Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-06-15
POSSIBILITIES OF CEMENT
Prof. Grimsley In An Interview
Sets Forth Advantages.
PLENTY OF MATERIAL HERE.
Berkeley County Has Abundant Sup
ply CT Stone and shale For the
Manufacture of Cement.

Professor George b. Grimsley, of
Morganrown. chief assistant to State
Geologist DR.. /. c. White, is making
an extensive investigation OF the
states natural material for the manu-
facture of Portland cement Professor
Grinsley talked Interestingly OF the
tests he had made of West Virginia
shale stone for cement
Portland cement derives its name
from the fact that an English inven-
tor in fS41 patented material which
resembled in co,or and formation the
famous Portland stone. This cement
was the first OF its kind discovered
which when submerged in salt sea
water wi1hstood its ravages, said
Professor Grimsley.
West Virginia abounds in I'm init
ed raw material FIT for the making Of
Portland cement said, he. 1T Is a
surprise to me that this industry has
not been developed here many years
ago. Everybody knows West Virginia
as a coal, oil and gas state. We now
want to make her known as the great
est cement producing state in Amer
lea. We have the material here and
all that is needed is development.
There is only one pant in the state
at Rowlesburg where 1000 barrel
plant is in operation. The growth of
the cement industry in this country
since 1901 has been phenomenal. The
increase last year was 100000 bar
rels, or nearly as much as the total
output in 1901 The output in the
United States has increased from 49,
600, O0Oin 1901, to 45,600,O00 barrels in
1896. Pennsylvania leads in the
cement production. The demand for
cement in the place of brick or stone
in building material is constantly in
creasing The material known as re.
enforced concreate is made largely
from cement, the Portland cement
being REINFORCED with gravel and sand
which makes its crushing power well
nigh irresistible. The Baltimore fire
and the San Francisco disaster demon.
strated the comparative indestructi
bility Of this durable material in con
trast to brick and stone. A few years
ago the use of cement was limited to
the building of foundations for light
houses and other submerged structures
and it's use for superstructural pur-
poses was considered, problematical II
not doubtful. Today such buildings as
the great Engle block in Cincinnati
and several new fire proof structures
in Baltimore, show the wisdom oil
using REINFORCED concrete for walls
and ceilings where a real fireprooi
building is desired. Portland cement
is mixture of shale and clay, OF
which unlimited quantities are to be
found in this state. The manufacture
of cement from these raw materials
necessitates their being burnt at b
very high temperature. The fuel for
this burning process is right at hand
The material for the cement and fuai
are to be found on the main line OF the
b. & O. in this state, within 100 miles
of Atlantic ocean tidewatr. The near
ness of all this material to the great
cities of Pittsburg, Cincinnati Cleve.
land Buffalo, Columbus, Baltimore.
New York and other large and grow
ing centers of population, would make
a ready and constant market for this
new product"
What. if any steps are being taken
to develop this industry" was asked.
II have taken up this phase of the mat
ter in my report and have also ad.
dressed communications to the Engi-
neering and Mining Journal of New
York and other standard publica.
lions" answered Professor Grimsley.
Professor Grimsley showed copy OF
the Engineering Journal mentioned,
dated May 25, which containd an arti-
Gle written by him on Portland Cement
and Other Resources of West Virginia
The fact that this journal was willing
to publish my contribution gives it
faith with the readers said Mr.. Grim.
sley, I have already received num-
Der of letters from persons and firms
who wish to know more about the
facilities for shipments here, and other
things in connection with the estab-
lishment. of plants"
Major c. D. Elliott, U. S, marshal
and number of Parkershurg and