The Washington herald., 1908-03-15
CEMENT USED WIDELY
It's Production Increases by
Leaps and Bounds.
MAKES STRONG FOUNDATIONS
Industry, Beginning Twenty Years
Ago, Has Grown TO large Pro-
pOrtiOns-Output Last Year Was
55,OOO,OOO BarreIs-HOw IL Super
sedes Timber and Stone.

The growth Of Portland cement pro-
duction in the United States from infancy
twenty years ago 10 an output which
amounted in 1907 70 55.CO0.00O barrels has
been one of the most remarkable phases
Of recent industrial development This
growth for ten or twelve years was a
steady and gradual zone. 1t was not
marked by vast increases IN production
for which the latter end Of the twenty
year period has beeen noted. The ex-
ApansiOn OF cement production IS perhaps
best shown by figures compiled by Ed
win c. Eckel for a government pamphlet
on the cement industry of the United
States. These figures show that up to
1895 the output gradually increased util II
reached a total OF 1.000OoO barrels; in 1885
II jumped to 1,5O0.0o0 barrels, I'm 1897 10
over 2.5OO.OOO; in 1895 to nearly 400, 600; in
1899 10 nearly 6.Oo00o0 in 1900 to nearly
5000 Geo. in 1901 70 over 1850, 600: in 1902 to
over 100000: In 1903 to nearly 22.5O00OO:
in 1904, 26,500.000; in 1905 to over 5000. 200;
in 1896 10 4s5oO.oo0, and in 1907 to at least
So 100000 barrels. There has never been
In the history of Portland cement manu-
facture a retrograde movement in pro-
duction. The output for each year has
been in excess of the preceding one. at
first comparatively small Increase, but
In later years by leaps and bounds, and
the tendency OF production has had an
expansion IN the rate OF increase.
Production Cannot Be CurtaiIed.
4
recent years can hardly be expected 10
continue. yet the expanding use or ce-
ment presages for the industry an ac-
tivity that does not indicate any imme-
date curtailment In production; in fact.
the results which have been accomplished
from the substitution Of cement for other
materials in all classes Of construction
work have been so gratifying that its in
creased use, and consequently increased
production, or al least the maintenance
Of approximately its present production,
can be looked forward 10 with certaln
degree OF defniteness.
The demand for the large production OF
Portland cement has been caused by the
widely varied uses 20 which * has been
found readily adaptable, and these are
constantly being sdded 20 by its adoption
in new fields where other materials have
been used. The field OF its usefulness Is
widening, and its success in any one line
holds out equal opportunities for the same
degree Of usefulness In many kindred
lines. so that no man to-day can point
10 the limits OF its possibilities.
In re-enforCed concrete construction Il
has attained remarkable results, and
structures Of this material are now COM
mon sights In all parts OF the country.
Construction Well Tested.
The practicabllity. stability. and econo-
my OF re-enfOrced concrete structures has
been well tested and found successful.
notwithstanding the opinions TO the con-
trary Of those who are fighting its ad-
vancement:. and although cases have
been cited where IL has been pronounced
a failure. the observation-disclosures have
Invariably proven that il was the care
lessness OF the contractor and not the
materials or the systems which were al
fault; and, moreover. this same sort OF
Careiessness on the part Of the contractor
1 has caused the same kind Of failures or
collapses in structures OF steel wood. or
brick. Il is safe 10 say that we have
o'NAa btA TIE htkllNllE OF Nllc GOuStrQc-
ton OF all classes of work. such as build
ihgs, bridges, dams culyerts viaducts.
&c, of re-enforced concrete. and the fu-
ture Will see It's adoption in a still broad
er way. and for even more diversified
purposes
Another field IN which Portland cement
has made rapid advances has been in
cement or concrete building block The
expansion Of this industry has been phe-
nomenal; and. while its products were
crude az first. il has grown to a point
where the concrete block has been per
fected and has now become recognized as
an important material for building con-
struction work. A point that has been
well made by the advocates OF its ad-
vanCement is that the Industry should
stand on its own merits as cement
block, because il is In itself such a
worthy product that il is not necessary
for its growth in use that il should be
sold or advertised as an imitation OF
stone Of any kind
Notable illustration,
Probably one of the most notable pieces
Of re-enforced-concrete work. from the
standpoint OF novel and interesting con-
struction as well as from the engineer
ing problems involved. is the railway via
duct at Richmond. Va. built during the