £ he ■ select ! on of th‘s company's properties was made as the result of a systematic and thorough in- ' estimation covering practically the entire states of Iowa and Minnesota in an effort to find the proper ShorliJ? accessible in a suitable location. This investigation exhausted every possible available point else- vheie in this northwestern territory and proved conclusively this company's properties to be the ideal proposition; from the above map this splendid location can readily be seen. Plenwe note the three trunk; fine Hallways, running: directly through tliin Company’s rock property making it possible for ts plant to be directly connected with these railroads at slight expense, which should save thousands of dol- lais annually in railroad switching charges alone, besides enabling it to get Its product directlv and quickly the market and without the possibility of delay. Add to this its many other advantages including the an( *i ex ceptional purity of its raw materials so easy of access as above shown, its cheap and abundant supply of fuel, its admirable location as to locally unsupplied markets, its improved method of man- ufacturing, its experienced and competent management, and it clearly appears that the Northwestern States l onn.AXD cement Company is entitled to the conclusion that this is the very best Tortland Cement proposi- tion on the American continent. 19 . . v I STE U N S I AT I S a.iiv,/ 11 ^Portland (e^lm Co. FACTORY AND EQUIPMENT. COwHAM . CEMEW £ SYSTEM T O investors in the Portland Cement industry, the question of factory, its process, equipment, capacity, and quality of cement it will produce is of vital importance. Poor, incompetent, or dishonest management can be promptly displaced, but it is a difficult, impractical and expensive undertaking to replace a poorly designed and cheaply constructed cement factory with a good one. To insure constant good earning power, a Portland Cement factory must first of all be constructed with the view of permanancy and have capacity cor- responding w ith the capital so invested ; it must be equipped with machinery that is certain to run and do its work from year to year without trouble and annoyance, and the process of manufacture must be one that will insure a uniform, high-grade cement. The history of this industry in both Europe and America, proves con- clusively that the designers and builders of the most successful Portland Cement factories, together with the machinery therein installed, have gained their knowledge after years of practical experience in cement making. It is therefore of the utmost importance to prospective investors and those interested in the cement industry that the men upon whom this responsibil- ity rests should be men of practical experience and unquestionable ability. The factory to be built at Mason City, Iowa, will be the product of the best mechanical and engineering skill in America, and having an estimated daily capacity of 2500 barrels. The power generated will be electrically distributed throughout the plant, which will be modern in every detail ; tbe buildings will be convenient and equipped with the best and strongest types of machinery, all of which will be specially designed for this plant. The Northwestern States Portland Cement Company is especially fortunate in having associated with it a staff of the most practical cement engineers in this country, who have designed (including the machinery itself) and superintended the construction of many of the most modern and suc- cessful cement mills in North America; men who are identified with it in the cement business, and who are recognized leaders in cement manufacture. Under these circumstances there is positively no guess work, no experi- menting, and the most economical and perfect system of manufacture is in- sured; hence the best product. It is a notable fact that the remarkable growth and healthy condition of the Portland Cement industry has offered great inducement to inexperienced engineers and promoters to engage in the business, who of necessity must obtain their experience slowly, and possibly at the expense of investors. It is well known to cement manufacturers that millions of dollars have been spent in Europe and America in learning and experimenting in the econom- ical manufacture of a high-grade Portland Cement; that in many of the factories now in existence large amounts of money have been spent in pro- cesses and equipments which proved useless, and that there is great danger of possible misguided judgment founded upon lack of experience and knowledge in connection with the construction and equipment of cement mills. In view of the foregoing, surely it is a satisfaction to know that this Company, as previously stated, has associated with it in this business a staff of engineers who are pioneers in cement manufacture and who are principals in designing cement mills, and to whom the world is largely indebted for 20 rtVVESTEKN S\\\\s ^ ^ ' poun aND ^ w ^ -'“- - *■ the standard of perfection reached in the manufacture of high grade Port- land Cement, their last and crowning effort being the magnificent plant of The Western States Portland Cement Company, Independence, Kan- sas, which is acknowledged by experts, both in Europe and America, to be the most modern and best equipped Portland Cement plant in the world. Experienced Supervision. N O!' all cement is high grade cement. To manufacture and maintain an efficient high grade Portland Cement the most indefatigable supervi- sion, and carefully handling of the raw materials are absolutely essential ; otherwise a low grade “natural" cement is the result. If the proper analysis and proportioning are not attended to, or if the calcining is imperfect, or if the necessary fineness of grinding is not maintained, and it should be under- stood that a lower expense of manufacture can easily be secured by neglect- ing these requisites, a low grade article is produced, and one disastrous and costly to the consumer. The manufacture of this material is an intricate process and it is more important in Portland Cement manufacture than in almost anything else not only to have the highest type of equipment through- out. but also to have experienced, conscientious work in connection with every detail. One of the most frequent causes of failure of many manufacturing plants is, that after being designed and constructed they are turned over to the management of some person or persons who know nothing whatever regarding their operation. With but little or no regard for their knowledge of or experience with cement factories or cement machinery, consulting mechanical engineers of reputation are often employed to furnish plans and designs for cement plants ; they having not only no particular interest in the work of construction, but also having no interest whatever in the operation of the plant, or the future success of the enterprise. The management of the organization responsible for the erection of the magnificent factories illustrated in these pages, realizing the importance of trained supervision in their operation, as well as their construction, early associated with them in the business not only the experienced engineers, who have the general supervision of these plants after construction, as well as before, but also surrounded themselves with competent and experi- enced cement makers and heads of departments, all of whom are directly interested from the manufacturers’ standpoint in the future success of the enterprise. It is therefore absolutely certain that every safeguard possible is provided that will insure not only the most improved plants and equip- ment, but also trained supervision in their operation. Trained Business Management Necessary. T O insure the success of large manufacturing undertakings, trained business management is of vital importance. The men upon whom this responsibility rests, should first of all be honest and trustworthy; besides they should have ability and experience in the business in which they are en- gaged. In the development of this enterprise much care and consideration has been given to this point, and the management selected is of the very strongest organization now engaged in Portland Cement manufacture, and the directorate of this Company is composed of men of substantial financial interests, experience and moral standing, and are men from whom we have a right to expect nothing but safe and conservative management in the ad- ministration of affairs. 21 PROFITS. It is now generally conceded by all that Portland Cement is the one great essential building material of the future — surpassing steel and all other constructive materials — and while its use seems to have already become almost universal in building operations of all kinds, it is yet plainly apparent to those best informed on the subject that we are even now in infancy in the manufacture and use of this material, and that this great industry, when properly handled, has the very brighest future possible before it. Portland cement is a permanently marketable article, does not go out of fashion, and a careful investigation of the industry in general proves conclusively that it has been universally a profitable and staple business, and though often sur- rounded by many disadvantages has almost universally made handsome divi- dends, as will be seen from the following articles taken from the press of this country : It is generally conceded that securities based on the Portland Cement industry have a very promising future in view of the broadening field for operation of the companies. Stock of the American Cement Company, it seems to many, is a very attractive purchase around current quotations. But very little of this issue, however, comes on the market due to the fact that it is closely held by investors. — Stockholder, Philadelphia, Pa., February, 1900. Prosperous Institution. — It should be gratifying to Reporter readers to learn that the mammoth plant of the Western States Portland Cement Company, which started manufacturing cement only about ninety days ago, is already upon a splendid paying basis and that an immense financial success for its owners is assured. On account of its perfect equipment this company’s product is far superior to any hereto- fore placed upon this market and its cost of manufacture is less than in any other cement plant in the world. The manufacture of cement, properly handled, is a prosper- ous industry and Independence should certainly be proud of her concerns located here. — Independence Daily Reporter, Feb. 8th, 1906. At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Peninsular Portland Cement Com- pany, of Jackson, Michigan, on December 23rd, the regular 7 per cent dividend on Pre- ferred Stock was declared, payable on or before January 1st, 1903. The Company has enjoyed a very prosperous career, and are now doing an enormous business. Although the factory has been in constant operation both day and night since its completion, the Company has been utterly unable to supply the unsolicited orders for its product — which has made it necessary for a further increase in the capacity of the plant. The Penin- sular Company enjoys the distinction of having the most modern cement mill in existence. — Michigan Investor, Detroit, Jan. ist, 1903. Boom in Cement Business. — * * * The holders of the stock of the parent company of the Cowham group, The Peninsular Portland Cement Company of this city, are congratulating themselves these days, as the dividend of seven per cent., declared Jan- uary ist last, has been followed by a notice of another dividend of seven per cent., to be paid July ist. The people of this city who invested in cement stock in the days when the business was in absolute infancy and wholly an experiment, are feeling quite pleasant nowadays, as every mill of the Cowham system in operation not only has con- tracts for its output for a year in advance, but has been turning down all orders for several weeks back, and the reputation of Mr. Cowham as a prophet has not suffered in consequence of the fulfillment of his predictions. — Jackson Morning Patriot, May 5, 1903. jvfo 1 ’ "' VCS1 V^^0(.^ r (0. It is reported that the earnings of the American Cement Co., ending Nov. 30, 1903, were $470,144. — Concrete. The Wolverine Portland Cement Company has just declared its dividend, being the third dividend this year. — Concrete , Nov. 1903. The Peerless Portland Cement Co. has closed its season’s work. The past year has been a very successful one. — Concrete, Jan. 190 5. The Iola Portland Cement stock has advanced four points since the first of the year.- — Cement and Engineering News, March, 1906. There never was a brighter industrial future than that now before American makers of Portland Cement.- — City Engineer Ericson, Chicago, III. The eastern cement companies are having extremely strong demand for their cement this spring at a considerable increase in price over last year. — Concrete, April, 1905. The Chicago Portland Cement Co. reports a very satisfactory year and contem- plates increasing the capacity of its plant to about 75,000 barrels per month. — Concrete, Dec. 1903. The California Portland Cement Company’s sales for September were greater than for any preceding month for the past twelve years. — Cement and Engineering Nezvs, Oct., 1903. The Sandusky Portland Cement Co. has recently declared 6 per cent dividends on both Preferred and Common stock for the year 1904. — Cement and Engineering News, June, 1904. The Portland Cement Co. located at Portland, Colorado, will double the size of its plant, owing to its having received large orders for cement to be used in the construc- tion of the irrigating canal in Nebraska. — Cement Age, Jan., 1906. The Portland Cement age is just beginning, and those interested have a great era before them in the manufacture of this material that now has such a wonderfully increasing demand. — Cement and Engineering News, January, 1902. Large Earnings — The gross business of the American Cement Company at Phila- delphia, for the four months ending March 31st, shows an increase of 18 per cent, over the corresponding period of last year. The balance sheet showed a surplus of quick assets over current liabilities of $243,000. — Cement and Engineering Nezvs, May, 1900. The Pacific Portland Cement Works near Suiseen, Cal., has been in operation about two years and from the start the enterprise has been exceptionally successful. Addi- tions are now being built to increase the daily capacity of the plant to 3,200 barrels. — Concrete, Sept., 1904. Mr. W. J. Budd of Owen Sound writes that the different Canadian Portland Cement companies are experiencing very great activity in their business. Nearly all the companies had a very satisfactory year with better prospects for the coming one. — Concrete, April, 1905. The Wyandotte Portland Cement Co. report a very successful year in their busi- ness. The demand has increased to an extent that they are unable to meet, with their present facilities. The company is now enlarging the plant to about three times the present capacity. — Concrete, Dec. 1905. The Price of Cement Advanced Eighty Cents per Barrel. — At the annual meeting of the Heiberg Cement Company at Albany, N. Y.. Dr. Howard Van Rensse- laer was chosen a Director in the place of the late John G. Meyers. The company is doing an enormous business. Their price on cement has advanced over 80 cents a barrel within the past two months. — Albany Press. 