Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-02-03
A COMMUNICATION.
THE EDITOR OF THE REVIEW,

10 THE EDITOR OF THE REVIEW,
In this weeks issue of the Villas Coun'
BY News, there appears in the columns
of that paper, an article headed, "a
Slight Mistake" and purporting to have
she readers OF that journal, or in other
words to inform their readers that the
article in the REVIEW, of January Goth,
relating to the manufacturing of con
crete or cement building blocks, new
business venture which is to be started
by Mr.. J. j. ROdcrick the coming
spring to be somewhat of slight mis-
-take as TO the difference between con
crete blocks and brick. Although we
are fully aware Of the fact that said ar
ticlc in the News was not from the pen
of its present editor, but from one per
sumably close in touch with the work
ings Of that establishment, and for that
reason we will in no way repudiale the
article in the REVIEW, but will abide
by il, as in our Judgement we believe
just what was stated in said article
that concrete building blocks are more
substantial for building purposes In
the first place we wish to state positive
" and to be correctly understood that
our Intentions are not to 2ritiCiSA the
making of different kinds Of brick by
Eagle River Brick Co, for in place Of
erilicisjng, we are proud to state that
we have a word of praise for that con
Germ. Some time ago we had the pleas
ant opportunity OF forwarding to two
diTcreut parties who have made Il life.
long study on the manufacturing OF
brick, i'm a certain Wisconsin metropO-
lis, sample Of brick from this above
mentioned concern, and after carefully
examining this sample brick, the ver-
dict of these parties were; that these
brick were as good as any and far more
durable than Il MA jority of other makes
throughout the Northwest.
Now getting back to The essence OF
eur article. Why would our Govern
nent use it in all Of their fertilization
and harbor work? Why have all the
big railroad companies throughout the
world began to use it in all of their
bridge work? For the reason that it is
more substantial than either brick or
stone. In the city Of Milwaukee today
there is In course of cons ruction q
house of worship, which when compile
Ted will cost in the neighbol hood of
ST5, 600, and this editice is being built
with concrete blocks. You may ask
Why is it being erected with this ma
serial, and the answer would be, and 1t
Is fact that it is more fire proof than
any o her building material.
Cement, or rathec concrete building
Blocks are being used as a substitute
for iron in many of the large buildings,
and we will mention, while we are at
this point one building of which we
know of and should you be in doubt,
you are at liberty to write and investi-
gate the truth of our assertion. The
building we have reference to is one
erected some time ago at The State
university, of l)lirols, at Chicago, in
which 10000 squire feet of cement
blocks takes the place of so much iron
gjrders. When Il beam is made of this
material it is tested by being affected
30 weight placed anywhere between
the supports upon which the beam rests.
In the article Of the News the writer
states that the REVIEW editor may be
right in stating that the lite Of brick
when exposed to the weather is not to
exceed ten years, but in his way of
shrinking the REVIEW man did not give
brick longevity enough, meaning long
life, and for an example refers to the
brick used in our High school. We
will admit that the brick used in the
high school may be an exception, but
take the majority of brick, used in many
chimneys, in :ime crumbles away. The
writer in the News is positive that the
Brick used in the chimneys on the
school house are as good today as the
day they were laid, but he kindly asks
for no criticism as he has been unable to
get to the roof of the building to meas
are the length OF its chimneys or to see
IL they are in as good condition today
~ they were twelve years ago. II he
has been unable to get close to the
shimneys for an inspection, how can he
positively claim they are as good as
everP- Never write an article by mere
guess work would be good plan to fol-
low. Why is it that the chimreys on
the county jail building. which, as we
have been informed are built from the
same material as those used on the
school building, are in an unsafe con-
-ditlon and crumbling away? For COM
mon brlck look at the chimneys on the
dlHerent residences about town and YOU
VII! notlce that bi & majority need re-
building Tor the simple reason that
they are falling apart piece by piece.
Another point in favor of cement
chimney is they never cause a fire.
The inside OF cement chimney is of
n smooth surface and there is 40 possi-
bic chance for suit to gather in as il so
often does In brick chimueys. The in
terror of brick chimney is rather
rough and consequently suit accumn-
lates in abundance and finally cause~
fire from the heat of the stove. ThiS
very same thing happened Ia the chm
ney on the High school building Il ecu.
pie weeks ago: Some of the worst ds-
sbr0ctlVe fires have hpnY ca,,nsSa 4