The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-11
THE CALHOUN BLUFFS CEMENT.
Tests Indicate That 1t May Offer Wide
Field for Development.
North Topeka, July II, 1907
To the Editor of the State Journal:

Some brief account of the investiga-
ton and inquiry set afoot by a commit
tee of the North Topeka Civic club
| relative to the adapta bility of the lime
stone and sha1e lodges of Calhoun Bluffs,
21h miles east of North Topeka, for making
Portland cement might be of special in
terest to most of your readers, and 1
herewith submit some of the material
matters, so far brought out in the
progress of the inquiry for the informa-
ton of all concerned.
Heretofore. while this state seems to
have been blessed by widely scattered
quarries, of limestone and shale, the
plants so far in operation, in the south
ern and eastern counties, have never
been able to furnish the quantities of
cement needed, and much of the product
of mills outside has come in to satisfy
the call for it.
The tremendous vogue of reinforced
concrete construction existing in many
other states has not yet struck Kansas
with any great force, creating re-
markable demand for cement and ac-
cordingly stimulating the production,
but many of the cities having apparent
ly endless quantities of gas have eStab-
lished great plants, and it behooveS all
other cities having good quarries to join
the ranks quickly in the production of
this new building material, and having
something to say about the price of 1T,
or suffer themselves to be quickly out
classed by the other cities that do carry
pay rolls are immense and no possibility
of Improbable accumulation of product.
The current demand for this article is
ahead of the supply, and, while costing
40 cents a barrel to make, sells at the
kilns to jobbers at 81 per barrel-a gain
of 81 so on an investment of 40 cents.
Following the recommendation of the
law department of the Union PACING
railway that company and the Santa
Fe have contributed quite literally in
fIa 90 a nd a10V-fhn
rest of the expense having been borne
by one or two individuals.
Such vast host of striking examples
as to the artistic effect of cement in
churches, Sky-ScraperS and residences,
in eastern and middle states, where the
gray walls of concrete are topped out
with red or terra Gotta shaded roofs,
demonstrate the coming possibilities of
this material in matters both of form
and color, whilst it's coming exclusive
use for Easements and floors, marks the
rapidity with which it is overcoming its
brick competitor or any other trust
priced material
The attention of best skilled and most
capable chemists has been called to the
determination of the essential elements
in the limestone and shale for making
the best grade of Portland cement, and
they have fixed upon the ingredients as
requisite, with a formula practically as
follows:
Pure lime from So to 6S per cent
Silica from 20 to % per cent.
Aluminium from to 10 per cent.
Magnesia, extreme limit OF tolerance,
5 to per cent.
Iron or ferric oxide a little more.
Mr. N F. Hartman, the Union Pacific
railway chemist and engineer of tests, |
made the analysis of the Calhoun lime
and shaIe from weathered samples of
both lodges, finding the totals, with |
slight allowance for disintegratio1 by |
atmospheric agencies to be:
Pure lime SO per cent.
Silica (shale) IS per cent.
Aluminium per cent.
Magnesia 3 per cent.
Iron or ferric oxide per cent.
In the heating at the kilns all the |
other non-essential matters are practic- |
ally driven off, and others allowed tobe !
added in order to confer to the cement, !
slow setting properties.
As the percentage of alunina rises in |
the mixture going into the kilnS the |
cement therefrom becomes more quick |
setting. When you reach the limit or |
greatest quantity of pure lime that will |
combine chemically with the silica and |
alumina or possibly with a small excess |
in an uncombined state, you arrive at |
the greatest condition Of strength.
The average of many quarries exam |
ined is:
Calcium oxide So per cent.
Silica (shale) 81 per cent.
Alumina Is per cent.
Magnesia 2 per cent.
Iron per cent
In view of the coming popularity of
this product for every form of structure
from bridge or culvert up through the
various forms of buildings, being fire
proof and vermin-proof, everlasting in
nature, amenab1e to any artistic taste in
form or color, it would be a proper thing
for both county and city authorities to
Join in the creation of a sufficient mill
and kiln power to supply the necessities
of both city and county at rate about
one-half the prevailing current charge
per barrel.
The present rate of s1.60 on a 40 cent
expenditure seems too excessive. The
CITY has got to enter into the progress
race with other towns having cheaper
fuel, and we have got to front In the
same file with the others in advantage
to our builders in controlling the price