The Republican journal., 1912-05-09
Concerning Cement.

w AouiNGION, ~. ", May o, 1S1Z. Ce-
ment production, consumption, and ex-
portation are showing remarkable in
creases in the statistical records of the
United States, as shown by figures of
the Bureau of Statistics, Department of
ton shows an equally remarkable decline.
The quantity produced, according to fig
ures of the Bureau of Statistics present
ed in its Statistical Abstract, just issued,
has grown from million barrels is 1890
to II million in 1900 and Is million in
1910, the value having increased from
million dollars in 1890 to Is million in 1900
and SO million in 1910. Meantime the
figures of imports and exports show
equally striking changes. The quantity
of cement exported has grown from 49,
055 barrels (of $50 pounds) in 1900,
valued at S163, 1852 to 2,971, 474 barrels in
1911, valued at 81, 349, 290; while the fig
ures for the months ending with March
indicate that the total for the fiscal year
1912 will considerably exceed, in both
quantity and value, that of 1911 and will
probably amount to more than 3 million
barrels, or 40 times as much in 1912 as in
1900, with value of more than million
dollars, as against $l63, 1872 in 1900. On
the import side the decline has been as
rapid and striking as the increase on the
export side. The quantity of cement i'm
ported in 1907 was 1,123. 1853, 604 pounds,
but by 1911 had fallen to SO, 297, 749
pounds, and in the fiscal year 1912 seems
likely to fall below SO million pounds, or
less than one-twentieth of the imports
of 1907.
The United States is apparently lead
ing the world in the production of cement
for industrial purposes. The latest fig
ures available in the Bureau of Statistics
with reference to production in various
parts of the world places the production
in Germany at about 80 million barrels,
or considerably less than half that of the
United States, and that of England,
slightly less than 20 million barrels. OF
the rs million barrels produced in the
United States in 1910 very large pro-
portion is consumed at home, the exports
for that year being about 2 IL million
barrels. The total consumption in the
United States, according to the best
available figures, has grown from about
20 million barrels in 1900 to IA million in
1910.
The cement in question, which is chief
ly of the class designated as Portland"
cement, is, according to statement by
the Geological Survey, produced by burn
ing finely ground artificial mixture con-
tanning essentially lime, silica, alumina,
and iron oxide in certain definite proper
tons. This combination is made by mix
ing limestone or mari with clay or shale,
furnace Stag for the clay or shale. The
clay, or its equivalent, furnishes silica,
alumlna, and iron oxide. Impure lime
Stnna pa!tpd in oil
the ingredients are present in nearly the
proper proportions, is also much used.
The product Of the burning is a semi
fused mass called "clinker,'' which is
finely ground and after such grinding,
the powder portland cement) will set
under water.
Pennsylvania is by far the largest pro-
Queer of cement, about one-third of the
Is million barrels produced in 1910 being
the product of that State, the States fol-
lowing next in order of production being
Indiana, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, New
Jersey, Michigan, and New York.
The cement industry, according to the
census OF 1910, showed number of estab-
l1shments, 1876; capital invested, $751;
1893, 600; number Of wage earners, 26, IT'S;
wages paid, SIS, 800, 600; cost of mater
lals, $29, 344, 600; value of products, $685.
POS, 900; value added by manufacture,
(value of products less cost OF materially
$333, 861, 900.
Panama now takes over 65 per cent of
the cement exported from the United
States, the total exported thereto in the
fiscal year 1911 having been nearly mil
lion barrels out of a total of 3 million,
while various countries of North and
South America took most of the remain
der. Cuba was credited with 1929, ZOO
barrels; Mexico, 1874, 900; and Canada,
1890 Other countries, some 35 in
number, appear in the list of destina-
tons, but in no case did the total in 1911
amount to as much as $4,000 barrels. Of
the SO million pounds Of Roman, Port
land, and other hydraulic cement import
ed in the fiscal year 1911, Is million
pounds were from Germany, 81 million
from Belgium, 8 IL million from Eng
land, 6 3-4 million from France, and Ia
million pounds from China.