Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-08-03
TIL S IS TIE CEMENT ACE
Building Ha iaI That is Replace
ing Brick and Stone.
IN MODERN CONSTRUCTION
cutpus Of Mills is Increasing at an
Enormous Rate--Portland Cement


Cement making ~ an industry
which has grown thousand fold in
twenty-five years, which is fifty times
greater than it was ten years ago.
which iucrea ed 30 per cent. last
year. and which in Its short life has
come to rank with the first mineral
Industries III the land. It now has
the claim to the first place in the
honor roll OF the mighty commercial
forces which are operating TO make
the United States the foremost of IA.
lions. Only coal and pig iron rank
ahead OF cement in the vaue or pro
auctions from the earth, and cement
and ron Gre are now running neck
and neck Cement long ago passed
the god mines, lead and zinc to
gethar are not nearly so valuable
and silver and copper are no longer
coHtenders in the race. The United
states began to make Portland ce-
ment in 1875. Five years thereafter
the annual production had reached
$4,000 barrels. BY 1896 the output
had reached the millon-barrel mark.
and last year the Portland cement
produced in this country amounted
to 40, 1000 barrels.
Portland cement is the most versa
tile material man has ever used in
construction. 1t is taking the place
of timber for piles, telegraph and
telephone posts, railroad ties, fence
posts ana even shingles 1t is used
for building bridges where steel was
she only possible material ten years
ago Il used for dams, locks, re,
tanning sea walls and water-breakers, |
where stone masonry was imperative I
a few years since. 1t is used for
and sidewalks instead of /
brick 1t is used for grain bins in
stead Of any other material Rein !
forced with rods and bars of steel /
the Portland concrete goes into a
monollthlc building twelve stories
high. Pressed into hollow books it
goes into small cottages which inn
itate hoases OF stone.
laes. are three kinds of cement
whica are Of Importance: Portland, |
natural and Puzzoan Natural ce
men has been made in the United
States for nearly hundred years,
hayias been employed in the con
sfruct.cu of the Erie canal in 1919.
Tie Industry Aourished, showing a
gradtsC growth from year to year,
until TWO years ago, when it began
IN show an actual decrease and Is
now On the wane Engineers do not
condemn it and they regret that the
indus ry is dying out. Natural ce-
rnent is made by burning naturally
iDpuge limestone of cayey nature
Al a comparatively low temperature,
about such as is used in burning
g{n,r The burned stone is ground to
q ,owder and is then ready for use.
Ppzzolan cement is the oldest of
q IN ITS. and was made by ancient
Roinsns. 1t is prepared by mixing
nowa cred sake lime with volcanic
ashes N the United States the slas
from the iron furnaces is substituted
for the volcanic ashes, there being lit
na ~ no chemical difference. The
cemeat is better for use under the
ava err thaa in the air
Portland cement is of a compare
tiyel, recent origin. 1t was first
made in Leeds, England by Joseph
Aspdin. in 1924. On account of its
similarity in appearance to a certain
building stone known in England as
Portland stone it was at once call
ed Portland cement. 1t is made >:
burning a Underground artificial mix
fure of lime with silica, alumina, and
iron oxide. in definite proportions al
a temperature of 5000 degrees. The
mass is thus reduced to a "clinker,
which * then ground into very fine
powder ready for use. 1t win harden
under water. but it will not success
fully resist the action Of salt water
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