23 A Good Business — The fire in the plant of Glens Falls Portland Cement Co. on 'Sunday caused a loss of $300,000 and threw 500 men out of employment. The Glens Falls Portland Cement Co. was organized 1893. and incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. The company has been doing a very profitable business, and last week its stock sold at $170.00 for $100.00 shares . — Decatur Evening Journal, April, 1900. The directors of the Sandusky Portland Cement Company on April 1, 1902, declared a dividend of 6 per cent, on the preferred stock, payable 154 per cent April 5, July 1, October 1, and December 31. In June, 1902, they also declared a dividend of 1 per cent on the common stock payable monthly on the 10th of each month from June 10 to December to, 1902 It is presumed that further dividends will be subject to the action of the directors. — Cleveland, Ohio, Commercial Bulletin. Fourteen Per Cent Annual Dividend. — The annual report of the Peninsular Portland Cement Co. was submitted bv General Manager W. F. Cowham yesterday, and made even a more satisfactory showing than was anticipated. From the earnings the past year two dividends of 7 per cent each were paid, July 1st, 1903, and January 1st, 1904, still leaving a substantial surplus in the treasury. The unanimity of senti- ment manifested was a handsome endorsement of the masterly management of Mr. Cowham, th,- originator and business head of the great enterprise which has been developed. Prospects of the company for the year 1904 are more favorable than ever. --Jackson Evening Press , Jan. 20, 1904 Wolverine Portland Cement Company Making Money — Earned Over $350,000 Last Year. — The Wolverine Portland Cement Co. is in a flourishing condition, accord- ing to the reports of insiders. The Company has spent $50,000 in the improvement of its plants during the past year. “It has not only done this,” said John T. Holmes yesterday, “but it will soon declare a dividend of between 8 and 10 per cent. It earned over $350,000 and will have a nice surplus after the dividend is paid.”- — Detroit Tribune, November 26, 1902. Sale of Big Cement Plant — The biggest cement deal in the history of this industry was consummated to-day in the sale of the plant and property of The Coplay Cement Company. The concern will shortly pass into the hands of the new' owners, who are Philadelphia and London capitalists. The syndicate purchased all the stock of the company. The par value of the latter is $50.00 per share, and on this the company has for some years been paying an annual dividend of 32 per cent. — Philadelphia (Pa.) Times, May, 1900. Iola Portland Cement Declares a Dividend. — The directors of the Iola Portland Cement Co. at a meeting held in Chicago declared a dividend of one per cent, a month on the common stock, the first payment to be made in July. The stock of the Company :is largely held in Detroit, and has been extremely active recently in anticipation of a dividend on the common. The plant of the Company is located at Iola, Ks., and though the officers are very reticent as to the amount of business being done it is stated that the profits arc now exceeding $100,000 a month. — Free Press, June 9, 1903. Omega Cement Co. — At the annual meeting of The Omega Cement Company, which is located on the line of the Fort Wayne and Jackson Railroad, about twenty miles south of this city, a splendid showing w'as made for last year. An 8 per cent, dividend was declared, payable July 1st, and $40,000 wans added to the surplus fund. With stock in store and orders already on the books, the Secretary figures upon an additional $100,000 in net profit during the balance of the year. It is asserted that every Portland Cement factory in Michigan has already contracted for its output for a year to come at a large advance over the prices that prevailed last year. — Jackson Eve- ning Press, April 21, 1903. 24 , western States E NT ^ ' M)nl?llA NWV V A Phenomenal Record. — The National Portland Cement Company is turning out the largest output of any marl cement plant in Canada. 1 he superintendent, Mr. George McGrane, who installed this plant, maintains that it should turn out more cement than any plant of its size in the world on the wet process system, and under his supervision he has actually demonstrated that his views were correct. The National plant is the leading brand of cement in Canada and they have yet to receive their first complaint as to quality. The outlook for the season of 1906 as to quality, quantity and price is exceptionally bright and the directors are looking forward with anticipation to another profitable year. The bulk of the season’s output will be disposed of to regular customers; orders by wire, 'phone and letter arc pouring in every day. — Chronicle, 4-19—5-3-06. Successful Beyond the Most Hopeful Anticipations. — At the annual meeting of the International Portland Cement Co. held yesterday great satisfaction was expressed at the success of the company. This was the first annual report of the company sub- mitted and showed net earnings of over 8 per cent for the first five months’ operation of the plant, which was remarkable in tbe face of the many difficulties that had been encountered. — Ottaxca Evening Journal, Feb. ig, igo6. Have Enjoyed a Prosperous Year. — The financial statement of the Peninsular Portland Cement Co. submitted at the stockholders’ meeting held to-day contained much for the stockholders to be pleased with and the following resolution was unani- mously adopted : Resolved, that the stockholders of the Peninsular Portland Cement Co., assembled in annual meeting, hereby express our thanks to President Cowham and the Board of Directors for the successful and profitable manner in which they have conducted the affairs of the Company during the past year. — Jackson Morning Patriot, Jan. 17, igo6. It is currently reported that the much talked of plant of the Western States Portland Cement Company, recently built by Messrs. Cowham and McCourtie at Independence. Kas., and in which many Jackson people are financially interested, has already proven an immense success. Although the mill was but recently put in com- mission, and as yet but three-fifths of the plant has been in operation, a net profit of about $150,000 has already been earned; nearly $35,000 net for the month of March alone was recorded. As the plant will now soon be running at full capacity, and as prices are just now advancing, occasioned by the beginning of the building season, a phenomenal record is looked for during the very first year’s operation of this mill. — Jackson Citizen Press, A Jr. 21, igo6. When it is understood that many of the factories referred to are un- favorably located, are hauling their raw materials via rail many miles to the factory, are not equipped with the latest improved methods of manufacture, are burdened with that great item of expense — excessive freight rates in reaching favorable markets — and are also laboring under other serious dis- advantages which will not be encountered by the Northwestern States Portland Cement Company, it must certainly appear even to the most criticising and conservative business man that the cost of manufacture by this Company should be greatly reduced, and that it should be able to lay its product down at its market at a total cost and expense that cannot be duplicated by any other factory in the country. Taking into consideration simply the advantageous location of its raw materials, and estimating the amount actually saved by its improved system of manufacture (so perfect that the raw materials will actually pass through the entire process of making without the agency of human hands), its cheap and abundant supply of fuel, its remarkable shipping facilities, its [ STERN Si AXES J location at the very door of an ever-growing and locally unsupplied market, and its competent and experienced management, it is impossible to figure the profits of The Northwestern States Portland Cement Company even as low as the highest indicated by any of the factories mentioned. From the foregoing, and from the most conservative estimates based on the ex- perience of the American cement industry, this Company is entitled to the conclusion that the earnings of its improved plant at Mason City, Iowa, should be fully equal, if not far in excess, of any other mill of like capacity in the world. With its many natural and indestructible advantages, plant of the very best possible mechanical equipment, and competent business management, The Northwestern States Portland Cement Company is deservedly commanding the attention of the thoughtful, conservative business man and investor. There is to-day no line of investment that promises larger, more certain, or more permanent returns on capital invested, nor one where the absence of all speculative features is more marked than in connection with the proper and economical production of a high grade Portland Cement. THIS COMPANY’S OPPORTUNITY. HE Northwestern States Portland Cement Company, in embark- ing upon this enterprise to manufacture a high-grade Portland Cem- ent to supply this growing demand, has before it the brightest prospects. There is no element of speculation entering into this project. The natural deposits at Mason City, Iowa, are absolutely determined both in quality and extent. Soundings, core borings and analysis have told the story unmistakably. The location cannot be excelled. Fuel — cheap and abundant. The markets are extensive and close at hand. The transportation facilities are the best. The factory and machinery will be designed, installed, and operated by men of long practical experience in cement making. P>y reason of the superior quality of cement which it will produce, this Company will be able to meet the most severe requirements of the railroad, municipal and government engineers, and on account of the large capacity of its mills, it will be further enabled to take on the large contracts, which are both desirable and profitable. This Company is also extremely fortunate in having that no less im- portant factor of success, the competent and expert business management of men thoroughly familiar with every detail of the cement business. There is no prospecting or experimenting to be done; no chance to be taken. The success of the enterprise is assured. 26 .jVVtSTtliN SlAI j4o' !l ' poRi i - t&tjr- ' ORGANIZATION AND FINANCIAL PLAN. T HIS Company is organized in connection with and for the development of the valuable deposits, described in the foregoing, located near Ma- son City, Iowa, and it is the purpose of the Company to immediately erect and put into operation at this point the best, the most complete, and one of the largest Portland Cement mills in the country. The basis of organizaion is such that $1,750,000 of 7 per cent Pre- ferred Stock and $1,750,000 of Common Stock is the total capitalization of the Company. All the stock of the Company is issued fully paid, and non-assessable. The Company will issue its 7 per cent Preferred Stock as ordered from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Preferred Stock as provided in the certificate, “is entitled to a fixed dividend of seven per cent per annum from July 1st, 1907, or subsequent date of issue, payable annually and cumulative until said shares of stock are called for redemption : the whole or any part thereof being redeemable by said Company at its par value with unpaid dividends at any time on or after July 1st, 19 12 , said redemption to be made at the time fixed for payment of any annual dividend. The preference as to stock and dividends extends to the assets as well as to the earnings of said Company.” “The voting power of the Preferred shall equal that of the Common Stock, share for share.” With each share of Preferred Stock one-half share of Common Stock is given as a bonus, the remainder of the Common Stock being reserved for the promoters; therefore whenever the Preferred Stock is retired the subscribers thereto will have received their principal, plus 7 per cent annual dividends, and still hold Common Stock representing a one-half ownership of all the assets of the Company. The purchasers of Preferred Stock are thus also given control of the affairs of the Company until the Preferred Stock is paid in full and retired. Dividends on Common Shares will be declared as warranted by the earn- ings, after making required provisions for Preferred shares, and provision for such extensions of mills and business as may, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, be of advantage. The proceeds of the Preferred Stock is estimated to be ample and suf- ficient to cover all expenses of constructing and equipping, with all neces- sary appliances, cement mills with a daily capacity of 2500 barrels, and also to provide a working capital. The management will be under the control of experienced cement man- ufacturers and men well known in financial and business circles, whose con- nection with the enterprise establishes its position and assures its success. S«C* C r ANoncws A C STlCM T« • STCINMCTZ Western States Portland Cement Co. AOO«CSS ALL BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS TO TH£ COM Independence. Kans. Apr. 25, 1906 Northwestern States Portland Cement Company, Mason City, Iowa. Gentlemen The various tests of your materials , sent from Mason City, Iowa, are now complete, and I herewith submit the report of my examinations as to their suitability for the man- ufacture of Portland cement. The samples analyzed were from a great number of test borings made in regular order over all parts of the deposits. These samples, both lime- stone and clay, show remarkable uniformity of composition and freedom from dangerous in- gredients that would be prejudicial to the production of a Portland cement of the first quality. The requirements are extremely rigid for high grade cement materials, and such materials are rarely discovered in deposits lying so closely together and at the same time conveniently situated with regard to a vast market and excellent transporta- tion facilities as are your deposits at Mason City. The following are analyses representative of the composition of the limestone and clays Lab. No. 127 Limestone Lab. No. 133 Clay (A) Lab. No. 146 Clav (B) Silica (Si Q;) 1.12^ - -- 52. 