Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-01-30
Something About the Product Of the
Remarkable Deposits Found Be.
meath the Surface Of South Dickin-
son-Peculiar Qualities Of the
Cement

j,
| will be quite an addition to our al
ready lively manufacturing town.
Many people think stucco ant
cement are the same. Stucco is mad
from the gypsum rock and sine
cement plaster became SO well knowr
is used principally for the "hart
finish" Cement plaster has several
names. That manufactured a
Gypsum City lis the Acme. That o
Dillon the Agatite and Alumnite. /
is all Of about the same quality
manufactured the same and used fol
the same purposes.
The Agatite mills are owned by {
Salina company with headquarters al
Salina. The Alumnite mills by .
st. Joe company. These mills have
ware houses at st. Joe, Kansas City,
st. Louis and Hope, Kas.
Their average monthly shipment is
about 200 cars. The Agatite mills
are the largest and best equipped
mills of their kind. Mr.. Upper is
superintendent and in him the COM
pany has a man with more than
Ordinary business tact. Big, jolly
Engineer Frank Cooper has been with
the company so long that he is con-
sidered one Of the permanent fixtures.
About 100 men are employed in the
stucco, cement plaster works located
here. Many Of them have homes Of
their own and they are industrious,
happy and contented.
The Agatite beds were discovered a
few years ago by John Linder, who
received for his right Of discovery
from Gotlieb Heller 800 and team
of mules. He secured a lease on the
land and succeeded in getting men
with unlimited capital interested in
what has become one of the leading
industries of the State.
The cement is Of light ash-gray
color. When calcincd it assumes
pulverized form and when mixed with
water sets as does hydraulic lime or
plaster of paris. There is ample
time between mixing and setting for
it to be applied to its intended use.
Besides being choice material for
plastering walls and ceilings it is ad-
mirably adapted to all kinds Of inter
ior finish. When in the plastic state
it may be embossed, stripped, drawn
or moulded. Any design in bas re-
lief may be executed il prompt action
is taken after mixing.
The time allowed for execution is
much greater than that for stucco un-
less the stucco is mixed with glue or
some retarder that is likely to cause
decomposition. The cement is not
decomposed by any Of the basic acids
or alkalies.
After being mined the cement is
from the beds to the mill,
a distance Of one-half mile, in cars
holding five tons each and made cx-
pressly for the purpose. One horse
lraws car from which on arrival at the
mill the contents are dumped into the
pit" and is carried from there, by a
series Of elevators, to the kettles and
,alcined. This operation takes about
.wo hours and herein lies the secret
'f good cement plaster There are
our kettles in the Agatite mills hav-
ng capacity Of 1876 tons per day.
Nate Wilson, one Of the best calciners
n the state, has charge of them As
'oen as calcination is complete agat-
te is sacked, loaded into. cars and
'hipped.
This Dillon cement does not differ
widely in composition from that taken
rom the pyramids Of Egypt. The
Egyptian cement runs higher in sui
)hate Of lime and lower in oxide Of
ron. 1t is very improbable that
cement that would stand in a dry cli-
nate like Egypt would also prove
lurable in the United States. The
Is only made to show that
I agatite is kept reasonably protected
rom frosts and excessive moisture,
hat it would last for ages. 1t is uni
iorm in strength and quality and has
800 per cent more tensile strength
han lime and hair. his not a patent
but natural plaster. And in this
Ease nature by placing in the earth at
Dillon large deposit from which