116 The Philippine Journal of Science 1913 



and durability, and the very best cement has proved none too 

 good. The fact that the available aggregates are poor in quality 

 or that cement is used in a crude manner serves only to increase 

 the responsibility upon the cement; and, although a second- 

 grade cement may be good enough for some purposes, usually 

 a longer and a more satisfactory service will more than com- 

 pensate for the greater initial expense of securing better material. 

 Furthermore, if we purchase mediocre cement, and thus promote 

 its manufacture, we can not hope to obtain uniformity in quality, 

 without which the architect and builder are unable to figure 

 on close margins. Structures are small now as compared to 

 those which are likely to be erected in the future, but, even at 

 the present time, the lack of certainty of securing cement which 

 will retain a definite strength and not change in volume suffi- 

 ciently to develop dangerous internal stresses is a source of 

 great expense. 



The most commendable feature of the present method of pur- 

 chasing cement is the promotion of competition, which is a 

 leading factor in keeping down market prices, and eliminating 

 the possibility of personal motive or prejudice. Competition for 

 our contracts has been fairly keen, but it has not been a com- 

 petition which has induced the best manufacturing practices, 

 supplied a uniformly high-grade product, or prevented the 

 necessity of expensive rejections. In short, it has been a com- 

 petition involving price rather than quality; and, unfortunately, 

 it is impossible to correct the faults of a poor cement by in- 

 creasing the amount used. 



REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPROVED EFFICIENCY 



Desirable results can be obtained only by establishing a 

 reasonable standard for the purchase and use of the Portland 

 cement which will be fair to the manufacturer and take into con- 

 sideration the work capable of being done as well as the quantity 

 of cement used. At the same time, the significance of inducing 

 and fostering competition should not be overlooked because we 

 must depend largely upon a condition of vigorous competition 

 to keep the cost within reasonable limits. 2 



' In 1909, I officially reported an instance where a cement manufacturer 

 shipped his best product hundreds of miles by sea and then sold it for less 

 than 4.50 pesos per barrel, while the community where the factory was 

 located often paid from 7 to 9 pesos for inferior material. This practice was 

 made possible by a heavy duty on all imported cements which enabled the 

 only home factory to eliminate competition. 



