The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-16
ALAMO CEMENT.
Mr.. Burns and Others Protest Against
Monopoly


SAN ANTONIO, Jan. H.-Gentlemen Being
a listener and spectator at the regular meeting
held on the 10Th OF December, lSSc, by the city
council, was considerably surprised at the
presentation by and reading of paper In the
interest of the Alamo Cement company and
their products mOdestly asking our council to
passa resolution or ordinance to the effect that
none other than their products should be used
In the construction of the public works of this
city, on the ground of encouraging home pro-
ducts:a laudable reason and praisewOrthy in
the main, yet such patriotism has "a limit, and
it ends right here. When home products are
equal in quality and cost to other home than
Inanuiactnres, ! say patronize them by all
means, but IL otherwise, not, and IL home pre-
ducts are equal to that from abroad there would
be no necessity for legislation to enforce their
use either in public or private works. The very
fact that the Alamo Cement company ask Leg
isation in their fayori is self evidence that their
products are not equal to similar products
from abroad even at a less cost. There is no
business man, public or private, who would re-
fuse to buy the cheaper article if equal i'm
quality TO the dearer Now let us look at the
value of their cements i'm a business way. |
know that the Alamo Cement company take
pride i'm quoting General Gilmores report on
the result of some tests made by him for them
from cement furnished him purportng TO be
of their production i'm proof of its very super
Tor quality, but bushel basket full of such
| testimonials are of comparative little value in
practice when we can refer to the results of
those cements in actual use and the experience
of those who have tried them. Herewith are
samples OF their cement taken from sidewalks
idttiy idlu uoWn OIL SOutn flOftS street ana
from f. II. Terrels block, corner of Alamo and
Commerce streets, and presume from their
latest product,and il experience is of any value
il ought now To be good also hand you a few
testimonials from those who have tested it
and suffered pecuniariiy through the desire to
encourage nome manufactures. A hundred
other such testimonials have no doubt could
be collected in a very short time. The charac-
ter of the work In general resulting from the
use OF the homemade cement is simply dis
GRACEFUL ana fraud upon the people -especi-
ally upon those who have been compelled to
pay for the work done for them by the already
existing ordinances.
The more thoroughly to show up this cement
in its true character, ! give the result
of scientific test conducted in person
a short time ago by the president OF
the company i'm order 10 show its very superior
qualities as compared with the very common
and inferior cement known as "Rosedale,"
which was then being used by Mr.. Thomas Cav
anaugh at the new abutments OF Houston
street bridge, also will quote their card, and
General Gilmore's report as found on same,
also Gilmore's report on the tensile and crush
ing strength of English Portland cement, as
found in tables No. =, 3 and II in his work en-
titled "Beton Agglomere." The quotations in
each case being from specimens prepared and
treated In the same manner as that by the
president of the Alamo Cement company above
referred TO.
Alamo cement, taken from sacks for use on
| sidewalks, tensile strength 60 pounds per
square inch ms per card they claim 3l1 pounds,
which is nearly 600 per cent. greater than actual
test, Crushing strength, as per test, 1850
nearly 30 per cent. greater than actual test.
Rosedae cement, same test, tensile strength,
~ pounds; Alamo cement 90 pounds; making
| the difference i'm favor of Rosedale of nearly
Al per cent. General Gilmore Portland cement,
| tensile strength 400 pounds Alamo, 80 pounds;
nearly 200 per cent i'm favor of Portland.
Crushing strength, Portland, 2si7.s pounds;
Alamo, 1850 pounds; nearly 215 per cent i'm favor
of Portland, and against the Alamo.
The above comparative values shows concur
| sively that the claims of the Alamo cement are
very far from the facts. do not say, nor do
| wish to convey the idea, that all of the Alamo
cement Is Oh poor quality as some pieces of
| say emphatically that the want of uniformity
i'm its quality renders il Il dangerous article to
use in works of Importance such as sewers,
| railway bridges and foundations of public or
private buildings.
Should your honorable body, through an
oyer-Zealous desire to encourage home manu-
features, without regard TO their comparative
value, pass the resolution or ordinance desired
| by the Alamo Cement company, il will be with
out parallel in the history Of legislation, TO
which l. ms citizen and Il ax-payer, most
earnestly protest
All of which is most respectfully submitted.
| JAMES BURNS.
| Testimonial from Charles Perner relative 30
| the qualities of Alamo Cement:
| SAN ANTONIO, December %, lsS2-F have
used the aboye company's cement on Mr..
| Guerglns house on South Flores street, and il
proved to be no good, having cracked all to
pieces, and portions of ID fell OF and more of IL
| / had to take off and had TO do the work over
| using English Portland Cement. Have used it
| IN other cases, and IL proved very good.
would not use the Alamo Cement again were
| held responsible for the work.
CHARLES PERNEI,, Plasterer.
| Testimonial from Thomas Il. Murphy i'm re-
gard to Alamo Cement:
SAN ANTONIO, January s. 1SS}-I was en-
| ployed by the Alamo Cement company for five
months. Will say that some of their cement
was very good but was not uniform i'm quality
| Had To take up the work in many cases and do
| il over again. On Mr.. Guergins building had
| TO replace the work with English Portland
Cement. THOMAS ID. MURPHY, Plasterer.
Testimonial from j. A. Greer on the quality
| of the Alamo Cement:
SAN ANTONIO, January IL, 1888 II have this
TO say regarding the Alamo Cement: that from
practical experience find it very unreliable
ana dangerous cement to use for any purpose.
j. A. GREER.
Testimony from Henry Hunt, relative 10
Alamo Cement
SAN ANTONIO, January 10. Isss-I use bof,
Alamo and English Portland Cement. and
lind the Alamo Cement is of different qualities
Some of IL is good and others is very bad not
very reliable The last lotspf three tons was of
very poor quality. l had- to use il where
knew IL would do 10 harm. When want to
make real good bricks invariably use English
Portland Cement. Would not use Alamo Ce-
ment were held responsible for results.
HENRY HUNT Brick Maker.
Testimony from Phillip Johns, concerning
his experience with Alamo Cement
SAN ANTONIO, December q, ISL will say
IN regard TO the quality of the Alamo Cement
nand Iierff's residence on Avenue e.. and IL
proved perfect failure. 1t cracked all to
pieces. On sidewalks at Ralaman's blfber
shop near Cosgroves; had TO be taken up aud