The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17
It DOES VERY WELL.
One Piece Withstands Pressure
Of l43,6OO Pounds.
An Extensive Development In
This Industry.


are being rapidly introduced in Topeka.
The tests are not yet completed, but
it can be stated that q great difference
was found in different makes of the
cement blocks. Some appeared to be
much inferior to others. Three select
| ed specimen blocks from three differ
ent plants, crushed at the following
pressures:
Wear & Wise plant, as 400 pounds.
Forbes plant, las, 800 pounds
North Topeka plant, 10000 pounds.
Until the amount OF crushing weight
per square inch is figured out for each
block by the city engineer, it viii be
impossible to make comparisons with
recognized standards
Saturday morning, Fire Marshal Will
marth will conduct a fire test of blocks
from the same plants The three blocks
will be put in a furnace and exposed
to great heat. 1t is claimed by some
that the heat causes cement blocks TO
disintegrate.
These tests are being made for the
purpose of getting data upon which to
base the provisions of q new building
ordinance The ceTAent block men want
to be permitted TO erect buildings OF
their blocks with much thinner walls
than is permitted for brick and stone,
on the ground that the cement blocks
are more solid than either brick or
stone. Before such an ordinance is
passed. the IndTSHAI must IlIlQ out
whether buildings constructed of ce-
ment blocks are liable to fall down of
their own weight, and whether the
blocks Will resist the action of IRE
Preparations for the test made this
morning were conducted with great Sc
crecy. The manufacturers of the &C.
ment blocks did not know what was
contemplated until called upon this
morning by McCabe and Wilmarth for
samples of their product
The sample of cement block from
the Wear & Wise plant was taken of
the wall of the Ripley building at
by P. L. Wise himself. Mr.. Wise stat
ed that the block was II days old, and
was made of No A lola cement and
river sand in the proportion of 3 to /
The block weighed IS pounds, and
crushed at 4S,400 pounds
The sample from the Forbes plant
was selected by the foreman OF the
plant at the plant 1t was stated to
GA cement, and river sand in the pro-
portion of 5 to 1. 1t weighed 5
pounds and crushed at 143,60O.
The sample from the North Topeka
plant was taken from a building in
course of erection at Fifth and Jeffer-
son. 1t was solid block, not a hollow
one like the others 1t was selected
by the city engineer, as no one was at
the building at the time 1t weighed
Sc pounds and crushed at 10000
pounds
P. L. Wise asked the officials to test
a block which his firm is now making
lin flint and sand. The block tested
was only days old, weighed 81
pounds and crushed at 26,1OO.
If it is found that all the cement
blocks made in Topeka are inferior
to brick and stone, it may cause a
complete reorganization of the meth
DDS of cement block manufacture here. |
It is believed, however, that when the |
compare very favorably with brick and
stone.
There is a fight on between this new
cement block industry and the brick |
Cabe's decision to allow the cement |
men to bid on the construction on the |
Fifth ward sewer in competition with |
the brickmakers has precipitated the |
trouble.
This fight involves to some extent |
the proposed new building law. The |
brick and stone contractors would like 1
to have it shown that the cement /
not solid enough for big buildings, /
and will not Withstand fire. It is a great /
deal cheaper to lay up wall of cement !
blocks than a wall of either brick or |
stone, and the brick and stone masons
therefore. are not friendly to the
cement block system.
One prominent Topeka contractor
who owns property in the Fifth ward
Engineer McCabe is going to allow
these cement fellows to bid on the
Fifth ward sewer. That is very I'M
to our people; we want
1 brick sewer. We contractors call
his cement business sixteen to one
work, because they use sixteen parts of
;and to one of cement. We don't want
any work of that kind in our sewer"
Councilman Sinner of the Fifth
ward is also said to be opposed to the
cement construction
City Engineer McCabe says that one
If the reasons for putting in a proviso
permitting the construction of a ce-
nent sewer was that he had reason to
ng combination to hold I'D the
price of brick, and thus force the city
o pay a high price for the sewer
work. He says that he thinks the ce-
nent bidders will be able to smash this
combination
Under the specifications for the sewer,
he cement work is placed absolutely
Inder the control of the city engineer.
lie can require the contractors to put
n the very best kind of cement and
nix it in the very best proportions. If
ement work is a feasible proposition
Inder any circumstances it ought to be
Inder these.
City Engineer McCabe and Fire Mar
hal Wilmarth are the two city Off
ials who are delegated to draw up
lew building law covering the cement
lock construction. If they should find
hat cement blocks are liable to crum-
lie if exposed to fire, it might put a
all stop to the business of making
ement blocks in Topeka If il should
lso be found that they will not stand
he same sort of a crushing test that
tone will stand, IL means that cement |
locks will very likely be barred from
Sc in large buildings.
There has been quite an extensive de-
elopment in the cement block business
4 Topeka during the past year. The
bundance Of fine sand from the Kaw
liver has made this q. natural point for
he manufacture OF cement blocks, and ]