Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-24
AMERICAN CONCRETE
Is USED IN EUROPE

THE editor of leading engineering
journal in the United States
recently sent an American cement
manufacturer a post card from Ger
many upon which was written Some
of these days we will send cement TO
this country" The expectation of &C.
meht in large quantities may not take
place for years to come. but with re-
gard to machinery intended to fac1li-
tate its use, this country has already
gained a foothold. American devices to
manufacture cement products are rap
idly finding favor abroad. among them
the block machines. European builders
have found that the hollow concrete
block does not mean necessarily an
Objectionable product from the stand
point of the architect, but on the con-
trary thoroughly practical building
material susceptible TO any surface
treatment pleasing to the designer or
builder. {a
There has recently been erected III
the vicinity of Glasgow, Scotland, a
group of dwellings built OF concrete
blocks made on American machines
and It's construction would seem to al
ford ample proof that a profitable for
elen trade may be developed in other
countries by American makers of con-
crete machinery. The buildings are In
q locality where stone has been the
principal building material for CEN
turies, and where the finest skilled Ia
Dor is employed in the construction of
stone buildings. All of the other houses
in that locality are of stone, and 1t Is
stated that a comparison OF cost is
entirely In favor of the concrete block
American manufacturers claim that
when foreign sales are made and ma
chinery put into practical use, the FOR
eign buyer invariably. In construction
work, at least brings into play the
very best architectural and engineering
skill. and the result is that much bet
ter work is secured than average work
obtained from the same machines in
the United States. AS an illustration
of this the fact may be cited that while
the concrete block buildings in ques-
ton are principally of the rock face so
freely criticised In this country. they
have been used with due regard to
special architectural arrangements de-
signed to relieve the monotony so
prevalent in block construction in
America, says Cement Age. In view
OF what has already taken place. Amer
lean manufacturers of block machines
arc convinced that in the United King
dom blocks viii become exceedingly
popular and will doubtless include the
panel block, those with bush-ham-
mered surface. the horizontal and YER
tical fooled blocks and also the plain
surface.
While more progress has been made
in the use of hollow concrete building
blocks in England, Ireland and Scot
land than on the continent of Europe.
there IS an awakening going on In Eu
rope and here and there in the different
countries may be seen instances OF hol-
low concrete block construction which
will undoubtedly be a factor in de-
ycloping the business on a very large
scale.
In italy. following the visit of firm
of engineers and contractors to this
country. there is a considerable under
taking In progress. In Spain number
OF hollow concrete block houses have
been built with good results. In Ger
many, France, Austria and Switzcr-
land, buildings - under construction.
and In Russia the initial work is being
done to introduce this economical,
artistic, indestrucible. fireproof. water
proof, and repair proof building
material.