56^ - - 72.22^ Alumina (Al^O,) - -- - .46 18.86 14.13 Oxide of Iron (Fe^OJ - - .32 --------- 4.60 -------- 3.81 Oxide of Lime ( Ca 0) - 54.60 (Carbonate 97. Z%) 4.88 -------- 2.00 Magnesia (Mg 0) - - - - .49 --------- .93 -------- 1.05 Carbond Dioxide (C 0 4 ) - 42 . 70 (Loss by ignition ) 13 . 54 - -- -- -- - 6.46 Alkalies & Undetermined .31 --------- 4.63 -------- .33 100 .00% 100 .00% 100 .60% As previously reported, clay (a) and clay (b) mixed in equal proportions will give a composition regarded as ideal by experienced cement chemists. Clay of such a character mixed according to chemical laws with the limestone of the above composition and carried through the various manufacturing processes with approved machinery under intelligent supervision will produce a Portland cement unsurpassed by any in the world. This statement is not made unadvisedly. In order to substantiate the theoretical con- clusions the following experiments were carried out. The clays and limestone were mixed as above stated, ground to the regulation fineness in the laboratory tube mill and burned at proper temperature in a small labora- tory kiln. The resulting clinker, which was of excellent appearance, was ground so that 96^ of the resulting cement would pass a 100 mesh sieve. This cement, tested according to the Standard Methods of the American Society for testing materials, showed the fol- lowing characteristics: Fineness . Passing 100 mesh sieve ------ 96% " 200 " " ------ 82^ Setting Time . Initial set ----- 2 hrs . 20 min. Final set ------ 5" 30" Constancy of Volumn Tests. Air Pats - - - o.K. Steam test - - - O.K. Cold Water - - O.K. Boiling Water) ) O.K. Tensile Strength, (in pounds per sq.in.) 24hrs. 7 days Neat cement ----- 340# ----- 673# Sand 3, cement 1 -------'--- - 316# I am sending you under separate cover a sample of the cement which you will observe has the rich steely lustre indicating the highest quality of Portland cement. With materials of the above composition there will be no difficulty in duplicating, on a manufacturing scale, the results obtained in the laboratory. In the course of my work, as a cement expert, I have had occasion to examine a large number of cement propositions and have been obliged to report unfavorably upon ~the. greater number oi 1 them, but in all my experience I have never had, the pleasure of examining materials better suited for the manufacture of Portland cement than those from Mason City, and I congratulate you accordingly on possessing probably one of the beat deposits or raw materials in existence. Yours very truly, V B.S . Director of the Laboratory. ion Portland Cement Company OrnCE AND WORKS Hush syl\ania,Oiu o . March 30, 1906. Mr. E. J. Breen, Fort Dodge, Iowa. Dear Sir': As per your request I herewith submit a general report of my investigation of the properties of the Northwestern States Portland Cement Co. at Mason City, la. In this connection I have to say that the results of my investigation, which include both a personal inspection of the properties mentioned, chemical analyses of materials, etc., and a careful and exhaustive examination of every detail, prove conclusively the exist- ence of an unlimited supply of materials of unquestionable quality and remarkable uni- foraity--in fact, it is unusual to find such regularity in composition throughout. The color of the limerock is light, and its physical properties are excellent. It is easily drilled, and when blasted it fractures along both horizontal and parallel lines, making it very easily and cheaply handled. The stone comes to the surface and can be quarried without stripping, a fact very important in the economic manufacture of Portland cement. The shales are found in unlimited quantities nearby so that the two materials may be handled very economically. The physical properties of these shales are excellent and they are well suited for cement purposes, From a proper combination of these raw materials, a cement should be manufactured equal in quality to any produc- ed in the world. Your cement factory at Mason City offers unusual advantages over the average plant, viz . : First-- Mason City furnishes unusual shipping advantages, four of the large Trunk Lines of the State passing through it, with a fifth projected, reaching all parts of the North and Northwest, thus insuring a quick and uninterrupted delivery of the pro- duct to the market at all times. At no other point in the State of Iowa is it possi- ble to find raw materials available with equal shipping facilltiesT Second-- the R. R. rate laws” of the State of Iowa (there being a local tariff for each R. R. traversed) are such that straight hauls, with few changes, are necessary to mark- et the product cheaply; in this, Mason City has a decided advantage over any other lo- cation possible, and this advantage alone should insure the success of your concern lo- cated at this point. Third-- Cheap and easily obtained fuel: in the manufacture of Portland cement the item of fuel is highly important and this particular location is especially advantageous since it possesses two Trunk Line Railroads running directly from the mines to the ce- ment plant--thus insuring to this point a constant supply of fuel at minimum cost. Fourth-- The demand for cement in the constantly growing Northwest is phenomenal, and as there is but a very small percentage of the cement used in this country manufact- ured west of the Mississippi River, and as there are no mills whatever located in the territory naturally tributary to Mason City, the disposition of the product of your con- cern at that point should be an easy proposition, and because of the decided advantage in both transportation and freight rates above mentioned, the highest price for the product should be easily secured. Fifth-- A fine site for the plant itself, making it possible to lay out, design, and construct a mill in such a manner that the materials may be conveniently and easily handled, all of which tends to materially lessen the cost of production of the finish- ed cement. Sixth-- Three of the great Trunk Line Rys . running directly through your proper- ty makes it possible for your plant to be directly connected with these railways at slight expense, and saves to your Company many thousands of dollars annually in R. R. switching charges alone, besides enabling you to get your product directly and quickly upon the market and without possibility of delay. There is no other location possible in this section having any such R. R. connection advantages . From my investigation ( a diligent search having been made throughout practically the entire State, in which much time and money were spent prospecting, core drilling, collecting samples, and making analyses in a systematic and, thorough effort to find the proper materials accessible in a sul table (location) I have no hesitancy in pronouncing our cement plant at Mason City the very best proposition to be found in the State of owa- -having all the advantages and none of the disadvantages common to cement plantg-- and a mill of sufficient size, properly erected and equipped should certainly prove a success . Yours very respectfully, Chief Chemist and Superintendent, 20 Union Portland Cement Co. STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF KANSAS 11095 ERASMUS HAWORTH, The University of Kansas, STATE GCOLOQI8T LAWRENCE. MAT Ch 17, 1906. Mr. E. J. Breen, Port Dodge, Iowa. My dear Sir: Recently at the request of eastern capitalists I investigated the state of Iowa in order to find the hest location in the state for a Portland Cement Plant. In this work I have scanned the en- tire state. Having lived in Iowa a number of years, and also hav- ing done considerable geological work in the state, I was already .quite familiar with the geology, and consequently was greatly as- sisted in the work before me by such knowledge. I made use of all the published geological reports of the state, and in order still better to serve the cause in the best manner possible, I associat- ed with Prof. S. W. Beyer of the Iowa State College at Ames^ Prof. Beyer is a geologist who has done a great deal of work for the Iowa State Geological Survey, and who is now making a particular study of Iowa material suitable for manufacturing Portland cement. After having gone over the entire state in the manner above referred to, and with the assistance of Prof. Beyer, as stat-« ed, I -finally chose Mason City as combining more nearly all the de- sirable properties for the location of a great Portland Cement Plant This conclusion was not reached hurriedly nor without a great deal of investigation. A number of points in the state were found which offered some of the desirable qualities, but no other place where so large a number were found fortunately grouped together. One of the great difficulties in Iowa is the excessively large overburden of glacial drift material. Doubtless many places exist where first class limestone and shale are in juxtapositions j but which are en- tirely covered with a heavy overburden of glacial material making them impossible of access. Mason City is the only place found where both shale and limestone occur close together and in proper quality and quantity free from the glacial overburden. Here we have hundreds of acres of limestone from twenty-five to thirty feet thick with no objection- able overburden whatever. A slight covering of soil exists here and there on top of the limestone, but the soil itself is exactly what is wanted, as it may be used entirely to mix with the shale. Shale is found in abundance right by the limestone so the two may be very economically handled, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx By combining these two materials in a proper manner we can obtain an ideal mix for making Portland Cement; in fact none better can be found in the world. . I need hardly write you about Mason City as a desirable railroad center, nor" of Mason City as a proper geological location. Your knowledge of the Portland cement industry is sufficient to show you that this is a most fortunate location. Plants already built lie to the east and south, while there is an enormous consumption of cement to the north and west, which territory naturally will be- long to this plant. Had I studied railroad and commercial maps alone in the selection" of a point, I could have done no better than to go to' Mason "City. When we add to this the large amount o^.. ex- cee dingly desirable material so easy of access as above explained, it makes this location superior to any other that might be chosen anywhere in this Northwestern territory . Yours very truly, o / Department of (geology anb JTTinitu Cbc State Unioersity of 3owa ^ron h A. IDilSer, « 'anomic vSfofoyy ant) mineralogy itjartes £. Sajiicn, mining n.t> mnaiinrja pout Oinjer, fi-iiol.it >n ues CM, .