The San Francisco call., 1903-12-26
Manufacturers Protest Against
the Government Furnishing
Materials for the Construc-
tiOn of Dams in Arizona
DECLARE THE ACTION
IS UNREASONABLE
Contention Is Made That Fed
eral Competition Would Tend
to Seriously Damage One of
Chief American Industries

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec 25.-The
Association of Portland Cement Manu-
facturers representing a large percent
age of the $3.50, OOO 900 of capital invested
in this industry has presented to Secre-
tary Of the Interior e. A. Hitchcock
an argument against the manufacture
OF cement by the Government to be
used in the construction of the Tonto
Basin dam in Arizona. This dam win
be 24I feet above foundation, with 100
feet available storage, and a capacity
of $4,000 acre feet, covering 5000 acres
Of public land, 440O of unimproved
private land, and 740 acres of cuItivat-
ed land. AS the principle is the same
as will be involved in the furnishing of
cement for the Idaho, Washington,
Milk River, Montana, Colorado River,
Gunnison, Colorado, Sweet River,
Wyoming and the HOndO. New Mexico,
irrigation projects for which over $16,-
100000 is already available, derived
from the sale Of public land the cement
manufacturers are very desirous that
the Government should not go into the
MISUNDERSTANDING
competition with private enterprises. |
The argument presented to the Secre !
tary reviews the history of the develop |
ment of the American Portland Cement !
industry-one of continuous struggle |
to produce in this country material, |
the demand for which is dependent !
upon its reputation. The manufacture |
of American cement was begun in the
smallest possible way, it is claimed, |
and it was only after it had been used
to the satisfaction of the engineers /
that the early manufacturers were able /
to demonstrate beyond cavil that
American cement was equal to tie i'm
ported. The manufacturers therefore |
contend that in the proposition TO man !
ufacture in the Tonic Basin 100000 |
barrels of cement to be used in the con-
struction of the greatest dam in the
world, which, if it should give way
would utterly destroy millions of dol |
lars invested by the Government and |
private land holders, devastate an en-
tire valley, and. perhaps pale into in
significance the Johnstown flood
there are two regulations at stake
first, those of the distinguished and |
able engineers of your department
and second. "the reputation of the
American Portland cement industry
and those who have builded it to its
present magnitude"
1t is proposed that cement should be |
manufactured from materials found at
the site of the dam, and the memoran-
dunn points out that the reports upon
which the manufacture of Portland |
cement are based, so far as machinery, !
results and production are concerned, !
are made by one who, according to the
records established by him in the
operation of cement works at Monte
yuma New York and Cotton, Cal, has |
not been successful in his enterprise.
1t is obvious that E. A. Duryee, Tor
merly superintendent of the cement |
works at Cotton, Cal, is referred t.,
and it is said that the works which he
built at Cotton are being entirely re-
constructed. He is now in the employ
of the Government
The argument points out that if the |
department undertakes to manufacture
it's own cement. there will be no Sc
curity or bonds provided and no pun
ishment, in case of failure, 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
manufacturers maintaining that: 1T
is certainly no part of the Govern
ments duty to enter into the manufac-
ture of any class of commodities. If
the Government can erect cement
plants to avoid the cost of railroad
transportation, middlemen's profits
and manufacturers profits" says the /
argument, 1T is its duty to erect mills
for the manufacture of blankerS, |
clothing, shoes, etc, worn by it's SOL |
diers and sailors, to manufacture iron
for it's building construction, to opsr-
ate mines for its gold and silver cur
rency, etc"
The m sacturers contend that Gin |
no case should the Government enter |
into any competition with the general /
public" The manufacturers therefore |
submit a proposition that the Govern |
ment advertise for bids for Portland |
cement of known character and sub
ject to definite specifications and un
der definite requirements for security. |
and that such bids should recite that |
on the site of the dam materials of |
such chemical analysis are to be found |
as are believed to be suitable for the |
manufacture Of cement; that the Gov
ernment is the owner of a cement plant |
of character to be described and will |
furnish electrical power free to the bid
der, and that all bidders may bid upon |
/