14 Transactions of the Kansas 



Two samples yielded, upon analysis, the fio:ures given below. No. 1 was a fine 

 specimen, of snowy whiteness; No. 2 had a light yellowish tinge, and was as poor 

 a sample as I could select. 



No. 1. No. 2. 



Moisture .34 .58 



Insoluble in acids,(silicia, lime and alumina.) .69 11.40 



Alumina, (little oxide of iron,) .43 .97 



Ferrous carbonate .14 2.83 



Calcium carbonate 98.47 84.19 



100.07 99.97 



The value of these deposits, from a practical point of view, I believe to be con- 

 siderable; and that this value may be realized, capital and enterprise only are 

 needed. 



Among the possible uses to which this material may be applied, I would mention, 

 as giving the greatest promise of profit, the manufacture of whiting of the various 

 grades, for putty, for calcimining, et cetera; and the manufacture of Portland 

 cement. The latter is a branch of industry not yet established in the United States; 

 and this simply for the reason that in the older States where such a manufacture 

 would otherwise have arisen, chalk, an essential in the economical manufacture of 

 this cement, was not to be found. 



One other essential, (and the only other), is clay. Only where these two materials 

 are found in quantity, can the manufacture be most profitably carried on ; and these 

 conditions are fulfilled in this country, as far as our present knowledge extends, 

 only in this State. 



Portland, on account of its vast superiority over our American cements, has, in 

 our growing cities, a large sale — which, however, is checked by its high price con- 

 sequent upon importation. Its price is from two to five times that of the various 

 American cements. 



Common hard limestone can be used instead of chalk, in the manufacture of 

 Portland, b}'" previously grinding it to a fine powder in a mill; or by burning it to 

 lime in a kiln, and then slaking. But the consumption of jDower recuired to reduce 

 it to powder, or of fuel used in the extra kilning, places it uude" great disadvantage 

 when compared with chalk. 



With this disadvantage in view, however, General Gilmore, Major Corps of Engi- 

 neers U. S. A., has estimated accurately the cost per ton of making Portland cement 

 in this country, using Jiard limestone instead of c7ialk.* After computing the exact 

 cost at current prices, and adding a margin of twenty per cent, for contingencies, 

 he sums up as follows : " In the United States the cost would not vary greatly from 

 $10.00 per gross ton. ***** This estimate is believed to be a liberal one. 

 It shows that Portland cement can be manufactured in this country at a cost less 

 by from twelve to fourteen per cent, than the wholesale market price of Rosendale, 

 omitting the cost of barrels in both cases." 



Making use of chalk, instead of hard limestone, this cost would be very greatly 

 reduced. 



A large number of manufacturing experiments, which I have conducted upon a 

 small scale in the laboratory, have proved by practical demonstration, that there 



* Professional Papers of Corps of Engineers of TJ. S. A., Number 19. 



