The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-01
LOOKING FOR A NEW INDUSTRY.
German Scientists Report to the Board of
Trade Their Discoveries as to Cement

Indiana appears to have all the facilities for
producing the best quality of Portland cement
The experts from Berlin, Germany, who have
been travelling over the State and examining
the limestone from which cement is manu-
made . report Of their investigation,
last night, to q meeting Of citizens
at the Board OF Trade The re.
suit Of their work was so favorable that
the preliminary arrangements were made for
the organization Of Q stock company. and one of
the results Of the visit Of the foreign gentlemen
to this State will probably lead to the establish
ment here of one Of the largest cement maru-
factories in the world. Probably thirty MEM
bsrs of the Board of Trade and others were
present at the meeting. which was presided
over by President Pratt
Mr.. Spannaele and DR.. Preussner, the German
experts, were introduced. The former did
the talking. DR.. Prsussner not being an expert on
the English language. although he was upon
Portland cement. Mr.. SpannaEel said that the
attention of DR.. Preussner and himself bad been
called to Indiana, as . field which contained the
chemic al qualities for the production Of tho best
kind of Portland cement. BY reports sent by the
Geoloeical Department Of the State to the Ber-
AAs ~ 80 e0s1 0kOh<
impress them that they ventursd to come
here and make personal Investigation. believing
that il the facilities In this State should prove
as superior as they had been led 70 believe, they
would soon be amply repaid for their outlay.
Before coming here. however. they corresponded
with the agricultural department., by whom they
were referred to the Board OF Trade, and the
latter suggested a trip to this State. Since com
ing here they have been paid considerable
attention by Professors Hurry and Cot
lett, as well as BY Judge Martindale
and others. They have spent o month
in traversing the State and making tests of the
limestone aud clay from which the cement was
TO be made. They state that along the VIM
cennes, their tests were successful beyond all
expectation. and that they were convinced that
Portland cement can be manufactured from
the materials found right here in Indiana that
will be equalif not superior TO that now manu-
featured IN Germany and shipped to this
country in large quantities.
For the purpose Of convincing those present
DR.. Prsussner made q test Of several samples OF
cement that had been made in the last few days.
The desirable quality In cement 10 always ten
sion, and in order to test this a very novel ma
chine. OF German invention but now used
extensively in this country. was brought into
requisition. A test was made of pieces of ce-
ment which had lain in the water two
three days. and in both bases the test was emf.
nently satisfactory. the cement proving of q
superior tensile quality to that elsewhere. Mr..
Spannagel then showed the profit that could be
derived from the manufacture Of cement here.
The N manufacture of cement in Germany cost
rs . barrel; here the cost would be SO cents.
While there were ~ present many manufactor-
les OF Portland cement in this country they were
generally understood to Be Of an inferior quail
Try to that mads in Germany. and accordingly
the selling price OF $l.68 per barrel was paid for
il there. and to that were added cost Of ship
ping, freight and import duty, until it cost the
user 81 IS per barrel In this country-or g %
more than the cost Of it's manufacture would
be. He said that the cost Of = plant that would
turn out 500. 900 barrels Of Portland cement in
one year would be $500, 600 in Germany
aud 500, 900 here He further stated that he
was 90 confident Of the profit to be derived from
snch 90 enterprise that be would agree TO remain
and superintsnd 10 upon the basis merely of {
per centage on the profits
AZ the conclusion OF the experiment, and the
remarks by Mr. Spannagel. short addresses were
made by Judge Martindaie, Professor Hurry
A. N. Kuhn, John Martin and 9th.
srs, all Of whom looked upon ths
proposed enterprise with favor. Ur9n motion
Of Judge Marundale President Pratt was in.
structed to appoint . committee or five to inves.
tieate the feasibility OF establishing q manu-
factory either in this eify or at some point in
this State Mr.. Pratt asked time 20 consider
the sppoinments, and tbs meeting adjourned.