The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-09
LEWIS DISCUSSES MAKING OF CEMENT Tells of Advancement of Indus try in Recent Years BIRMINGHAM NEEDS PLANT All the Conditions Here Favor the Manufacture of Portland ce-
 ment on Cheap
 Basis.
BIRMINGHAM NEEDS PLANT

Frederick H. Lewis, a consulting en- gineer of Staunton Va, who is in Bir- | mingham seeking to locate a Portland scement factory here, yesterday gave some interesting facts relative to the industry and it's growth in the country in the past few years.
 Among other things he said:
 Tt is no exaggeration to say that the manufacture of Portland cement in Amer ca presents the most extraordinary in- dustrial development that we know of even among many remarkable records of industrial progress. The figures are espe- cially interesting at this time because the industry is passing through sec ondary stage of development of peculiar interest to large manufacturing and dis tributing centers such as this city.
 Beginning in Pennsylvania in a very small way In the year 1875 and progress ing very slowly the industry had develop ed an annual capacity twenty years later of only 5O0OoO barrels, and the average value of the cement was s2 per barrel at the works. In the next ten years. 1894 to 1904, the annual capacity increased from 500000 barrels to 24.OvJ,000 barrels, an in- crease of nearly fffty-fold in ten years. During this period the average price pen barrel at the works fell just one-half.
 American Industry.
 This enormous growth accompanied lE an extraordinary eall in price has been que to the development of an essentially American industry in this product. Prior
 
 on European models and by European methods. The rapid growth since that time followed the introduction of the rotary kiln. This kiln has become the distinctive feature of the American pro cess and the success of the American manufacture has been due to the large output obtained from 1t at low labor cost. These are the essential conditions for successful manufacture in America.
 But the industry is again in a state of rapid transition. It has been cen tralized industry. distributing much of it's product in distant markets. It is be- coming a wide spread industry with local factories supplying local markets In the year 1900 73 per cent of the entire out put of Portland cement in this country was produced in a circle not over thirty miles in diameter known as the Lehigh valley district of eastern Pennsylvania end Western New Jersey. This product found a market in all sections of the country east of the Rocky mountains and some of it even went to the Pacific coast Since 1900, however, the propor- ton produced in the Lehgh valley has been decreasing. In 1900 it was 6S per cent of the whole; in 1902. 6S per cent; in 1903 55 per, cent. This secondary devel- opment of the industry is thus seen to be gathering headway rapidly and the 4fal dRCran cost of production of cement. When cement was high in price the splendid natural advantages of the Lehigh valley enabled it to find a wide spread mar ket regardless of freight tariffs, but when the price of cement fell to dollar. or less at works, as it did last year in Pennsylvania conditions are entirely changed.
 Transportation Expensive.
 "A large part of the Portland cement used in the south last year paid more for transportation charges than the price of the cement at works. Such condition of affairs in a bulk product like cem ant will not do It affords ar once the op portunity for local factory, the reason for a local industry It explains why Penn- sylyania is becoming a decreasing fac- tor and why 1t will continue to do so.
 ",Three factories have been built in the south du. Ing the last hye years, none O them at or very near Birmingham. Up to this time Birmingham, with its great resources of cement-making materials, llmestoaes shales, coal, etc, with its un- eoualled transportation facilities and wisa a large local market besides. has taken no interest in this industrial development. This should be remedied. All the condi- lions favor it.
 eve propose to build thoroughly mel ern plant not too large, and which will follow the most approved practice without yenturing to introduce any experimental or untried features. Experts pronaunce tho materials available to be abundant and nure and declare there is no reason why the product should not equal the best Pennsylvania cement.
 ..It is not necessary to dwell on the inn- mense advantage of this enterpr'se to this city. this is self-evident He money that now goes to Pennsylv'nla VIII re- main at home to pay local labor Ind local coal bills, and to pass through all the channels of local trade. The railroads vii secure an increased coal ton 'ass and VIII haul the cement at mucn bet'nr ni'eace rat, ,s than they are now jbf6c1 .o accept on the long haul from Pennsylvania