^ssisfant >£jrl K feiOel, Assistant 3otm ‘iari'ille. pi-oicjinphtc Assisiani April 5, 1906. Mr, E. J, Breen, Fort Dodge, la. Dear Sir: I personally made a geological survey of Cerro Gordo county in 1896 , and am familiar with the great body of non-raagnesian lime- stone which underlies the land owned by your company and which by reason of new methods and new machinery unknown at the time the sur- vey was made, has since become of very great commercial importance in the manufacture of Portland cement. The rock in question is practically a pure carbonate of lime. I have later made a more specific examination of the tract of land on which it is the purpose of your company to operate, and oan say that the limestone in question covers it all to a thickness of twenty or thirty feet or more and that the overburden of drdflt,, which will require stripping, is almost nil . The clays of the Lime creek shales are here, like the limestone, practically in- exhaustible in amount. Geologically, the location you have chosen could not well be improved. With highest hopes of the success of your enterprise, I am, Yours very truly 31 ft W . BtYER C. C QuOBEE I A WILLIAMS Iowa State College DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINING ENGINEERING Ames, I owa March 20, 1906. Mr. E. J. Breen, Eort Dodge, Iowa. My dear Sir: Complying with your request for information concerning the advantages of Mason City, Iowa, for the loca- tion of a Portland Cement Plant, permit me to say that in my judgement the location more nearly meets all the requirements for a successful plant in the superlative degree than any other point in the state. It is generally conceded that the most important factors which contribute to the success of a Portland Cement Plant are: suitable raw material easily accessible; cheap fuel not only for power but suitable for burning the product; good transportation facilities; good market for the finished product . Briefly considering the controlling factors in their order, these are the conclusions: Limestone, almost pure and ranging from twenty to twenty-five feet in thick- ness occurs along Lime Creek and lies safely above the water line with almost no stripping over it. Chemical analyses show that the magnesium oxide present averages less than one percent and scarcely a trace of sulphur is present. Twenty to forty feet of plastic shale is easily available and suit- ably located to load with the steam 3hovel. The shale carries some magnesia but when blended with the limestone in the proper proportion for cement is well within the safety limit . Two lines of railway directly connect the city with the principal coal field of the state. All of the mines of this field "shoot from the solid", thus affording abundant supply of slack and steam coal at minimum cost. Four leading lines of railway with a fifth assur- ed, and an interurban line give the city unrivalled railway facilities. Last and not least Mason City occupies a strat- egic position geographically. An up-to-date Portland Cement Plant at this point would be in position to control the ce- ment trade well into the British Dominion to the north and west to the Missouri river, in addition to the Iowa field. I thoroughly believe that now is a most opportune time and Mason City is the place to establish such a plant. I shall be pleased to give you any other informa- tion I can. Yours very truly, T 6. SAVAGE STATE OF IOWA IOWA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Frank a. Wiioea. Director asst. State Geolooibt NELLIE E. NEWMAN Secretary •owao.ty March 22, J90G. Mr. E. J. Breen, Fort Dodge, Iowa. Dear Sir:- Prof. Beyer, who is acting in behalf of the Iowa State Geological Survey in studying the chemical pro- perties of the limestones and shales of Iowa with re- ference to their fitness for Portland cement, has placed in your hands a statement in regard to the cement making materials at Mason City, Iowa. I take pleasure in say- ing that the Iowa Geological Survey is prepared to sup- port the statements made by its representative , Mr. Beyer. The samples that he has taken for analysis were collected fairly and without prejudice of any sort and represent correctly the great body of material that a oement mill at Mason City may count on for decades. I am personally familiar with the tract that has been chosen for the cement mill at Mason City. The rock is practically at the surface, the beds are very extensive, and the rock easily quarried. Coal is brought to Mason City at a low cost, and the city is well situated with reference to a market for oement. There is no point in Iowa where a cement mill will con- trol a more important area . Sincerely, ^ 2 - Director IOWA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. This cut is a reproduction of photograph taken he.side the hopper bottom concrete clay storage building at the great works of the Western States Portland Cement Company at Independence, Kansas, on May 2nd. 1906. Included in the party are many bankers, lumbermen and representative business men of Minne- sota and Iowa, together with many of the stockholders of this company, all of whom assembled for the purpose of investigating the mammoth plant of the Western States Portland Cement Company, and in this manner secure a tangible idea of t lie magnitude and superior class of equipment, and see for themselves the very best there is in Portland Cement manufacture. Kansas City, Mo., May 2nd, 1906 "Northwestern States Portland Cement Co., Mason City, Iowa. Gent lemen :- Having taken advantage of 'the opportunity to visit and make a personal inspection and thorough invest igat ion of the mam- moth w.orks of the Western States Portland Cement Co. located at Independence, Kansas, which plant bears the reputation of being one of the finest cement mills in the world and a duplicate of which it is proposed to construct at Mason City, la., we beg to make the following report for the benefit of others who may desire to become interested in your company*. The magnitude and extent of the plant is surprising and start ling. It is modern in every detail, built most substantially throughout, and while its estimated capacity was 2,500 bbls . per day, we are informed its possible working capacity is considerably more than that amount. The factory buildings, concrete steel structures* throughout making them absolutely fire proof, together with the necessary out-buildings cover an area of about 25 acres of land, and are models of convenience, perfectly arranged and are equipped with the strongest and best types of machinery, .specially designed for this plant . The entire equipment certainly bears evidence of being the finest product of the best mechanical and engineering skill now engaged in that line of work and we are in- formed and believe from what we know of the business, the machin- ery and equipment throughout in this mill to be of better design, more substantial and superior in every detail to that ever before Installed in a cement plant. The whole works are propelled by electric motors, situated in convenient places throughout the plant, and the mill is lighted inside and out by electricity. A notable feature is the double sysfem installed throughout the entire plant. Everything seems to be so arranged as to avoid any possibility of a complete shut down -- duplicate machinery being installed throughout, to be used in case of accident and repairs and by reason of which it appears quite possible f or a plant of this design to operate every day in the year. We find that these works are so designed and constructed that the machin- ery practically takes the raw materials from their natural rest- ing places and carries them through the entire process of manufac- ture, converting them into high grade- Portland Cement at the mouth of the barrel or sack in which it is to be shipped without -the aid of human hands The whole factory is a model of beauty and stability, it is not built temporarily, but permanently and for all time, and is being most perfectly, successfully, and profitably operated by master hands, and is without doubt the most modern and best equip- ped cement plant in existence. Those interested in your company* can surely congratulate themselves upon having located at Mason City such a model factory for this new, growing and substantial industry and a plant which we believe will produce the finest possible quality of Portland Cement at a minimum cost. Very truly yours, Thr above is a / eproduction of /otter signed by each indiv idual memln r of the investigating party .'//<>.. n m photoy / ap/i <>n opposite page. This letter was tendered by unanimous resolution and presented to this company as a handsome endorsement of the superior class of equipment which is to be installed in its great works at Mason City , Iowa. 35 Strongest organization for the manufacture and sale of high-grade Portland Cement in America. Cowham System of Mills Core-Boring Machine in Operation. material at various depths, for chemical analysis. By this method the extent and uniform raw materials are absolutely determined. Bird's-Eye view of the great works of the Peninsular Portland Cement Company. The parent factory of the Cowham system of Portland Cement mills— strongest organization for the manufacture and sale of high-grade Portland Cement in America. The record of this plant is unparalled in the history of the Portland Cement industry. PENI NSULAR WORLD’S GREATEST CEMENT FACTORY. f From the Daily Patriot, Jackson , Mich., December 2S, 1902. ) HE plant of the Peninsular Portland Cement Co., of this city, is recog- 1 nized to be the most modern and best equipped Portland Cement fac tory in the world, and the results of its operations have more than justified every prediction of its designers and builders. From the day when the wheels were first put in motion, the mill has not shut down one minute while the raw material, by this latest system of cement making has, day and night, been taken from its natural resting place and carried through the intricate process of cement making until it fell into the bins in the 'form of commercial cement, all without the agency of human hands. Days, nights and Sundays it has run to its fullest capacity, veritably coining dol- lars out of raw materials which were long supposed to be worse than use- less, and it has been utterly unable to fill the orders which have come to it unsolicited. The fact that not a sack of this cement, to say nothing of a carload, has ever been rejected or returned, and that the Cement City mill, with its su- perior process of manufacture, is utterly unable to fill its orders, demon- strates better than any words could the success of the project which is oi so much importance to this city. It is a monument to the excellent judg- ment of the gentlemen who originated this enterprise. The Portland Cement industry has passed the experimental stages, and the great success of the enterprise at Cement City, demonstrates be- yond question that the industry should be founded on strong financial lines, and that the selection of raw materials, and the designing, building and op- erating of Portland Cement factories should be intrusted only to men of un- questionable ability, and practical experience in cement making. 41 Great Plant of the National Portland Cement Company. (Cowham System) Experts concede it to be the very latest improved and best equipped Portland Cement factory in America. It must be seen to be appreciated. Two of Mammoth Rotaries on their Mountings. Rotaries, gearing, etc., all specially designed and constructed. These rotaries are electrically driven, independent ot each other, and aie cone most efficient equipment ever installed in a Portland Cement factory. Prof. Robertson, Commissioner of Agriculture for the Dominion of Canada. 71. e National Portland Cement Co., Toronto, Ont. Pear Sirs. On behalf of the Directors of the Toronto Industrial -Exhib- ition, we teg to convey to you a high appreciation of the splendid ■..•orK your company has p>-r formed in the erection of our new Dairy Euilding Knowing as v/e do the almost insurmountable obstacles which you had to overcome in erecting this building, we feel that it would be unjust on our part did we not convey to you our high sense of the obligation under which you have placed our Association. You will hear from our Secretary later on that we have awarded your company a gold raenal as a slight recognition of its services, as well as to the excellence of the construction of the building for which you have the contract. wishing your company a long and prosperous career and trusting that the beautiful building that you have erected upon our grounds nay long remain as a living advertisement of your powers of manufacturing artificial stone. I am with best wisneo. ’■'cry truly yourn, _ /j 7 '/' '.ItUv-t-'i “president . / (Cowham System) This plant is of the very latest design and equipment throughout. Cut Showing the Plant ol The International Portland Cement Co. (Cowham System) Modern in Every Detail. The machinery, designed and installed by master hands, Some of the mammoth machinery during process of installation in the great works of the Western States Portland Cement Company. These works are of special design throughout and this plant is recognized as the leading and best equipped cement mill in the world. Although this plant has been in operation but a short time its product is already recognized as the superior and leading brand and is given preference over other cements in its market — commanding the" very highest prices, while its cost of production, because of superior equipment, is considerably less than that of any other cement mill in the world. Not only is the machinery in this mill of superior quality and design, but the plant through- out is also built, with the view of" permanency — thus eliminating a great amount of maintenance expense incident to the usual cheaply constructed cement plant. The equipment of the Noutm wkstkux Status Point. .wp ckjient Compvxv will lie designed by the same master hands and no effort will bo spared to install the most complete and perfect cement mill ever constructed and one which will produce the highest grade of Portland Cement for the least possible cost Mason C.ty, Hie principal metropolis of Northern Iowa, (lie county seat of Cerro Gordo Countv, Iowa, has a population of lo. "ini ; irec mall delivery; eight rural mail routes: two large and commodious hotels worth .$150,000; paved streets; municipal water works with purest water from deep wells: flue electric lighting system; city heating plant; $90,000 court house : smi, poo high school: five large ward public schools buildings: $100,000 live story office block; $50,000 opera house: splendid system of sewerage, the only self hushing system in Iowa: Masonic Temple and Odd Fellow Temple; headquarters i herlmod of America with 1 on. ooo members : large pork packing plant: large cold storage plant- four "Teat two National Hanks with deposits of $:{, 000.000 : line free public Library Building; New ’Government erected: four immense brick and tile plants Including vitrified sewer pipe plant: paid fire department; : wholesale grocery house : National Memorial 1'niversity : foundry and machine shops' air produce commission houses: division headquarters of the C. M. & St. I', and C. & N. W. I{. R.'s, with and shops; manufactures of brooms, gloves, pipe organs, carriages, cigars, etc.: thirteen churches'- two fine electric street K U system with Inter urban system connecting with Clear Lake, the popular summer hu < U )( M ) system < the Modern Rr« toms of railways; klinpr about to he * planing mills : one Houring » creameries ; Ir round lions ly newspnpei Ol‘t of I own. Hotel Charles. MASON CITY. IOWA. Hotel Wilson- Public Library. Business Block. Cerro Gordo County Court House. 