Arizona republican., 1904-03-08
pHoEN1x. ARIZONA, MARCH s, 1904
The Cement Plant.

Residents of the valley have received with unalloyed satisfaction the news that the government will gC ahead with inc construction of a cement plant in the Tonto basin and will manufacture fhere the cement needed in the con struction of the great dam across the gorge of the Salt river. This sdtisfac- tion does not arise from any prejudice against the use of cement manufactur- ed by individuals or corporations. but from the wellgrounded belief that the government will be able to work sub stantial saving to the valley by man ufacturing cement on the ground.
 The latest number of the Engineer ing News has an exhaustive article on this subject. which was written before 4he decision by the government to re- feet all bids. but it shows very clearly how impossible it was for the cement t1lanufacturere to submit satisfactory figures. and is of considerable local in $erest accordingly. After relating that 4he cement manufacturers endeaVored 
 jt was improper for the government to engage in a manufacturing business tn competition with private producers .-a contention rejected by the secre- tary-the Engineering News points out that the only argument left for the cement makers was the claim that they could furnish the cement on the site more cheaply than it could be made in the government mill, and they were assured that they should have an opportunity to prove this. To that end bids were invited until February 29.
 An analysis of the transportation problem showed the difficulty in the way of making any really low bid. Via Globe it would have been necessary to have a rail haul Of 715 miles from Colton, California. and nearly eco miles addi- tional from northern California. In addition to this was the wagon haul of 45 miles from Globe. Notwithstand- ing these difficulties, however, We have seen that the cement manufacturers did submit bids very much lower than their original estimates of $0 per bar rel delivered at the damsite. And this is really one of the most import ant facts developed.
 It will be rememoere that Supervis- ing Engineer Davis was quite severe ly criticized because he was instru- mental in having the government cen tract for a cement plant before formal bids were submitted by the cement manufacturers. As q matter Of fact, as the Engineering News says, Had the government omitted to fOrtify it. self with it's own cement plant, neither the cement producers. the railways nor the teamsters engaged ia hauling would have had any particular incen- tive to reduce this figure. Considered az a business proposition, therefore, the cement plant at Tonto would ap- pear to have been an admirable invest tnent. even if 1t never makes a single barrel of cement and is sold for scrap , after completion of the dam"
 Had the manufacturers succeeded in submitting a bid satisfactory to the government the credit would have be- longed to Mr. Davis for creating a situation which made it necessary to offer cement at the lowest possible figures, and as matters have turned out, Mir. Davis first conclusion that it would be economical to manufacture cement in the basin has been abund- antlY justified.