Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-01
PROGRESS IN CEMENT MAKING
Development of the Indus
try and Its ImDOr-
tauce.

STATISTICS compiled by the United States
geological survey show the amazing de-
Velopment OF the cement industry in this
country. In 1897 the total production was
2,4SO,903 barrels, valued at s., 72A.905. Last
year 5 ,7S5Se0 barrels OF cement we're man
ufactured I'm the United States, OF an es-
timated value of $50, g2.554.
1t is doubtful 10 any other big industry
in the country can show practically a
doubling of its output every two years for
a period of ten years. The increase in
the use Of tits material undoubtedly is due
in a large measure to the steady decrease
in prices. This is more remarkable in view
of the fact that one concern-the North
American Portland Cement company-owns
patents covering the modern methods of
manufacturing, and fully 20 per cent OF the
cement of this country is made either by
that company or by concerns licensed to
use It's processes.
In 1907, when about 100000 barrels Of
Portland cement were made here. the
average price was s1.54 per barrel; that of
natural hydraulic cement was so cents per
barrel, while cement made from Stag, sold
for $l50 per barrel. The average prices
per barrel last year were: Portland ce-
ment, S1.1O; natural hydraulic, 81 cents;
Stag, ~ cents. During the past ten years
the price of lumber has advanced 100 per
cent.
Despite the increased production in this
country we have imported annually since
1897 from LOCO, 600 to 2,5OO, 600 barrels of &C.
ment. During the same period our OK
ports of cement ranged from g., 76l barrels
in 1897 to 1,45O,Sn barrels last year.
That our manufacture 3f cement will
have a normal growth in the future, as
compared with other industries by the
fact that last year only 100000 barrels
more were produced than in 1895, while the
increase of 1906 over 1905 was 11,500,00O bar
rels. The panic, of course, caused a de-
crease in the demand for cement not only
at home but abroad, yet not to an extent
to seriously affect the industry.
While the ratio of increase in production
of previous years will not be maintained,
it is certain that the cement industry will
continue to grow. The adaptability Of ce-
ment for nearly all structural purposes has
been demonstrated. 1t has allayed the fears
aroused by the decrease In our timber
| supply through the devastation of forests.
! The increased production of cement at re-
duced price has enabled us to conserve our
timber. 1t is not very long ago that our
houses were built wholly of wood. Today
houses are built almost without any wood,
while metal furniture in them takes the
place of wood.
Pennsylvania is the banner state for ce-
ment production. owing to its having the
greatest output OF Stag from iron and steel
mills.
Last year Pennsylvania cement output
was 90, 1893, 965 barrels. New Jersey took sec
ond place with 4, 449,S barrels. while In
diana ranked third with ~3,7S2,S4l barrels.
Michigan manufactured ~3,572,65S barrels,
Kansas 1858, 95 barrels. Illinois Z,G5j,V9I
barrels, Kentucky and Missouri ~S,1sG.925 bar
rels. California and Washington 1,s9S,Co4 bar
rels, Colorado, Utah, Texas, South Dakota
and Arizona 1,SS9,OOO barrels, and Alabama
Georgia, West Virginia, and Virginia l'2H'-
40 barrels.-Chicago Inter Ocean.