The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-19
ALABAMA IS GREAT
CEMENT PRODUCER
Or. Smith Makes Report on
,rmations.
IS
COvg}e JCH OF THE STATE
Ss
H res That Ultimately Raw Ma
Q ais in Both North and South
Alabama viii Be Used in
Portland Cement.

Alabama viii Be Used in
Portland Cement.
Washington. September 1s.-(special.)-
Although until 1902 Alabama did not fig
| ure among the cement producing states
| OF the union. 1t boasts an extensive series
of limestones capable OF furnishing ex-
cellent raw material for the manufacture
of Portland cement, while the shales and
clays necessary to complete the mixture
are found in every county in the state.
The cement resources of this state are
discussed by DR.. Eugene A. Smith in a
| paper that is included in Bulletin 225 of
| the United States geological survey, en-
titled Contributions to Economic Geolo-
| gy, 1903" The bulletin is published for
gratuitious distribution
| Between northern Alabama and central
| and southern Alabama there is marked
| geologic as well as geographic distinc-
ton, and Dr. Smith accordingly discusses
the two portions of the state separately.
| The raw materials for the manufacture
| of Portland cement are found in northern
|
clays of the Paleozoic formations. These
| materials have not yet been utilized for
this purpose In Alabama, put similar ones
have been SO employed In other states,
and there is no reason to doubt that the
future will witness their utilization in
| Alabama.
Account of outcrops.
DR.. Smith gives detailed account of
outcrops of limestone of suitable quality
for cement manufacture that occur In the
lower Carboniferous and the Trenton for
nations at various points in the northern
part of the state A similar minute de-
scriptfon is given of suitable clay beds
| found in the Coal Measures, in the lower
| Carponiferous, and the lower Silurian and
Cambrian formations, In the same part
of the state. Analyses are added of
numerous samples. from available lime
stone and clay deposits.
! In central and southern Alabama the
raw materials suitable for the manufae-
] ture of Portland cement are argillaeeous
/ limestones, purer limestones, and claya
The limestones that are suitable for use
| as cement materials occur mainly at two
horizons-the Selma chalk, rotten
| limestone of the Cretaceous, and the st.
Stephens formation of the Tertiary. The
clays available are residual clays de-
rived from the decomposition of these two
limestone formations, the stratified clays
of the Grand Gulf formation, and the
alluvial clays that are found in the river
and creek bottoms. 1t is further possi-
BILE that later investigation may show
that some of the other stratified clays
of the Tertiary and Cretaceous formations
are suitable for cement making, and this
is especially likely to be the case with
the clays of the lowermost Cretaceous
or Tuscaloosa formation.
In Unlimited Quantity.
Inasmuch as material that is we'll
adapted to the manufacture of cement
can be had In practically unlimited guam
| tity all along the outcrop of the purer
limestones the location of plants for the
manufacture of this product will be de-
termined by other considerations than the
quality of the rock. Chief among these
will be facilities for transportation,
cheapness of fuel. and the price of labor
Examinations have therefore been con-
fined to those localities which appear to
be most favorable In these respects, and
especially to such as are on navigable
streams or on north-south railroad lines,
or on both. Mr.. Smith enumerates avail
able sites and discusses their respective
merits, adding analyses of numerous Gre
taceous and Tertiary llmestones. clays,
and cements.
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poles, except the old Chinese lines from
Antung to Pekin.
The Russian generalship is more spec
tacular and perhaps inspires the soldiers
with greater courage, but the japanese
Is more business-like.
Deprives Heroes of Dues.
The censorship which they enforce tends
to deprive them of their just dues in rep
utation. Often correspondents are for
hidden to mention the names of the lead
ers in daring and important fights, be-
cause the names might give the enemy
a clue to the identity and therefore to
the strength and the characteristics of
the organizations opposing them.
General Owaga gathered his troops In
the fog of the early morning on the
fourth of July, and prevented the Rus
SLAMS from seizing the Molten Ling he
turned Kellar's movement, almost as sue
cessful on the 18TH and made 1t dis
aster, and his soldiers from the rocks
above the Yushiling shot down thous-
and Russians without any compensating
damage to themselves. He is strategist
| and a fighter.
In England or America, he would be a
popular hero, but the newspapers which
, come to the camp fail to mention him.
: How unpopular a censorship that ex-
} cludes exploitation OF generals would be
with certain other armies is appreciated
by correspondents who have accompan-
led those armies General Kuroki Is a
quiet and unassuming gentleman, rather
the Moltke type. His type is apparently
the prevailing one in the Japanese service.
Some times 1t appears that he has work.
ed out his plan of battle so perfectly
before the event, that he can sit down
confident of its fulfillment, and takes lit
tie further interest In the proceedings
During the critical hours Of July 81,
when his infantry was advancing across
the valley to charge the Russian en-
trenchments on the nights. he sat in the
court yard of a Chinese temple chatting
scasualiy with members of his staff. Cen
eral Kuroki's force partakes Of his char
acter.
Russians Have Bands.
The Russians have their regimental
bands which play at sundown hours. and
on the march. and during battle, and
their followers advance to the sound of
drum. But in this campaign. although
the infantry carry bugles by whose notes
they march in peace times, have never
heard the sound of trumpet near the
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fCanfinued IN Second Paoe1