The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-01

! the two properly and make Portland ce-
ment?
Such was the inception of the Port
land cement industry of Kansas, which
since has mounted into vast proportions.
The shale was sure, but there were so
many varieties or degrees of limestone,
that it took time, patience. skill, and no
little money to find the right one. FL
nally the stone that formerly had been
known as lola marble" proved to be
exactly the limerick that was needed,
and behold, when science had mixed
it with the shale, the product was the
best Portland cement in the WorIdI
The next step to obtain option on shale
and limestone lands and to lease gas
rights This was done, which gave the
company something to offer to capital
in the succeeding negotiations for the
establishment of a cement plant. Joint
freight rates also were studied. All
but finally it was done. and a COM
pany of Michigan capitalists induced
to undertake the enterprise.
This was early in 1898. The enter
prise, and the experiments and demon
STATIONS of the Santa Fe, looked so
good" that east and west, Kansas in
cluded. subscribed to the capital stock
success was IN, right from the start,
and the money rolled in so abundantly
that June Is. 1900, the lola Portland
Cement company began to turn out l, 500
barrels OF cement daily The product
of this mill entered Immediately into
the worlds consumption, and at once
it took front rank Everywhere west
of the Mississippi river there came a
the worlds famous Belgium cement
took second place. OF course the plant
was enlarged again, and now there has
been another increase of capacity, max
ing its daily output about 5000 bar
rels.
The remarkable success of the orig
inal lola plant led to the formation by
the encoura cement of the same rail-
.1f TfA
pany, known as the Kansas Portland
Cement company.
This was formed in October, 1902.
In April; 1903. ground was broken for
the plant and in July, 1904 the mill
began operations. Still looking for
cement rock and shale in the gas
region, the Santa Fe's industrial COM
missioner kept his scientific men in the
field, and found near Independence the
Identical limestone and sfale that had
proved to be so valuable at lola
Again land options and gas leases were
obtained and with the success at lola
il view it was easy to enlist capital
The result was the Western States
Portland Cement company, which be-
gam to make cement in November,
1905, and is now turning out about
5000 barrels daily Still another plant
at Independence, on the line of the
Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe, located
by the same methods as before, Is a
branch of the Kansas Portland Cement
COLi Pd41Js WtAO1C AACc+A - ~ % -
Nicholson of lola Its capacity is
$500 barrels daily.
The Neodesha plant is only in its
beginning, and is turning out about
/ 500 barrels q day.
Following these will come the Hum |
boldt and the Chanute enterprises
which the Santa Fe commission now
is working on, and after them others
all over the Kansas gas region, so long |
as the demand for cement continues
OF course, the Atchison, Topeka & /
Santa Fe Railway company has by its
share in these enterprises made new |
patrons and additional revenue for 1t /
self, but more and better than that, it /
has added to the states population and |
wealth and given employment to very /
many men. 1t is profitable employ |
ment. too.
It takes big money to establish and |
conduct a Portland cement plant. For /
instance, the lola Portland Cement com |
pany's plan is said to have cost two /
million dollars, and outside of that it /
has working capital of one and one /
half millions. The company employs /
fVJ men and the mills run night and I
day. It's pay roll is said to be $50, 900 I
a month. It's plant is one Of the larg-
est in the United States. The lola peo-
pie say the largest in me world, and |
it is The other plants in the
state are smaller, but they are coming,
share of labor and turn out their full /
share Of cement.-Fred Vandegrift in
The Earth.