The Alaska daily empire., 1914-07-09
MAKING MATERIAL
 FOR BUILDINGS

Cant. J. T. Martins concrete manu' featuring plant Is now turning out a quality of building material that prom jses in time to revolutionize the con- struction of residents and other build ings in Alaska communities. The plant has only been in operation few days but it has already demonstrated its capacity to furnish a very favorable building material at a comparatively low cost. It Is one of the newest h. dustries to be established in Juneau and one. too, that is receiving an ever increasing attention. The plant Is situated in Last Chance basin just be- yond the city limits and is surround ed by deposit of almost ineXhaust' able material of the finest quality the sands and gravels so used, coming from the auriferous deposits Of Gold creek. Portland cement only is i'm ported. ,,,
 Thousands of brick and building block are stacked in the yard, where they may be inspected, while samples of the same have been placed on eX' hibition about town. The brick so far turned out are of standard size, and are made both plain and ornate, the latter for decorative purposes. The building blocks are 4XSX16 inches and designed to be placed on edge In a double wall leaving an air space be- tween, and the walls tied with galYan- ized wire. The product owing to some property of the materials assumes a grayish blue color when cured, mak- ing a very beautiful natural color.
 A Helm press is used in manufactur- ing the brick and blocks, and from 70 to 30 tons of pressure is put on each piece turned out, resulting in pro. duct as firm and solid as natural stone. The proportion of Portland cement. to sand and gravel is to 4. Some of the fancy finishing brick have been given a face of crushed quartz of even screen that is very beautiful and unusual, others have been finish ed in rough granite, while still others have been made as smooth as ground marble with a face made Of tailings from the stamp mills of Treadwell.
 The brick sell at $20 per thousand, while the building blocks bring l6 cents each. This it Is estimated brings the actual cost of building with con- crete about 10 per cent higher than of wood, but the saving in insurance 1t is claimed will minimize the excess in cost while the cost of up-keep to an ordinary wood building will in time amount to original cost of building with enduring concrete. A wooden structure begins to deteriorate soon after completion. while a concrete building is said to grow more enduring with the passing of time. Another point urged in favor of concrete ts that 1t makes tight walls, and if prop erly constructed perfect non-conduct- ors of heat and cold.
 Capt. Martin intends building a handsome new home for himself on his beautiful view lots. using the large building blocks for the walls.
 Speaking of the future, Capt. Martin said that he believed that as soon as people realized what could be done with the material he is now turning out that there would be many new houses built for permanency in Jun eau.
 The plant now has a capacity of 5000 brick or 500 blocks each day. If the demand for this sort of building material comes up to his expectation 1t is his intention of adding power machinery to the establishment.