The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-01
is 1T WORTHLESS.
A Story Circulating That Good
FOr-N0thing Cement
Has Been Palmed Off For Use
In the Bridge.
AGED CEMENT STORED
At Milwaukee Shipped Here In
stead of Fresh Material,
And Somebody Is Accused Of
Getting a RakeOff.
AGED CEMENT STORED

A story is going the rounds that the
county commissioners have been i'm
posed upon in the purchase OF cement
for the new bridge.
There are now 100 barrels Of what is
supposed to be Portland cement import
ed from Copenhagen, Denmark, in
ware houses in Topeka, to be used In
the construction Of the new bridge Ac-
cording to the story the cement is not
what the commissioners have been led
TO believe it to be. but is an inferior
quality, some Of it having been in store
for years in ware houses.
1t was originally intended to use Fort
Scott cement in the construction of the
piers of the bridge. When IT came time
to decide Superintendent Hinckley in
vited the commissioners TO witness tests
of cement.
They were shown that the Fort Scott
cement would not 'set" in water and
that the Louisville cement was also un-
satisfactory. P G. Noel saWm the COM
missioners and urged upon them the
importance OF having good materials IN
the foundation of the bridge, and they
finally decided to discard Kansas ce-
ment and use only Portland cement.
This necessit tated a change in the esti-
mates The Fort Scott cement would
have cost but 81 per barrel, while the
Portland cement was put into the esti-
mate of the superintendent at 1855. This
difference in the price made a total diff
ference in the estimate of 81 600, or,
the county Will pay that much more
than the original plans contemplated, to
secure q first class quality Of cement in
the bridge.
When the cement was received it was
stored, and before the estimate was
made superintendent Hinckley reported
that he had made tests and found the
cement according to the new contract
1t is known that all the cement received
is not imported
lit is claimed, however. that the bulk
is imported cement but is a brand un-
known to men who handle cement, and
that it has been in store at Milwaukee
for two years. Cement loses its strength
by storage unless it is handled very
carefully.
1t Is claimed also that the cement
was unloaded on the county at a low
price. and that some one pocketed the
difreres--4 letwee1 the price actually
paid and the price named in the esti-
mate. No one appears to know who
reaped the benefits of such a deal, if it
was really made
Commissioner Scott Kelsey was seen
by a Journal reporter and appeared
greatly surprised when told of the ru-
NOR that has been going the rounds.
1t is true, said he. that we chang
ed the contract from Fort Scott cement
to Portland upon the recommendation
of Mr. Hinckley. He told US that the
Fort Scott cement would not stand the
tests and ne took us to the basement
where the tests were being made and
showed us that the Fort Scott cement
would not harden in water He also
was not satisfactory for after it had
stood in the water we took a nail and
dug it out.
I'VE also had a talk with r. a. Noel
who urged that the foundation of the
bridge should not be sighted and he
impressed upon US how important it
was TO have a good foundation.
1t was after all this that We changed
the contract from Fort Scott to Port
land cement All the cement was to be
imported and to be of the best quality.
The only thing I know about the ce-
ment received is what superintendent
Hinckley told US. He said he made
tests and found it to be all right. I do
not know how many barrels he tested
or anything about the tests further
than what he said.
we made the change with the inten-
tion Of having only the best material
used in the bridge and the difference
was enough to secure the best. The
waiter shall be investigated and sifted
and we viii find whether or not we
have been imposed upon if it is possible
to do So"
superintendent Hinckley is in Chi
cago
The first estimate for cement has been
allowed by the county board but it does
not cover the entire lot received.