51 APPENDIX. ISTORY chronicles vaguely the events of a period known as the “Stone Age," when men wrought with the crudest of implements and eked out the merest sort of existence. But man's necessity made him progressive and his cunning taught him to devise better instruments of “Bronze” with which to serve his purpose, only to find them in turn inferior to the improved work of his son in the “Iron Age." Each plays its part in the economy of Nature, then vields place to its betters, and the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age retire, yielding the palm to the Imperial Age of Cement. No product in the world has a wider application to use- ful purposes than Portland Cement. Men who know its worth realize that it is the only absolute fire-proof building material in the world. In this respect brick, terra cotta, iron, and granite all suffer markedly by comparison with it. It is the ideal building material in bridge construction, whether for strength, form, beauty or durability. There has never been found a paving material on earth ecp.ial to Port- land Cement concrete whether for side-walks, street-beds, or roadways. In house building there is hardly an article used that cannot he made stronger and more durable out of Port- land Cement than out of any other known material. Progress is the watch-word of the twentieth century. And it is with this thought in mind that we present the fol- lowing pages showing the progress recently made in the cement business, and the present advanced ideas on cement constructive work. Our purpose here is to show something of what has been done, and to afford material for thought as to what can he done in future with Portland Cement Portland Cement to supersede our LIMITED IRON ORE RESOURCES. T HE iron ore resources of the United States will be exhausted in fifty years according to statistics compiled for the Swedish Parliament, while the Misaba range iron ore deposits will be depleted in twenty-five years. What then? Where shall we turn for materials for construction? The timber resources of the country are already on the decline. Longer hauls and higher prices confront the consumer of to-day. We have used our iron and timber resources as if they were inexhaustible. Our great railways are taking time by the forelock by planting timber forests that will serve for replacing ties on their right of way. The government is promot' ing timber planting. In Europe, especially in Germany, this question has been carefully considered. For the past 75 years laws have been in force compelling every person cutting down a tree to plant two in its stead. The German forest areas are on the increase instead of decline. No such syste- matic effort can replace our iron resources, therefore we must look else- where for a substitute for iron and steel. This substitute is concrete. The depleting of our iron resources means the ushering in of the Concrete Age. In twenty-five years iron and steel will be used only where it is absolutely necessary ; as for machinery construction and for rails — while modern structural steel sky-scrapers, railway and highway bridges, rail- way ties, etc., must and will be constructed of concrete with a minimum of steel scientifically arranged and imbedded therein, and known as reinforced concrete. This form of construction will in the near future be the rule and not the exception as at present. People talk of this being the Concrete Age. It is no such thing. It is simply a dream which future generations alone will realize. At present we are in the age of iron and steel. Its progress has been so vast and extensive that it will exhaust itself in half a century. It is now m its prime, this age of iron and steel. Men now living will witness its decline. Its life has been measured in cold figures which cannot be denied. Steel and iron must and is making way for the age of concrete. The foundations for the Cement Age are being laid today upon which a superstructure will rise that will indeed represent the Age of Concrete. To-day is simply a fringe on the borderland of our industrial energies, gradually pushing inward, never losing the ground it has gained. Its destiny is to girdle the earth with its conquests. This is its mission which must and will be fulfilled before it can be crowned as the Age of Concrete. THE ERA OF CEMENT CONSTRUCTION. By JULIUS KAHN. Architect and Engineer. I T is not generally recognized that we are at the present time in perhaps the greatest constructive epoch in the world’s history. This age shall probably be classed as the steel age in ioo years from now. People in general are too busy to realize the im- portance and size of the works which are at the present time under construction. In fact, we are ail too busy with our own personal matters to realize the greatness and sig- nificance of this movement in construction. Whereas, 40 years ago the manufacture of iron and steel was as yet too expensive and too poorly developed, at the present time machinery and chemistry have advanced to such a high stage of development as to allow the manufacture of this material to reach a high state of excellence. The fact that this has been done so well has encouraged engineers, builders, and architects, and at the present time a majority of the buildings erected are mainly of a steel skeleton framework, which supports the floors and walls, the latter being merely a light protective covering for the steel work. This high state of development in the steel industry has allowed the building of enormous structures in New York, Chicago, and all .the large cities, as well as here at home. If brick and masonry had been employed, the foundations and lower story walls would probably have been so heavy and expensive that financially this size of structure could not have been made profitable. But with the use of steel the supports and foun- dations were made comparatively small and little floor space was occupied by them Apparently to an outsider it seemed a mystery how the upper floors were supported on the lower, the real supporting members being entirely hidden within the masonry. At the present time there is a revolution going on in construction in general. There are many things to indicate that we are at the present time passing out of the iron and steel age. It is only about 25 years ago that the steel age could be said to have had its modern beginning. The Bessemer and Open Hearth process of steel manufacture wrought a revolution in construction in general, and at the present time its use has reached the highest point in its history. Will it decline? This is a grave question, and from present indications it would seem that the answer must be affirmative. There are certain things in connection with the use of steel that will not allow it to satisfy the value of the engineer and architect. If steel could be so thoroughly pro- tected as to be absolutely fire and rust proof there would not be so many objections to it. But in these two respects it is seriously lacking. The best chemists of the country have been studying to find a rust proof covering for steel. Leading engineering soci- eties have had the subject up for discussion continually for the last five years, but so far no satisfactory solution has been reached. One man will say he has discovered the proper paint covering, but when tested it will fail after a time like everything else that has been tried. A few years ago there was a great rush over oxide iron paint Everybody said it was the proper material to use, and its application was really quite universal. Then it was found that rust spots multiplied underneath the covering. This was attributed to a galvanic action claimed to exist between the paint pigment and the metal. Then came the red lead theory, and many engineers were strong in advocating it, but it ended in the same way. Then the graphite theory, and Detroit may be said to be one of the first places that practiced it ; in fact, Detroit claims to have built the first graphite paint factory. This paint, however, has been criticized almost as severely as the oxide of iron, as rust gathers under it in just the same way in a large number of instances, and painting must be done with great regularity. Recently chemists had ad- 54 vised the use of gum oil paints; that is, paints composed of the natural gums, with pigments and oils as necessary. This gives a brief idea of the theorizing which pro- tective coating for steel has undergone. At a discussion of a recent meeting of the American Society of Civil Engineers, :i number of the most prominent members claimed to have discovered such a covering and held the same secret, not for reasons of desiring an exclusive patent right, but on account of uncertainty. As yet the paint theories arc anything but reliable. An ordinary exposed steel structure has a life all the way from io to 30 years, de- pending upon the care given it in its protection. As an example, near at hand in many of our M. C. R. R. viaduct bridges it was recently found that the steel beams were eaten through on account of the corrosive action of the gases from the locomotives, and required replacing. In fact, some railway companies are replacing steel with con- crete bridges, because steel is not reliable, nor permanent ; among these may be named the Michigan Central, Illinois Central, Pere Marquette and others. The question is anything but solved There is scarcely a month but that some man comes forward with a preparation which he hopes will do it, but so far they have all failed. Again, steel is lacking in fireproof qualities. Under a heavy fire steel will melt like wax. Although a high temperature is required to make a liquid of it, a compara- tively low temperature converts it into welding state. Under anything like extreme heat and heavily loaded it will curl up and collapse. Unless well protected against fire, it is little better than wood construction under certain conditions. As a result of high temperatures the latter, when made of heavy timbers, will char and burn only on the outside, without deep penetration, and for this reason mill construction, which consists entirely of such timbers, is used very largely. It originated in the cotton mills of New England and is now used largely in all factory construction. In this type the floors are made of planks four to six inches wide, set edgewise and nailed to- gether.. The posts are of very heavy proportions, so as to prevent quick burnings. Building's of this type will stand very severe fires, and there are engineers who believe mill construction to be better than steel, unless the latter be well protected. It does seem that if a new type of construction comes into use that will provide a permanent and fireproof structure, the steel age will draw to a close. At any rate, it is a subject that engineers are studying more earnestly than ever before, and they are coming to the conclusion that cement construction affords relief from these vexatious problems. Cement is now manufactured of such excellence, at such a low price, and so thoroughly answers the wants of the engineer that there is no question that it will replace steel construction. The only question is how fast it will do so. There is probably no sub- ject so much discussed by engineers now as concrete and concrete steel construction. It must be granted that concrete has this against it, that if poorly made, it is deceptive; but on the other hand, if the carpenter uses timber that has dry rot, is worm-eaten, or has serious knots or wind shakes, which deficiencies cannot be per- ceived by the ordinary layman, and even by a thorough engineer, the dangers^are much greater. Thus the carpenter may deceive. Again, steel work may be even more dan- gerous and deceptive if the connections and sizes are not right, or if anything about its make up is slighted. These risks must be carefully guarded against. The engineer figures heavy loads for every square inch of steel, and the dangers are proportionately greater if workmanship or quality of material is below the standard; he is careful that a test be made from .every batch of material. Then, again, he guards against the workman’s poor riveting, the winding of steel members, the security of connections, etc. There are a hundred ways in which errors can creep in, any one of which may wreck his structure. It must be assumed that skill is not required to such an extent in concrete work. If a good brand of cement is used, it only remains for the superin- tendent to watch the proportions of mixing, its manipulation and placing in structures, and he is assured that the strength is ultimately there. There is this consolation, too, instead of becoming weak with age, as steel, owing to its corrosion, or as wood, owing to its rotting, the strength of cement construction continually increases and moisture only serves to make it harder. Again, it i> as fireproof as any material known If this is so, the question may be asked, why is cement not used more largely at the present time? In answer I will say: "It is only very recently that America was able to produce the excellent quality of cement it now produces, at a marketable price. Europe led us;, but Europe is now con- servative. and our rapid strides have placed the American product in the front rank.' It is no longer as it was ten years ago. that European Portland cements are spe- cified in our best construction works Now American Portland cement is used. In fact, it is probably only seven or eight years since we made Portland cement in any con- siderable quantities. Our own cements were formerly the natural cement, but in the past few years America has put up Portland cement factories not only equal, but far superior to those in Europe. Put. again, used under other conditions, cement is as effective as steel, without its defective qualities. Concrete is excellent when used in compression, but it is not so good as timber in tension, as it has about one-fifth of its tensile strength. For that reason engineers did not formerly use concrete where such strains were carried. But now comes a new method, called concrete steel, or "reinforced concrete” construction, which enables us to use cement in tension as well as in compression. This type of con- struct'd! will work a revolution in the use of steel, for. if concrete, with steel