Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1901-09-12
PORTLAND CEMENT INDUSTRY.
Michigan the Leading state In the
Manufacture of This Com
ing Building Material.

ing Building Material.
In the 10Th Animal Report of the
Michigan Bureau of Labor and Indus
trial Statistics, the manufacture and
use of Portland Cement will be given a
prominent place as one of the great
and growing industries of the State.
A thorough canvass Of the industry
has been made by special agent APP
pointed by the Bureau, and excerpts
from the advance sheets are herewith
given to the public.
The twentieth century opens with
advanced thought in all directions.
One great commodity is scarcely eX-
hausted before another, and possibly
better one, takes its place. Stud
ents of industrial economy have real
lied that timber and lumber for build
ing mate rial was fast approaching
the time of exhaustion, and the ques-
tion as to what will take its place, has
been looked upon most seriously, es-
pecially in Michigan. where the pro-
ducts of the forest was one of the
greatest industries.
Investigation shows that Michigan
can still lead in the production of one
of the best building materials yet pro-
duced, and that she will lead is evil
denced by the enormous capital which
is being invested in the manufacture
of Portland Cement, an industry
which already extends to all parts of
the lower peninsular, and which will
eventually extend to the counties
north of the straits.
No product in the world has a wider
application for useful purposes than
| Portland Cement. Men who know its
worth, realize it is the only absolute
| ire-proof building material yet found.
In this respect, brick, terra-cotta,
iron and granite, all suffer most re-
markably when compared with it. 1t
is the ideal building material in
bridge construction, whether for form
strength, beauty or durability. There
has never yet been discovered a paw
| ing material equal to Portland Ce-
ment Concrete, whether for side
walks, fstreet-beds or roadways. In
house building, Portland Cement will
come into general use, as its superb
| ority over other building material be-
comes more generally known. In every
place where it can be utilized, it is
stronger and more durable than any
other material. Not only are cellars,
floors and foundations built of this
cement, but the most beautiful struc-
tural walls have taken the place Of
wood, brick and stone. 1t is imper-
vious against heat and cold, and is the
best safeguard against dampness. In
deed it can be said that it is the only
article that is proof against frost,
rain and sun.
Only few years ago nearly all the
Portland Cement used in this country
was manufactured in foreign coun-
tries, England, Germany and France
taking the lead in its production.
The users of the article in this coun-
try paid enormous prices, always re-
stricting its use to the lowest mini
mum possible. All this is now chang
ed. The American processes of manu-
facture have practically driven these
countries out of the field, while it has
reduced the cost to the consumer
more than IS per cent by the aid of
simpler and cheaper machinery
The Michigan plants already in OPP
Grafton, those in process of con-
struction, and the ones where COM
panies have been organized with a
view to Immediately commence
J building, will number %, and that
their authorized capital stock will
, aggregate S23, $4,000 Estimated by
the cost of those already built, the
i magnitude of those nearing compile
ton, and the plans of those about to
be commenced, the construction of
these % plants will aggregate a cost
of about sl1 ,OOO 600, They will aggre-
gate daily capacity of over 25,OOO
| hl