El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-04
FL PAsO IS GREAT
CEMENT MAKING
CENTER NOW
Gilbert Tells Chamber of
Commerce Members of
the Indutry Here.

Enough Portland cement will be
made in FL Paso this year to build
Is Mills buildings. more. than 100 Rob-
erts- Banner buildings, or to be specific.
SOC. 600 barrels. Lloyd D. Gilbert. SUI
perintendent of the Southwestern Port
land Cement company. explained these
figures to the business men at the
chamber of commerce luncheon Thurs
day at the Sheldon grill.
Mr.. Gilbert told something Of the
early history of the cement industry,
how 1t was known as far back as 27
8. c.. when it was used to build the
Pantheon in Rome. how it was a lost
art until the 18th century. when it
was rediscovered by an English engi-
neer, who called it improved hydraulic
lime and built the Eddystone light
house, which stands intact today. The
speaker then forecasted the uses to
which cement would be put to in the
next general generation. and said that
buildings, telegraph poles. railroad
ties, sewers. tanks and almost every
other commercially used product would
be made of cement Figures were
given showing the increase of produc-
ton during the period covering the
breadth Of the production belt.
The Local Plants Work.
Then the cement expert got down
to hard pan. He told what the FL
Paso plant has done. is doing and
will do in the Immediate future FL
Paso is on its way in the cement indus
try he said The FL Paso plant pro-
duces 500. 600 barrels per year. Less
than IS percent of the capital stock
is owned by local men, The remand
er is held by Mr.. Leonardt and his
friends in Los Angeles. Colorado and
Utah Since January I. 1903 our pay
roll has been from $4,000 to $4,000
per month. The supplies purchased by
the company amount to $1,000 per
month The coal costs almost $1,000
per month There is invested in
buildings s2sS.Oo0. and the plant COM
plete is valued at $7S0,000-
Supplies Large Field.
This years production will be 300,-
GOO barrels. OF this amount FL Paso
uses but 10 percent We will make
enough to build Is Mills buildings or
more than 100 Roberts Banner build
ings To market this surplus it is
necessary to go into the New Mexico
Arizona and west Texas fields Before
the irsurrecto trouble in Mexico we
X
this money was foreign money being
brought to FL Paso.
People had the idea ths with
cement plant here cement should sell
Tor 81 per barrel This is wrong. for
this is our market tits now selling
for $500 per barrel where you paid
SO per barrel without protest before
we came. Cities are dependent upon
manufacturing and not transient tour
ist business for their real growth. We
pay from $4,000 to $4,000 in payrolls
per month. and this is every month
Our employees spend their money here
we employ so percent Mexicans, who
spend every cent they make to live.
We appeal to the people and bust
ness men of Ell Paso to help the manu-
featuring Of Ell Paso to grow. Do not
force manufacturers to pound on your
door and knock it down, as Dooley
SAYS. to get in Encourage manufac-
turing and you will make a city OF
Ell Paso."
The Fisher Booklet.
J. G. McNary explained the status
Of the present difficulty with W W
Fisher. publisher of the chamber Of
commerce annual report He explain
ed the difficulty that the directors are
having. with the publication because
OF the biographies which Fisher in
sists shall be printed in the publica-
ton. Mr. McNary appealed to the
members to support the directors in
their action in refusing to permit this
matter to appear in the booklet. Fisher
stin contends that .the chamber OF
commerce will issue the booklet
The Dam Excursion.
Secretary c. A Kline announced the
details of the excursion to the Hie-
phant Butte dam next Wednesday. Box
lunches will be sold on the train and
the train will return in time for the
excursionists to have dinner in FL
Paso. There are liz members of the
chamber of commerce who have al
ready signed up for the trip and the
secretary requested that all of these
members mail checks to him at once or
notify him that they will be unable to
go. The demand for tickets is great
and the number is limited to 15o
There will be so or more residents
Of the Mesilla valley join the party
at Las Cruces and arrangements are
being made for them. The rate for the
round trip is $3.50, not including the
cost Of the box lunch. Three hours
ill ID cront al the. ia n1Site the train