The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-12-02
TO MAKE CEMENT
ON 0RCAS ISLAND
MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY OR.
GANIZED IN SEATTLE

Ing Plant With Daily Capacity OF
1000 Bags and That 500 Mem
win Be Employed.
THESeattle Post -Intelligencer an
~ nounces the organization of the
Puget Sound Portland Cement
Company" capitalized at 81, 900, 900,
to manufacture cement on the w alters
& Soderburg property on Orcas is
land. Mr.. Soderburg, president and
manager Of the company, is quoted
as saying:
IT have studied the possibility Of
manufacturing Portland cement in
the Puget Sound country for the last
three years and there is no question,
after the work done by the chemists
and experts who have been employed,
that the local stone will furnish ce-
ment equal in quality to any made in
America or Germany or anywhere
else.
"Besides the money furnished by
the Seattle men who have been inter-
ested with me in bringing about the
organization, we have secured New
York and London capital, one of the
principal subscribers being the big
English Silver Lake Syndicate.
ALREADY we have about thirty
men on the site on the northwest side
of Orcas island, preparing the ground
for the construction of plant to cost
$500, 900 or 500, 1000. By the first Of
the year we will have 400 or 500 men
on the ground, which is about the
same number that will be given per-
manent employment in the works.
'The construction will be rushed
with all possible speed to take advan-
tage of the scarcity in the cement
market. At present the nearest
source Of supply is California, and a
good deal of the commodity is brought
in ballast from Europe. The local
market is at all times extensive and
is bound to grow. At present the
demand is very pressing.
AS for shipping facilities, there is
a harbor adjacent to the works, be-
tween Orcas island and Waldron is
land, in which the largest steamers
on the high seas can come close to
shore. It is well protected by the
two islands. We will have our men
at work making cement by next sum-
mer."
The marvellous growth of the Amer
lean cement industry during the last
decade has created widespread inter-
est in the raw materials and in the
methods of manufacture of Portland
cement-the most important OF the
cementing materials. This interest
is not confined to those who have 9
direct financial stake in the industry,
as the product is so widely used, and
it's uses are so rapidly increasing
that some knowledge Of it's manu-
facture and properties is OF advan-
tage to everyone connected directly
or indirectly with engineering or
building operations. In its impor-
tance to our present civilization ce-
ment is surpassed among mineral
products only by iron, coal and OIL,
In rate Of increase in annual produc-
ton during the last decade even these
three products cannot be compared
with it. Indeed, the growth OF the
industry is somewhat marvellous. Fit
teen wears ago the total production
Of Portland cement in this country
was 335, 500 barrels, valued at $43S,
$50. In 1903 it exceeded q, OOO, 900
while the value was over ST.
Doo, 900, according to government re-
ports.
In the state Of Washington two
distinct fields have been located, ono
!, cortheastern Washington, known