imbedded in it. he as good in tension as in compression, then it is an ideal material, for it gives the necessary strength, is fireproof and permanent. Probably no subject is now so much before engineers and engineering societies as concrete steel construction. Different engineers have different ideas in regard to plac- ing the steel within the concrete. There are at the present time 50 to 100 different sys- tems or ways of doing so. These differ from one another in the arrangement of the steel within the concrete, but all agree that the steel must be placed in the concrete where it takes the tension Of course the concrete is used for compression. Again, there is no material which so thoroughly protects steel as concrete, and steel imbedded in concrete is as permanent as masonry itself. The simplest form of this construction is a rectangular beam, with steel rods imbedded in the lower side. With such a beam a load placed on same tries to deflect it. and the steel at the lower side comes into ten- sion, the concrete above it into compression. I he greatest virtue of concrete in this construction is the union which the steel makes with the concrete. This adhesive prop- erty of concrete was only realized in the last few years and gave birth to the present concrete-steel system of construction. As before stated, there are from 50 to too systems. Some of the best ones come from Europe, in just the same manner as the best Portland cements originally came from Europe. A few of the European are the Von Emperger, the Mennier, the Considere. the f-fennebique, etc., and in this country we have the Ransome, the Expanded metal, the Columbian and the Johnson, etc. These systems are well represented by many structures at the present time. They all have in common the placing of steel on the tension side of the concrete, and differ only in the form of the steel or its arrangement. One thing more in favor of concrete is its use for long floor spans in building con- struction. Spans as large as 25 feet are easily constructed at the present time, and there are many records of concrete spans 50 to 100 feet long. Only very recently I was called to witness tests where the walls, floors and columns of a building consisted of concrete, with floor spans of 24 feet 6 inches. I was unable to attend, but 1 understand a number of very prominent engineers were present. The records of the tests were sent to me. These spans carried without serious deflection a load of 100,000 pounds uni- formly distributed over them. Two concreted steel beams supported a concrete slab four inches thick on which the weight was piled. The actual sagging under this enorm- ous load was only i.t-.D’ of an inch. If a steel beam of the same strength had been used, it would have settled 1J4 inches, thus showing that the properties so greatly de- sired by engineers have been more than realized in concrete-steel, as the latter can be constructed so as to deflect under weights only one-quarter as much as steel. I here is another remarkable advantage for concrete-steel construction. In build- ings constructed of brick or stone, the vibrations due to the moving parts of machinery 56 are very great, but in the case of concrete-steel it is little or nothing. In this regard it is of great advantage in factory construction. The experimental stage in concrete-steei construction has passed by. It is an accepted fact among all engineers that concrete- steel construction has come to stay. The only matter of discussion among them is how shall the steel be placed within concrete, and some little variation as to the proper proportions and proper mixture of concrete. These, however, are matters of detail. It is quite generally understood how good concrete can be made, even though some may understand better than others its mixing and manipulation. It is useless to try to go into a description of till the forms of concrete construction that can be made. Suffice it to say that buildings are being made entirely of concrete (including the columns, walls, floor spans and roof), making a building absolutely fireproof. It is an interesting fact that a building constructed of concrete steel is not necessarily heavier than a steel building, and costs less than one-half as much. Construction of this nature is permanent, rust-proof, fireproof and rot-proof. This is a remarkable relief to the engineer who for years has studied the art of preserving to the community its costly structures. In Europe there is a large amount of this work. I have in mind one concern that did $25,000,000 worth of concrete-steel construction this last year. This construction is coming into the American market at the present time, and it was from a structure by this concern that the tests mentioned before were made . — Detroit Tribune, February 9, 1903. Cement Machinery Exhibit at Universal Exposition, St. Louis. Mo. The possibilities of artistic designs in cement concrete work are here plainly apparent. This exhibit contains a large variety and styles of blocks, namely — Octagon, straight, corner, faced, rock, tool, ornamental, scroll, weather, broken ashlar, copings, mouldings, circular, column, veneer, retain- ing. globe, belt, glass faced, corner. 4'._. inch rock, b inch rock, three-quarter, half, quarter, fractional, watertable. shoulder, panel, 6 inch rock. :S inch plain, balls, base and balusters. Future Buildings to be of Cement. Walls and Superstructures of Concrete from Canadian Material. CRIB WORK AND DAMS. TOO. The Members of the Engineers’ Club Discuss the Growing Cement Industry. Last night the Engineers’ Club of Toronto held an important meeting in their rooms. King street west. The gathering, which included some of the city’s foremost minds in engineering and building, was presided over by Major Henry A Gray. The discussion was over the general use of concrete in building at the present time, and it seemed the concensus of opinion that stone masonry was a thing of the past, and that cement concrete will not only be used in foundations in future, but in the walls and all superstructures. The discussion was led by City Engineer Rust, who drew attention to the remarkable growth of the cement industry throughout the American States. Quot- ing the mineral resources report of the United States for 1900, he said that in 1894 the production of the 24 cement works in the States had been 798,000 barrels, while in 1900 50 works had produced eight and one-half million barrels. The imports for 1900 were over 2.300,000 barrels, while the total consumption of Portland Cement in 1900 was over 10,700,000. GROWTH IN CANADA. The City Engineer was unable to quote the figures of the Canadian growth of the cement trade, and light was thrown on this by Mr. M. J. Haney, who is a member of the club, and a well known civil engineer and contractor. The proportionate increase in Canada has been as remarkable as the increase across the border. In 1891, 100,000 barrels of cement were used in Canada, and of this 25,000 barrels only were made in this country. But in 1901, Mr. Haney explained, 1,000,000 barrels were consumed in the Dominion, and of this 500,000 barrels were produced at home. This report of the splendid stride in one of Canada’s most important branches was greeted with applause, which was repeated when Mr. Haney said that he believed the proper sentiment for Canadians to show was, all things being equal, to support home industry. He did not believe in importing anything into Canada that could be secured at home. CEMENT IN CRIB WORK. The learned gentleman from the City Hall turned his searchlight upon the ques- tion, '“Should not concrete be used instead of cribwork in permanent harbor works?” and gave his opinion that he would, except in cases where stone could be procured in suitable proximity to the work, use concrete for bridge piers and abutments. Cement concrete, Mr. Rust says, makes better work and cheaper work. It was here that the City Engineer expressed the opinion that stone masonry will soon be a thing of the past, and that it will simply be a matter of time when Portland Cement concrete will be used in the construction of buildings not only for foundations, but for the outside walls and partitions. Later in the evening the Engineer gave the interesting informa- tion that concrete has reduced the cost of permanent work from $12 a yard to $5.25 a yard. Major Gray followed the City Engineer and made a few mysterious passes on a blackboard with chalk. These passes were intelligible only to the engineers, but what the gallant major was driving at was that in the construction of breakwaters and piers, while it would cost but $3 a cubic yard for wood and stone construction, concrete would give a job for all time for $6 per cubic yard. It was shown that twelve feet of wood and stone were not as strong as six feet of concrete, and that by reducing the sectional area, concrete could be utilized as cheaply as stone and wood. “What is the life of concrete?'’ asked a voice. “Well, I know some that has been in existence over 1,000 years, and it is about as good as new.” SUCCESS ON SOO CANAL. One of the principal speakers of the evening was Mr. M. J. Haney, who from his large and practical experience was listened to with great interest. Mr. Haney said in part : “I have been for years an advocate of cement in Canada. My experience with con- crete for the foundations has been very satisfactory.” Mr. Haney then explained the admirable manner in which the concrete has stood the test at the Soo canal, where the foundation carries as heavy weight as any in the country. In commenting on the great expansion of the cement industry, Mr. Haney com- pared the progress with strides in steel. He was of the opinion that now builders found that if their great structures were to last, the concrete must give the life to the steel by covering it and keeping it from the action of the air. Mr. H. F. Duck spoke on the durability of concrete, and instanced a case in Wis- consin where he was interested in the building of a dam 200 feet wide, in which 100 feet of stone was used and 100 feet of concrete. The stone was convenient but the 100 feet cost double the price of the concrete, and is wearing away so fast that it will be torn out and the entire dam built of concrete. City Engineer Rust rubbed it into the government and railways for neglecting to use Canadian cements years ago, and Major Gray replied that the Minister of Public Work was fully cognizant of present facts, and that as far as practical all works now are being built with concrete and Canadian cement . — Toronto Daily Star. Reinforced Concrete. Art Building, Ottawa University. Evidence of a new building era to which the term “absolutely fire-proof" may properlv be applied comes to us from across the border. In 1000 a large district of Ottawa was wiped out by fire and three years later the same district was again destroyed, demonstrating the folly of rebuilding upon the then accepted lines. Shortly after this, in December. 1003. the Arts building'of the Ottawa University was destroyed, with the loss of many valuable books and documents and at a sacrifice of life and limb, needlessly incurred because of the mode of construction employed. Iu rebuilding the selection of armored cement concrete for this great new structure was made only after thorough investigation of its superior fire-resisting properties, over all other materials of construction, by the University authorities, who visited numerous points in the United States and personally examined many reinforced concrete structures and especially the ruins of the great Baltimore fire, where the superiority of this form of construction was demonstrated to their entire satisfaction. The new building occupies the site of the old University building. It is pure Grecian style of architecture and bears a striking resemblance to the national capitol at Washington, D. C. 59 The Minneapolis Journal , Sunday. June 29 , 1906 . 4 UNCLE SI tin rib SET ENOUGH CEMENT If ■ Irrigation and Other Works Held Up— Government May Start a Factory. Require partmei Special to The Journal. Washington, April 2S. — Uncle Sam wants Portland cement and wants it badly. With twenty-four big irriga- tion projects under construction, re- quiring hundreds of thousands of bar- rels of cement, the engineers arc find- ing it next to impossible to obtain any- thing like the quantity needed. The unprecedented demand for this commod- ity all over the west lias already over- taxed the capacity of the mills, and almost without exception the govern- ment’s requests for bids are turned I down. Apparently no manufacturers west of the Mississippi are able to sup- ply new orders. In reply to inquiries from the government they state that, owing to the unusual demand, new or- ders cannot bo accepted for several months to come. Recently proposals were requested from eight manufactur- ers and dealers in cement for 2,000 bar- rels required on an Idaho project. Only one proposal wrs received and that was at a rate 50 per cent higher than tho firm would have sold a few months ago. Still later invitations for bids for sev- eral thousand barrels were sont to twenty-three dealers. Again but one firm submitted a bid, and this was near- ly CO per cent higher than the normal profitable rate of salo by this firm. Other attempts to purchase cement have been similarly unsuccessful. ;The reclamation service is gravely concerned, It has let contracts for structures involving millions of dol- lars, and a failnre to secure cement as needed, entering as it does so largely in the work, will be disastrous. Owing to the inaccessibility of many of the government works, the transportation or coment is difficult and costlv. This was particularly tho case in Salt River valley in Arizona, where tho great dis- tance from existing mills and the ex- pensive wagon haul, mado the cost pro- hibitive. After making thoro investi- gation of the cost of bringing in cement for the Roosevelt dam and other structures, the government erected its oivn mill and for several months past has been turning out daily hundreds of barrels of first-class cement at a price far below tho cost of cement shipped in. It is known That materials re- quired for manufacturing cement of good quality exist near several of the other projects, and private parties would do well to embrace the oppor- tunity to go into the business. From tho present outlook, however, the gov- ernment seems to have a choice of shipping from the far eastern seaboard or from Europe, or of manufacturin its own cement. 