The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-24
Will Take Place of the Tornado
Destroyed Plant.
LOCATED AT sun CITY
On the Line of the Enid G. Gulf,
90 Miles From Medicine Lodge.
Senator Long and Eastern Capt.
talists Behind the Enterprise.

the tornado on the evening of June %,
| last, has come the development of an
institution of which Medicine Lodge al
ways was very proud, and the growth
OF an industry, which in this cement
great indeed
For the past Is years small mill
near the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
station has been manufacturing a high
grace OF cement, for plastering, inside
Hnlsh' statuary, and general adornment
uses. The grade of cement has been
known as Keenes cement, named for
IT'S English founder, who patented it in
ms country as long ago as 1888. The
Meolc1ne Lodge manufacturers have
been Best Brothers e Co. Thomas ].
Best has been manager
For years this little plant has been
unable to supply the general demand
for the finished product: a demand
which has come from all over this coun-
try, particularly the east, Canada, and
the Republic of Mexico. The process,
involving peculiar burning and blend
ing of the gypsum which crops out of
the ridge of hills running from Medi-
cine Lodge, on the west, to the north
west corner of Barber county, has given
Best Brothers Keene's cement a high
reputation among builders.
When the storm of June % came, the
greater part of the little plant was
blown away, and work of course stop
ped. For some months before, indeed.
dating from the completion of the Den
yer, Enid & Gulf railroad, which is now
a division of the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe system. there had been much
talk of developing the gypsum industry
in Barber county and at Medicine
Lodge; an industry which has made
other localities in Kansas and the coun-
try famous. but which was the more
promising here because of the high
grade of gypsum, the lower cost of pro-
duction, and the famous special pro- !
cess of Keene's as adapted in this coun-
try by Best Brothers.
one of the first incidents of the
faith in the industry, and the plan to |
rebuild on a larger scale, was the visit
of John A. Killing of Cleveland, Ohio, |
an authority on builders supplies, and |
other gentlemen interested with him |
in the matter. to Medicine Lodge
shortly after the storm. The out
growth of that visit has been the for
nation of a new company and the |
erection of large new plant, now I'M
der way. A tract of land near Sun
City on the Denver, Enid & Gulf. 70
miles northwest of Medicine Lodge,
has been secured, and the quarry will |
be opened at once. The railroad runs
through the tract, and a switch will
be put in by the railroad at once.
Houses will be constructed for hous-
ing superintendent and men.
The name of the corporation is
Best Brothers Keene's Cement COM
pany, organized under the laws of
Ohio, capital 100000, and the stock
holders are:
John A. Killing, Cleveland, Ohio;
John Sherwin, Cleveland Ohio;
Thomas ]. McNulty, Chicago; Gordon
Willis st. Louis; c. Q. Chandler.
Wichita Kan; and Chester I. Long
and Thomas ]. Best, Medicine Lodge.
Mr.. Killing is president of the Amer
lean Gypsum company, vice president
of the Reserve Trust company, and
president of the Cleveland Builders
Supply company.
Mr.. Sherwin is president of the
First National bank of Cleveland, and
interested in the observation-disclosures
Paint company.
Nulty Brothers, the largest firm OF
contracting plasterers in the world,
with offices in the leading cities of the
country.
Mr.. Willis is vice president of the
Hunkins-Willis Lime and Cement
company that has been general sales
agent for the Best Brothers Medicine
Lodge output in the past.
Mr.. Chandler is president of the
Citizens State bank of Medicine
Lodge. the Kansas National bank at
Wichita, and interested in many banks
in Kansas.
Senator Long and Mr.. Best have
been endeavoring for some time to
bring outside capital and interest, to-
gether with Mr.. Chandler, and to de-
velop the industry.
All mentioned above, save Mr. McNul-
ty. are directors of the company; and
Mr. King is president, Mr. Chandler
treasurer, while Mr.. Best is vice presi-
dent and general manager. ]. B, Gano,
ex-sheriff. and lately with the construc-
ton of the new road, will be quarry
superintendent.
1t is planned not only to utilize the
output at the quarries near Sun City
to supply the mill at Medicine Lodge for
the manufacture of the fine, finished
product, but to furnish crushed gypsum
for Portland cement plants.
The two obstacles in the manufacture
of the product heretofore existing VIII De
obviated, namely, the raw .materlal
having been off the railroad and thefe-
fore largely inaccessible until now; ana
the interest and influence OF proper cap ,
ital having been lacking.
II is expected that the new mill at
Medicine Lodge will be open by October
the demand has been so great for the
snisbed nroduct that, as heretofore
stated the supply could not by any ,
means keep pace with it The raw pro
duct was heretofore about eight miles
distant from the railroad, necess1tat1ng
hauling nv wagon a slow and tedious
process The stock of the late plant was
4 lso largely owned in England, and by
persons who did not wish
10 increase holdings or associate them
selves with new persons in the enter
prise The destruction of the old plant ,
by the tornado, however, brought mat ,
ters to crisis, and the new organiza-
ton resulted.
Attention has been called to the excel
ence of the Keene process. Its product
may be distinguished from plaster of
paris by it's texture, but more by its
slow setting and GOODNESS in working, ]
and by its intense strength toughness,
and continually hardening quality. 1t Is ,
capable of high polish For
general p1astering its cost is not greater
than any patent plaster, and much
cheaper than imported Keene's cement
1t may be used for all practical pur-