The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-23
MAKERS OF CEMENT
OBJECT TO GOVERNMENT EN-
 GAGING IN INDUSTRY.
Memotandum Received by Hitchcock fHom. Association of Manufactu- ! CTS in Regard to Material .t in Great Tonto
 a Dam.
Advertiser Bureau,
 Colorado Building,

Washington, Dec. 2.
 The Association of Portlant Cement Manufacturers representing large pre- centage of the $S5O O0OO.OOO of capital invest cd in this industry, has presented to Sec- retary of the Interior. E. A. Hitchcock, an argument against the manufacture of cement by the government to be used in the constructi6n of the Tonto Basin dam in Arizona. q- This dam will be PAT feet above foundation, with 190 feet available storage, and capacity of $40 900 acre feet the principle IS Tks Same as will tfU be irs s volved in the furnishing of cement for the Idaho; Washington; Milk River. Mon tana; Colorado RiRerd: Gunnison, Colora- do; and Sweet RiyeEreWyoming, and the Hondo, New Me8icoF irrigation projects for, which oyer sixteen million d6,0O0, ,0O0) aollars are already, available, derived from the sale of public lands: the cement manu- lecturers are very desirous that the gov ernment should not go into the business ot manufacturing cement in competition with private enterprises.
 The argument presented to the Score tary reviws the history of the develop ment of the American Cortland Cement Industry, one of the continuous struggle to produce in this country a material the demand for which Is dependent upon its reputation The manufacture of cement was begun in the smallest possible way Auu IL WdS OillH dILeT AIneT1can cement had been.used lto the satisfaction of the engineers that the carly mahtifacturers were able to demonstrate beyong cavtl that American cement was equal to the imported ~r
 The. manufacturers therefore, contend that fin the proposition to manufacture in thet Tonto Basin 100000 barrels of cement to be used in the construction of the greatest dam in the world, which, if it should give way. would utterly destroy millions of dollars invested by the gov- ernnnent and private land holders, de- vastate- an entire valley, and might pale into insignificance the Johnstown flood there are two regulations at stake; first, those of the distinguished and able en- gineers of your department and second '.the reputation of the American Port land cement industry and those who have buiidedSsit to it's present magnitude"
 It Is proposed that cement should be manufactured from materials found at the site of the dam and the memorandum points out that the reports upon which the manufacturers of Portland cement are based, so far as machinery, results and production are concerned, are made by one, who according to the records estab- lshed by him in the operation of cement works at Montezuma, New York and Col ton, California, has not been successful in his enterprise. It is obvious D. A. Duryee, formerly superintendent of the cement works at Cotton, California, is referred to and 1t is said that the works which he built at Cotton are being entirely re- cOnSGrueced.. lie IS now m the employ of tho government.
 Tho argument points out that if the government undertakes to manufacture It's own cement there will be no security or bonds provided and no punishment in case of failure for any one except the possible discharge of an incompetent superintendent.
 By far the most important part of the argument is devoted to a consideration of the legal questions involved, the manu- facturerSt main taining that 'ft is certainly no part Of the government duty to enter Into the manufacture of any class of com modities. If the government can erect cement plants to avoid the cost of rail- road transportation. middle mems profits and manufacturers profits" says the argument, ''it is its duty to erect mills for the manufacture of blankets, clothing, shoesf cts, worn by it's soldiers to manu- fectufe iron for it's building construction to operate mines for it's gold and silver currency, etc.
 The manufacturers contend: that ''in no case should the government enter into any competition with the general public. .' Thel+ therefore submit a proposition that the government advertise for bids for Portland cement of known character, and subject to definite speci- hcations, and under definite requirements for security and that such bids should re- rite that on the site of the dam, mate rials of such chemical analysis are to be found, as are believed to be suitable for the manufacture of cement; that the gov srnment is the owner of a cement plant of a character to be described, and will furnish electrical power free to the bidder,