New-York tribune., 1908-08-30
WHAT CEMENT is DOING
4 MODERN GIANT.
1t Holds Up Skyscrapers and Defes,
an Tunnels, the Force of RiUers.

rb. s,,b,ec+ n. Portland cement is to-day one Of
the most important and most interesting IN Ne"
York and the entire East. From practcaiF uI-
known and but little used material few years
ago. Il has become much q staple as wheat or
steel and absolutely essential in practically every
important construction and engineering undertak-
ing of the present time. 1t is revolutionary. 1t
has largely displaced wood and bricks 1t mas
made possible the modern skyscraper. and the
consequent increase in land values 1t mas fhaue
possible New York subways.
1t surrounds the steel and forms the foundations
Of the million dollar structure, and makes the
humblest home better and cheaper. 1t is cheaper
and more enduring than any other structural ma
terial known the builder. It has made pos
sble most of the marves of architecture and engi-
neering of to-day, and uses are being con-
stantly discovered for which it is better adapted
than any other known material. With It's ala
American engineering and architecture are being
born again. reincarnation such the world nas
never known.
The history of the world, including the days
that the birth of the pyramids, the aqueducts
of Rome, the great wall Of China and otF'r mar
vels of ancient achievements shows little or moth
ing that compare with the gigantic work of
the structural improvement now under way in and
about the American metropolis. Within period
of less than ten years there will have been ex-
pended this work little less than S2,ee0GG0,coo
The stupendousness of these undertakings is real
lied when We consider that a single one-New
Yorks water supply-will cost upward Of $780,
o0.ea0 and rival the Panama Canal The greatness
Of this undertaking has been thus outlined by
recent writer:
Picture to yourself a reservoir covering ten vii
lagos. for which twenty-three square miles of land
have been condemned and railroad has to be
bought and submerged. Imagine great DAM near
ly two miles across the face and almost two hun
dred feet high; back of this artificial lake
tanning enough water 10 NIL Broadway from curb
TO curb in a stream three feet deep. and flowing at
-h-,e -I,-
reservoir is emptied. Such is the Ashokan
voir. and il is only of the eight reservoirs in
cluded IN the Catskiu water scheme to feed the
gigantic concrete acqueduct that is 10 run from
the heart of the Catskills Manhattan.
During the possible eight years required for the
construction of this aqueduct, eighty-five miles
length, and which, in fact is artificial river of
concrete from one to three feet in thickness mill
ions Of tons Of Portland cement will be used. A
monster cement-ned conduit, blasted from the
solid rock will pass under the Hudson Storm
King In addition to all this. it is probable that
the top Of the aqueduct will be made into auto
mobile highway from New York City to the Cats
kills. in which case it will be 100 feet in width.
having concrete walls throughout its entire length.
The New York public has ceased TO gasp at in
dividual projects costing S0.eOoOoo or even sl5O-
eo,oen The Grand Centrals terminal and that
of the Pennsylvania will each cost the former
amount and It was the cost also of the McAdoo
tunnels. But the Pennsylvania tunnels will cost
s5,oOooOo, Will also the Hudson River interstate
bridge while the new state barge canal will cost
s1o1oDoooo; new bridges 10 Brooklyn Will cost sloo
0oco0. and other municipal Improvements at least
s3o0co0Oo9.
in addition TO these many smaller undertak-
ings, such other bridges costing 100000. and
dock and harbor improvements costing a like
amount. But there is another factor. New York
is the fastest growing city in the world Conserva-
tive estimates place its population fifteen years
from at 100000.
f+r-t md mi
provided with homes, and, every year. too, fifty
thousand other families must abandon their abodes
because time structures to be torn down
10 be replaced by others in the construction Of all
of which concrete is an essential factor.
An interesting fact in connection with these STU
pendous undertakings, public and private, is that
a certain single factor, seldom thought OF by the
general public, is essential TO and must enter into
all of this work. This factor is Portland cement
the basis O. concrete. without which practically
every one of these gigantic improvements and her
culean projects would be out Of the question or
all the long list OF contemplated improvements
submitted last year to Mayor Mcclellan ny the
Board Of Estimate list that totals 100000
not one be carried 10 completion without the
use Of Portland cement
When one grasps the fact that Portland cement
in the form Of concrete annually enters into the
construction Of skyscrapers costing millions or dol
lars the homes OF one hundred thousand New
York families that il composes the sidewalks
framing these abodes that the walls and floors
of all modern tunnels made OF 1t, that II en-
ters into practically every class of construction
publIc and private, in and around New York. one
realizes TO extent the Importance ana the
vastness of this comparatively new industry. and
especially its Importance 10 New 1oIh anu itS
future development.
In view Of the facts just presented, the building
of one of the largest Portland cement plants in
the world within few miles of New York tity,
which promises to deliver Portland cement TO New
hon he f4hR a M
delivered to the same market from any other
locali,v becomes a matter of the deepest interest
to every person interested in New York and its
development
The Seaboard Portland Cement Company, incor
porated in this state. has acquired what engineers
and experts pronounce, because OF unusual natu-
raj advantages and its location in relation to the
New York market, one of the most valuable Port
land cement properties IN the world.
The property referred TO comprises over seven
,undred acres situated directly the Hudson
River one hundred miles above New York. and
has practically inexhaustible deposits of raw ma
terals used In making Portland cement In view of
she scarcity Of suitable raw materials in the vicin
ttv of New York, the practical inexhaustibility OF
the raw materials is of the highest moment TO the
CITY and state, because of the vital importance OF
Portland cement and concrete in the success of
the vast structural and engineering operations now
being carried on, and that must be carried on in
the future.
IJpon this property the Fuller Engineering Com
panv, one of the leading exclusive cement engi-
neering and construction companies Of the country,
is now building for the Seaboard company a thor
oushly up-to-date plant to have capacity OF 1000
barrels OF Portland cement day. This plant will
have for it's product direct water transportation
moi only TO New York, but to the entire Atlantic
sea board. With water transportation, and able TO
load cement at the works In the evening and have
it in New York ready for delivery the next morn