The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-12-22

and government work.
The beginning of a Hawaiian cement
industry has been talked of many times.
Now the Maui Agricultural Company
has gone ahead and will soon have a
plant on a commercial basis. Every in
dicatiOn points to its success.
The plant is being erected at cost
of between $50, 900 and 100000. The
first output of cement will be used for
ditch work on the Maui plantation. The
plant will be capable of enlargement
and it is expected to supply the entire
demand for cement on Maui.
Cement making on large scale for
the entire trade of the Territory will
depend on the results of the first year
or so. At present scores of projects are
waiting on cement and paying sky high
prices on account of both mainland rail
and ocean transportation freight rates.
Local manufacture of cement on
large scale will be an almost unpreee-
dented boon TO local construction wOtk.
An account of the Maui plant and the
history of the experiments leading up
to- este blishment, written for The Ad-
veTtiser by Gn expert, follows:
Some ten years ago +. l.. Winters of
Honolulu became interested in the pos
sibilities of Portland cement prOductio
in Oahu. He collected samples of ma
terial and had chemical ana iys!s, and
test eements produced by three welt
knnwn testing laboratories on the ma n
,h sol in
All of the tests made were highly en-
cOuraging, and all reports agreed that
il was possible to make Portland ce
mcnt from proper mixture of the ma
terial found in Hawaii.
For some reason unknown to the
writer, Mr.. Winters did not proceed
further, although he had the highest
technical assurance of success. indie
pcndently of Mr. Winters, and in ignor
ance Of his results, the Maui Agricu.
tural Company in 1908 began a search
for cement material on Maui. Some
excellent material was found and cc
mont was made and tested with good
results, but the subject did not receive
serious consideration until 1912, when
q large number of analyses were made
of various volcanic deposits found on
the property in the neighborhoOd of
Paia.
Samples of the most promising ma
tcrial were forwarded to the mainland
and cement testing laboratory put
TO work on it.
The reports received were sufficient
ly gratifying to justify further invcs,
tigation. Larger amounts of material
were sent to the Coast in order to make
enough cement to allow of experiment
tatiOn on a slightly larger scale.
Several barrels of cement were made
and returned to the plantation, where
il was put into use and kept under
observation for about three wears.
In the latter part of 1918 the com
Iany installed small experimental
cement plant, and in January and Feb
rnnry Of 1916 about one hundred har
reds of Portland cement were made and
! ut to various practical uses, as ditch
lining. foundation work, etc.
SO encouraging were these tests, both
IL the laboratory and in the field that
the company decided to proceed with
the construction of IA small Portland &c
ment factory, capable Of turning out
from one hundred and fifty to two
hundred barrels daily.
The machinery for this factory i
now on the ground, and active con
Struetion is under way. Due to delay
in the arrival of some essential parts
the factory will not be ready for opera
ton till April, when the Inauguration
of Il new Hawaiian industry will occur
The possibilities which this industry
offers TO Hawaii can hardly be ovrr
estimated.
While the little plant at Paia cannO
do more than supply the local demand
for cement, it is being cOnstruc tee
with view to easy enlargement.
If the demand justifes an increase il
capacity the initial plant can readiI,
be enlarged to supply the whole cemcn
consumption of the territory, which i
at the present almost two hundred
thousand barrels per annum, even a
the almost prOhibitiYe prices obtain
ing
A Hawaiian made cement will rende
economically possible much cOnstrpc
tive work of character which fla
heretofore been left undOne because o
the expense.
1t makes possible more EXTENSIVE
ditch, tunnel, and reservoir lining N
construction of dams for impOundinl
storm water till the time of need. al,
in many ways can be used proftubl
to conserve water 10 make larger an,
cheaper crops of sugar.
an makes possible roncrete cpmp
houses and concrete sewage systems
3 hattenng the general health Of tn
Iil6nfatiOn communities.
IL makes possible concrete ruilroa,
ties, concrete Telephone poles unI tr Ms
mission line poles, making pubG1 SCI
Vice more reliable.
" II makes possible concrete sidewalk
in our cities and towns, and above al
concrete roads, which. if honestly an,
., intellegently constructed will increas