Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-10-03

production Of portland cement 1ndlcata
that the United States is destined to
lead the world in that manufacture.
as it is first among all the nations n
steel construction for building pur-
poses. Within the last eleven years
the production of cement in this couu-
try has increased twenty-five fold and
is used in nearly all construction i'll
preference to that imported from Eur
ope. Foreign manufacturers fear the
progress of the American product, aud
less cement is being imported today
than ever before in the history of its
manufacture.
On the same ratio the use of cement
for building purposes has increased
during the same period until today il
is used for every form of construction
for which stone was formerly en-
ployed. An entire business building
was recently constructed of cement in
used for the construction Of resi-
dences The railroads have adopted il
for bridge building. Viaducts, road
beds, fireproof flooring and similar
construction are among the more re-
cent uses to which the material is be-
ing put by successful contractors and
builders in this country.
In view of these facts a few figures
showing the growth of the industry in
America are of interest. During the
eleven-year period referred to the
product has increased from 1880
barrels to 100000 barrels. At thu
present time portland cement is pro-
duced at more than fifty factories,
| with an average capital estimated at
| $20,000,000. The value of the domes-
tic product annually is not less than
$10,000,000.
In 1890 Is per cent of the cement
used in this country was of domesti3
manufacture, in 1900, with the total
| consumption four times greater, but IS
| per cent. was imported. A few years
! ago all of the product used in Chicago
| was manufactured abroad, while today
| builders and contractors say practical,
ly no imported cement is used in this
| city for any purpose. That of domeS-
tic manufacture is considered better
and cheaper.
| There is no longer any question as
to the value of cement in all constuc-
ton in which brick and stone have
been used in the past" said Engineer
Ericsson of Chicago. Its use is becom-
ing more general with the knowledge
acquired by experience, and | do not
doubt that ultimately cement will take
the place of stone and brick altogether,
| far the reason that it is better and
| cheaper. In that event America IS
| certain to take the lead in it's produC-
ton, as it presents the largest field FOR
! it's use.
| ct is only recently that the value of
| concrete as a building material has
been generally understood. Today
houses are being built out of concrete
! or cement stone and the construction
is entirely successful. In my opinion
| the most valuable use to which cement
has been recently successfully en-
| plOyed has been in tunnel and conduit
construction. 1t is superior to brick in
every way. 1t furnishes better sur
face, is tighter, cheaper and far easier
! to handle in construction 1t is used
| with equal success in the building Of
| sewers and drains. In fact, there is
no construction today in which it does
not have its place. All good founda-
lions are of concrete, it is used extern
sively in bridge construction and IS
today second only to steel canstruc-
ton in the line of modern building
materials.
There is not the slightest question
that cement can be manufactured as
cheap if not cheaper in this country
than abroad. The quality of domestic
product is equal to that of imported
material. Best evidence Of this IS
found in the fact that here in Chicago,
one of the leading cement markets in
the country, nothing but imported
cement was used up to a few years
ago. Today | do not know of a barrel
Of foreign product that has gone into
construction during the last two
years"
Inquiry among the large contractors
and cement dealers confirmed the con-
fdence expressed in the future of the
cement industry in America. "This
country is bound to become the great
est producer of cement if for no other
reason than because it furnishes the
greatest field for its consumption,
said Fred P. Updike, president of the
Company, contractors. There
is scarcely any building construction
today in which it is not an important
factor. Steel and cement construction
are the best the world has ever known
and this country is able to produce
both of unequaled quality
Thomas Moulding Of Thomas Mould
ing & Co.. who is REGARDED as an
authority upon the product, voices
the san3 opinion as those
expressed by thev-lty engineer, calling
special attention. to the use of cement
stone for residence building and for
he adoption of concrete by the rail
'oadsIor bridge building. "Domest:c
;e'lent," said he, sis Of very fine
quality, as good as any ever imported.
md the increase in its manufacture IS
sufficient assurance that America will
cad the world in its production