0 W ■Wash of goc delive the sug partmc mai eft" stej go’ pi- ca, i ,pr}. agnqi .rd to lent t’ nish ■ and ti the be the be.s,. in the sev publishing and report Tho ma obstruct" creeks ordins dition and c vice m a' by ba< bv Oj. no. wi' vir P' ou br: ways, as req does no change given ltK tern of g smooth .- portance view to kee dition is illus of the 3epo.»" weeks, wR suspend s condition/ make It travc mi w vi COnu res’- ll) di> 'The Seattle Daily Times, Ma y e, /906. Users of Portland Product State That Gity Engineer Thomson Knowingly Mis- leads Regarding Combine, Prices Have Not Doubled, as He States, and Scarcity of Product Extends All Over the United States, S TATEMENTS made by City Engineer Thomson and members of the council that a combine exists amon-e the big dealers and manufactur- ers of Portland cement and uiat the price of the product has gone up $2 a barrel in as many months, are asserted to be absolutely erroneous by those in this city who have closely Investigated the matter. The council resolution to bar Portland cement In municipal work here, and the .resolutions of the Commercial Club to investigate the situation both as regards ■e.meiu and steel in the United Stales . ;ul Europe, are stated to bo absurd. Not only is the council being imposed on. apparently for some ulterior motive, in laklng up the recent mysterious reso- lution that nobody will father, but builders and architects declare th;.it Hie city is being injured severely in the East by the efforts of a few people who -either do not' know the true situation or who are wilfully perverting- the truth for some reason best known to them- selves. Protection of looal contractors, as well as the finances of the city, is declared by the city authorities to be the reason for the proposed stopping of all munici- pal contracts requiring the use of Port- land cement. With work in sight for the year re- quiring nearly 400,000 barrels of the ce- ment, the city faces the situation of paying nearly twice as much for the cement as the contractors figured on after the city engineers had submitted the estimate, and the work had been or- dered by the council. That this meajis many thousands of dollars Is . obvious. Many local contractors figured on work with cement at $2.05 a barrel. It has risen to ?4 In a few months. The average contract for street paving let by the city is for a mile In extent. The rise in cement means an additional cost of about $2,700 per mllo for paving, according to the figures of the city en- gineer's office. Seldom does a contractor make profits on a mile of work even approximating this sum. "If the price of cement remains at this figure the city must change the char- acter of Its paving or go out or busi- ness,” say6 City Engineer Thomson. That there s a shortage of cement is acknowledged by everybody. It Is not a local shortage, however, but a shortage that Is felt all over (ho country. It comes not from any combtne,” but from the more fact that the demand exceeds 1 the supply in every - portion of the t mud .States owing to the phenomenal growth of the use of cement along all Industrial lines. Tho effort of persons here to create the Impression that the shortage is purely a local one: that Se- attle has to pay more for cement than any other city, and that an alleged local combine exists, lias resulted, builders and architects say, in frightening away capital desirous of Investing here. Resolutions Are Ridiculous. “For people supposed to be thinking men to go oft 'hall'-cocked' nad pass reso- lutions before making any Investiga- tions, thereby Injuring the city, is sim- ple hysteria, and perhaps a desire to get into print,” said one architect today. “For the otty engineer to wilfully run Into print with the story of a combine to boost prices on cement and to en- deavor to eliminate Portland cement from city work, Is convincing proof In the minds of many that he has an ul- terior motive that cannot be said to re- flect much credit upon him either as an engineer or a truthful man. I believe bis publio statements about the matter will result In an Investigation as to his reasons for Inspiring that, council reso- lution that will prove interesting read- ing when it is completed." In an effort to ascertain the absolute truth about the cement situation, sev- eral local architects and builders — the men that the city engineer says are be- ing so grievously Injured through an al- leged local combine — got together yes- terday morning and wired all the big .Ymericau manufacturers asking If they could fill a 20,000-barrel order at once, and. if not, why not. These answers were received: From the Chicago Portland Cement Company: "Useless to quote prices. Un- able to supply demand here." United States Cement Company, In- dianapolis: “Can’t sell any cement. Have none." Portland Cement Company, Denver: “Plant working full capacity, but be- hind in orders. - Can quote no figures for quick delivery. Tied up with gov- ernment contracts." All Unitod States Affected- Other cement manufacturers and heavy dealers replied In the same man- ner. They all stated that every city and to-wn In the United States wanted cement, but could not secure It at once. “The demand exceeds the supply. Plants working to' full capacity in effort to catch up with orders — this is the te'hor of the word received from all parts of the country by local men. During the past two years the gen- eral use of Portland cement has In- creased 200 per cent and the manufac- turers have been unable to keep pace in the growth of their plants with the growth of the demand. The result is a natural shortage, and, of course, a a natural increase in prices. Govern- ment work has done much to increase the phenomenal demand. The Portland Cement Company of Denver, for in- stance. is working Its factory at full capacity . merely to supply Uncle Sam with cement for his irrigation ditches. As far as cement prices go, the state- ments of City Engineer Thomos ap- pear to be as erroneous as about an al- leged combine. Thomson, -in a local paper, asserts that the price of cement has gone up from $2 to $4 a barrel. This is absolutely denied here. F. T. Crow', of F. T. Crow & Co., stated today that cement in the local market has never been $2 a barrel. When it came near that figure it was because of a fight between two big local dealers, who cut prices for competitive purposes, and lost money thereby. The price of Port- land cement in Chicago today is about normal, although, owing to the heavy demand^ tt is slightly— m a. These piles were driven in the ordinary way, some of them receiving as many as 400 blows with the pile driver. Concrete construction has solved one of the most difficult prob- lems in the erection of large buildings, and the method now almost universally employed for substructures is what is known as concrete pier foundations. Shafts are sunk in some instances to the depth of $5 to 100 feet, to solid rock, and the wells filled with concrete, which in turn forms piers. Since the down-town section of the city of Chicago is under- laid by a lied of soft clay (So to 100 feet deep, which affords merely a “floating,” inadequate foundation for heavy buildings, this method of construction is especially applicable. Among the notable buildings constructed in this manner in Chi- cago are the new Tribune and the First National Bank Blocks, the Schlesinger & Mayer and the Marshall Field stores and the new Railway exchange Building, which is perhaps the best type of office View showing beam and girder forms ready to be filled with concrete and the completion of the floor about to lie accomplished. 66 Cotton Mill at Lille, France. This construction one of the first marie in Armored Portland Cement Concrete, llennebique System, is very deep and large, and needed plenty of light, and for that reason was established simply by a skeleton in Armored Cement Concrete, and the exterior walls instead of being either in brick or in concrete, were formed largely by the windows. . What is remarkable in that construction, which is of comparatively small dead load, is, that although it is provided with engines producing very considerable shocks, no apparent vibration is to be noticed. Fire Proof. Recent reports of building construction in Rochester, Toronto, Baltimore and. San Francisco, all of which cities suffered from most destructive fires show conclusively the preference for concrete construction, thus testifying to the value of that material during the large conflagrations. The Manufacturers’ Record of. Baltimore published a very interesting article on concrete in the Baltimore fire, which gives a long list of buildings which are now being erected in concrete and reinforced concrete. Interior View of Portland Cement Warehouse. This form of construction is especially adapted for warehouses and factory buildings where provision must be made for heavy loads. Concrete Tanks Sugar Manufacturing Co., Cairo, III Ransome system concrete construction employed. New Hotel Hawyard, Los Angeles, Cal. 1 tuler construction by Messrs. Lonnrdt & Co., the well known concrete contractors of Log Angeles. The building is to be !) stories high and 82x10!) feet. All the “timbers” are concrete of n very superior (pinlity made of the Western States brand Portland cement. The hotel will be of handsome design and linish and is the tirst building of any magnitude made entirely of Portland cement that has yet been built in California, or on the Coast. Southern California owners, builders and contractors are rapidly “falling into line" regarding the practicability as well as the economic use of concrete ns a building material. The popularity of this material is constantly increasing and the field of Its usefulness widening. Exterior view of Power House, National Portland Cement Co. Entire Construction Peninsular Portland Cement. A High Concrete Chimney. The Butte Reduction Works of Butte. Montana, has just complet- ed a concrete chimney, 354 feet high. 1,600 barrels of Portland cement were used in its construc- tion. It has an interior diameter of eighteen feet throughout. The foundation is forty-two feet six inches square. The entire struc- ture weighs 1,500 tons. American Smelting & Refining Co.. Tacoma, Washington. Height 307 feet x 18 feet Inside diameter. Arlington Mills, Lawrence, Massachusetts. Height 250 feet x 11 feet inside diameter. Portland General Electric Co., Portland Oregon. Height 230 feet x 12 feet inside diameter. The above are among the largest concrete chimneys in the world and are built according to the "Webber System." The materials used are sand and Portland cement reinforced with “T” steel bars. Concrete chimneys are very substantial and economical in construction as well as in maintenance, as no repairing or painting is needed : and are a substantial ornamentation to any industrial plant. 6 to 8 feet per day is about the progress of construction. 69 Ferro-Cement Concrete Warehouse o the Co-operative Society, Limited, at Newcastle-on-Tyne. This building rises to a height of 120 l'eet, and consists of basement, ground floor and six upper floors The ground at the sight of the building was of the worst description imaginable for foundations, and this entire structure rests on a • raft" of ferro concrete, which covers the whole area of the ground. This raft measures two feet six inches in its thickest part and only seven inches in its thinnest part, and the idea of sinking piles or cylinders tor foundations was thus abandoned, it being found that the ferro concrete "raft" system would effect a ■Teat saving, both in cost and time. The columns, floors, walls and all are of ferro concrete. The walls of the basement are onlv eighteen inches thick, while the walls or tne ground floor are only twelve inches thick, and they are gradually reduced, until the thickness at the roof level becomes only four inches. The ferro-eoncrete beams carrying the floors are mostlj iwelve inches deep bv seven inches wide, and the floors are seven inches thick, their span being fourteen feet six inches. The strength of these floors has been tested up to foul tons per square yard bv means of ninety-six tons of pig iron gradually applied on a square measur- ing fourteen feet six inches. The severity of this test will be recognized when it is remem- bered that the heaviest locomotive in use in this country weighs, with its tender, less than ninety-six tons, and could therefore be supported on a space fourteen feet six inches square ot anv floor of this building. . . , ,, ... a ' The strength of Ibis building as a whole is enormous, inasmuch as the sills, floois. walls and roofs are all so to speak, tied together, and the whole forms a sort of huge monolithic structure which cannot suffer deformation from any strain it may be called on to undergo. Hotel Gallia at Cannes. (entirely built in ferro cement construction. 70 1 Bank Building in Leipzig, Germany. This building is constructed entirely in Armored Cement Concrete. Hennebique System, viz. : floors, columns, footings, roof (which is in cinder concrete), as well as the walls are all constructed of Portland Cement. Portland Cement is the finest non-conducting fire- proof" material ever produc- ed. It is as nearly imper- vious to heat as anything ever discovered. It costs only about one-half in fuel to heat a large residence so constructed than if it had been built in tbe ordinary way . — Detroit T ribune. SKYSCRAPERS IN DANGER A Boston Proiessor’s Note of Alarm Over Building Methods. Boston, March 14. — Every skyscraper and large office building here is is danger of collapse, according to the statement made by Pro- fessor Charles L. Norton of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, today. He says the corrosion of steel, and the consequent weaken- ing of the structures, be- cause of the ineffectiveness of some of the preparations used to protect the metal, should be carefully consid- ered by builders. He con- demns stone work and terra cotta as being ineffective against fire, and says con- crete is by far the best pro- tection for structural mater- ial against flames. Punahow Preparatory School Building. Honolulu H. I. Built entirely of Portland Cement concrete. Dimensions, 145x83 feet. Walls are 14. 