The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1889-04-18
rnrorrAxr ror SALINE cOrsrY.
Dssosvsry sss nsssrfai That Nag Be csu-
siasreA . seisntiae Curiosity.

IMPORTANT FOE SALINE cOrsTH
Dssssvsry sss nsssriai That Nag Be csu-
siasred . seisntias Curiosity.
From the Kansas CITY IournaL
Samples Of Q very curious material
that has been discovered On the
Missouri Pacific railroad, In the
eastern part Of Saline county, Kans.,
has been brought TO my ONCE for
examination.
when taken out Of the ground,
this material II OF an ashy gray
color, and II Of about the same de-
gree Of hardness a. ordinary clay.
When ealciued by heating In Q
kettle or pan, Il erunbles and
assumes the consistency of fine
ashes or slaked line.
This calcired material, when
mixed with water, will set In about
thirty minutes. In . few hours
it becomes almost ~ hard
- limestone. When In the
plastic state, It can be worked
down to q smooth surface. II will
admit Of Q very high tension strain.
A few experiments show the follow
Ing results:
From seventy-five to 100 pounds to
the square inch NJ the end of tWenty-
four hour; l5O pounds In i've days;
2,5 pounds In ten days, and nearly
SO pounds In twenty days.
In many respects, this material IL /
like the famous Keene's cement
that IL used 50 extensively In
Europe for plasterIng the best
buildings. IL seems to be well
adapted for plastering walls and
ceilings. One great need, In the
way Of building material, lisa plaster |
that will not chip aud crack. that |
that will not have TO be renewed |
every few years, and, al the Same
time, be cheap enough for general
use. So far ~ tested, this natural
product affords just such q material. |
The adhesive qualities Of this
material are very great. II will
adhere TO stone, wood or brick.
Two ordinary bricks cemented to-
gether by Il will break to pieces
under pressure before the plaster
will yield.
Another peculiarly Of this mate
raj Ii Its composition. Il 10 found In
limestone district, yet the basic
acids do not affect Il. have tested
1t With both nitric and suIphuric
acids. Some Of the material has
been submitted to Q professional
chemist for . complete qusntItative
analysis.
The fact that Il makes . plaster SO
fine and smooth makes It highly
probable that the material contains
much clay. Its firmnsss aud great
tenacIty indicate the presence Of
silica or grit. Its putty-like con-
sistency seems 10 adapt lt To the
Of many useful articles.
Among these might be mentioned
possibly large statusry.
lawn vases, reservoirs for lawn
mOldinSs for interior dec
OrstlOns, etc.
After clustering . room with this
IL can be finished by
psPering, white coating. kalsOnIiu-
lug or In any other manner that
good taste may suggest. Another
fact about this material
Is its location. IL Is claimed that 10
Il found Ia only an about ten acles Of
ground. Borings and prospecting
fail TO discover 10 elsewhere.
on q limited space, there
seems 60 be an enormous quantity
Of the material. 1t has been mined
10 depth OF thirty feet and no
bottom found. IL Is easily mined,
- IL begins within . foot OF the
surface.
Should this material be placed on
the market, Il would, no doubt,
attract much attention among
builders aud mechanics generally.
The discovery Is an important
Dne, and will doubtless become q
factor In the material development
Of the West. EDWIN WALTERS.