10 and S inches thick. It is interesting to note that the building authorities of the islands of the far Pacific have shown a capacity to grasp progressive ideas in general building construction in so credit- able a manner as is illustrated h.v the erection of this important building entirely of cement concrete. Among other important buildings erected in Honolulu of this material are the Automobile Building, 80x200 feet, in general measurement, and the Club Stables. 72x56 feet. THE ISTHMIAN CANAL. "The cement manufacturers, it appears, have not yet waked up to what the building of the Isthmian Canal means to them. The construction material that will be required is almost beyond calculation. The canal will have huge blocks of concrete masonry which will require hundreds of thousands of tons of cement. The facing of the canal, the foundations and walls of electric light, power and storage plants, of naval stations, army barracks, and forts, sea walls, dams, breakwaters, piers, docks, jetties, and marine dry docks will require cement in such quantities that will give fortunes to manufacturers. And” what will be partic- ularly gratifying to the fortunate contractors, is the fact, that they will be furnishing the material to the government, which has the credit of the world back of it. Would it not be well for our manufacturers to 'get a move on' in time and endeavor to share in the good things soon to he offered to the public .” — Cement and Slate, Se(>t., 1902. United States Naval Academy Chapel, Annapolis, Md. One of the most Interesting examples of the use of concrete in building operations. The Chapel affords the opportunity of demonstrating all the value of concrete-steel construction in a must thorough and perhaps also a most novel manner. The dome shell, the roofs of the wings, piers col ns 1 1 ire bracing, doors and their supports, are constructed entirely of reinforced Portland ecm'ent concrete. The advantages of this style of construction tire many and of an import- nnture. comprising the characteristic advantages of concrete, its economy, durability, and fire- rcslst in" . 1 1 1 a I i t ics. as compared with a skeleton construction of steel. Recent events have, beyond a , Inula added 1., 1 lie volume of evidence against unprotected steel in building operations. The disas- trous ’ effect s of lire upon steel frame have been chronicled alike both in the general and technical press and need no further mention here except to add emphasis to the wisdom of employing concrete const rnel ion in Its stead The feature of the design for this Chapel was building the dome and the I'.eir a relic, over galleries in reinforce I concrete and carrying that total load practically on the foundations 1 .x means of reinforced concrete pillars, thus, the walls have no load to carry and could be built hollow which would diminish the weight and expense of the construction. View of the Concrete Tower at the moment of its fall, Nov. Oth, 1005. One of the most unique engineering feats of recent years. A concrete column rising to a height of 70 feet successfully overturned, falling into the river within 600 feet of the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in order to raise the water at the intake from which the city of Niagara Falls and Niagara Falls Park and River Railway both take water. At this point the course of the river sends the water whirling against the shore and owing to the power of the current the practical, but unusual method of building such a dam was decided upon and proved a complete solution of the problem. The fallen dam makes a pocket as it were and the river flowing around this obstruction hacks up. causing a rise of about 10 inches at the intake. Stemming Niagara with Concrete. Concrete Construction Inside of Dome, United States Naval Academy. Annapolis. Md. Portland Cement Concrete BuildinRs ol the Canadian Bank of Commerce at Toronto and London, Ontario, and Brandon. Manitoba. Office Building, Buffington, fnd. . strongest possible proof of the artistic value of concrete block construction. Bxterior is built of cast cement stone, interior, columns, beams, stairways, doors and roof bein'* reinforced concrete, and the partitions hollow concrete blocks. Peristylium in the Pompeia at Saratoga, N. Y. The floors, walls, pillars, architraves, etc., all made out of Portland Cement, have had seventee wear, and are as perfect to-day as when completed in l ssr». Union Savings Bank and Trust Company. Cincinnati, Ohio, An interesting example of cement concrete construction. The entire structure, including t tie front and all ornamentations, of Portland cement concrete. “We produce from Concrete." An Example of Perfect Cement Construction. Court Room of Nassau County Court House, shown on opposite page. General View of Hotel Blenheim, Atlantic City, N. J. Gne ui till- largest examples of reinforced concrete in the United States. 128x1520 feet and 8 and 12 stories high. The building is an object of great interest to architects and engineers, owing to certain unusual methods of construction. It is not an exaggeration to say that its construction is another triumph for reinforced concrete. The Blenheim is of the most advanced and permanent type of fire proof construction, known as reinforced concrete. AH the structural parts, such as columns, girders, floors, roofs, balconies, and domes are Portland Cement concrete, interlaced with steel rods, there being an entire absence of structural steel, brick or wood. Thus there was procured a perfectly Are proof structure at much less cost than would have been involved in steel construction. The piers supporting the columns under the main dome have 12 piles each. In all there are about 1800 piles, averaging 20 feet in length beneath the dome. The wall piers are connected by rein- forced concrete beams 4 feet below the surface of the ground to carry the lower story of the wall. The system of concrete construction used in this building is a modification of the Kahn System, employing hollow cement tile and concrete joist in floors with the addition of a solid slab of concrete put in at the same time and forming a homogenous mass, practically a monolith, from foundation to dome. The Plaza Hotel, Kenwood and Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. A roncivle structure just comphtrd at a cost of $21h.O(iiled Hon. Three rails weighing approximately kept wet remark Expanded e .T ersey ion had in the sec- ton were then twice dropped on one end this produced only a deflection < arch, with a few cracks. On r month later the arch resumed practically no damn ye. on the loaded arch ; ail >f 7-10 Inch in height of •moving the rails a half its original form with Over 80,000 barrels of Portland Cement were used in constructing the Cleveland Breakwater. The cut shows an an- gle of the Breakwater, top surface and para- pet. The Marseilles jet- ty extends into the Mediterranean over two and a quarter miles, and is built up from large cement blocks dumped somewhat pro- miscuously into the sea. The propriety of including concrete construction in the specifications for the building of sewers is being contemplat- ed by the board of public works and City Engineer Harper. It is said that concrete has taken the place of brick for sewers in a number of cities, and at a generally reduced cost to the taxpay- ers. Concrete is said to be as efficient, if not more desirable than brick. “With concrete in use for the con- struction of sewers,” said Engineer Har- per yesterday, “I feel confident in saying it would mean a saving of 15 to 20 per cent over brick. No expertness is re- quired in the laying of concrete sewers. Forms are simply built and the mixture is shoveled into these forms. This can be done by ordinary labor, and does away with brick layers who demand 80 and 85 cents an hour for their services.” — Kansas City Journal, Feb. 6, igo6. Portland Cement • Smevurt ±*Q*e*\. ai.pcxL. Work. Duluth Ship Canal. The south canal pier at Duluth. Minn., done in blocks of concrete weighing 100 tons each, laid in alternate sections. The U. S. Government will spend over a million dollars in making protective piers for the harbor entrance at Superior, Wis., G miles from the above piers at Duluth. In the office of the Government Engineers at Duluth, Minn., specifications are now being made out. Those will be the largest mono- lithic cement concrete piers ever built in the U. S. They will be solid concrete from the foundation, LT> feet below water level, to the top. 10 feet above water, and they will be 3,200 feet long. Several hundred thousand barrels of Portland Cement will hr required. --Cement and Engineering Sews. 100 Hennebique Structures. No. 1 shows construction of the Singrun machine shop at Golbey, entirely framed in concrete, including beams to support a mov- able crane of 30 tons weight. No. 2 gives a view of the Simplon canal, built along the abrupt mountain side to conduct the water of the Rhone for motive power to Brigue, Switzerland, a distance of two miles. The canal itself and the entire trestle work supporting it are built out of concrete. No. 3 shows a lime kiln at Luzech built out of cement in which a constant tempera- ture of 1,200 degrees heat is maintained. No. 4 is the picture of a cement grain elevator at Strassburg, containing 45 bins each 50 feet high. No. 5 gives interior view of a paper mill at Pelgues. Cement pulp-vat lloors and par- titions are noteworthy. No. C illustrates a use for Portland Ce- ment entirely new in America, but very popular in Europe. It shows the complete framing of a building in concrete, girders, plates, rafters, ail formed in cement by the Hennebique system. The structure is erect- ed for the Babcock & Wilcox Co., and employs cement girders of 40-foot reach. Kansas City Flood Protection. Engineers of the Cnitcd States Army who were detailed to make examinations along the Kaw River bottoms at Kansas City. Mo., with a view to con- struct protective walls at that point, have reported to Congress and recommended an appropriation suffici- ent to build a concrete wall on both banks of the river. 30 feet above low water mark and extending for nearly two miles up from the mouth of the river. The bottoms at this point contain extensive indus- tries of various kinds aggregating millions of dollars which is jeopardized each year by the high water. Much individual effort has been made to protect prop ertv by constructing their buildings of Portland ce- ment concrete, and surrounding them with concrete walls. It is reported that Nelson Morris alone used one hundred thousand barrels of cement last year. .1 ■■ , The Columbia, one of the cruisers be- longing to the United States Navy, is lined with Portland Cement. This ma- terial at the age of one year will stand a crushing strain of 220 tons to the square foot. Portland Cement gives twice as great buoyancy as the steel which it replaces. Various forms of artificial stone al- ready in use. showing clearly the adapt- ability of Portland Cement to every conceivable problem involved in archi- tecture. 101 The new waterworks scheme for Birmingham, England, now on the eve of completion — the greatest water scheme that has ever been attempted — a work involving the use of many thousands of tons of Portland Cement. The water is first stored amongst the mountains in six cement reservoirs, the total storage capacity of which is 17,360 million gallons, and they cover an area of 1.499 acres. From the storage reservoirs the water is conducted SO miles across country, through mountains and over valleys and rivers by the aid of cement bridges, culverts, walls, tanks, tunnels, etc., to the large cement service reservoirs and filter beds shown in illustration here. Of cement concrete work there are S% miles of tunnels, 35 miles of cut and cover, and SI 1 - miles of iron pipes — the cut and cover and tunnels being S feet in diameter. The site of this extensive concrete reservoir shown above, covers a space of three-quarters of a mile in one direction and l 1 ! miles in another. The walls, formed entirely of Portland Cement concrete, are 10 feet thick at the base and about 35 feet in height. The water is delivered from this reservoir into a series of IS quadrangular filter beds, ranging from 150 to 220 feet square, and forming a total filtering area of 67.000 square yards. These filtering beds are also wholly constructed of Portland Cement concrete. — Cem eni. Pollaski Concrete Bridge in Course of Construction. ing ot line bet the forms in place each 75 feet long. is the build- the boundary completed and in the bridge, Including approaches the structure is over 800 feet in length. Monolithic Concrete Railway Bridge of the San Pedro. Los Angeles & Salt Lake Ry.. being 9S4 ipt ton" 70 feet hi^h 17 feet wide and costing $200,000.00. The arches have a clear span ot >_ > el ™d’d inches and a' rise of 36 feet and 9 'inches from the spring to the crown. The arch at tip crown is 4 ° inches deep" The arch construction was made of Portland Cement, mixed 1 cement, land and 4 n crashed stone The mis for spandiel walls was 1 to 11. This railroad has made xtensiVe use Gf concrete iS the construction of bridges, viaducts water tanks and passenger tations. It has already constructed 12 standard concrete water tanks. Thacher Concrete Viaduct. Over West Kennedy Creek Utica & Mohawk Valley Railway. and the N. V. C. & H. R. R.. at Herkimer, N. Y.. on the line of the Total length 1210 feet. Designed by the Orborne Engineering Co. Portland Cement Bridge. a sfi ss w leg ol = £70 S m " c 5 " t p !«=| l;S 3 i Ilf |:l! = .= - § - 2 - s o C-” o M M g Z C— § M = --£ ~ "Z v: ~ >S.£g fll i:.=i c -a — >■• u ~ ~ 5 - - °Pl B-§a x i: >. 1 ^ ^ v: - -c — .2 - “ 2-SS-g - -- •- " if c