852 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



soiitli, a sliort distance west of the Hudson river, crossing 

 Rondout creek near South Eondout) were found to be remark- 

 ably pure and free from magnesia and well adapted to tlieii 

 pui'pose. As above stated, most of the clay deposits near the 

 Hudson river carried too much sand to be of use. After careful 

 search suitable clays were found away from the river, the best 

 being found in an extensive deposit near Phoenicia, on the Ulster 

 and Delaware railroad. 



1880 the Wallkill Portland cement co. was organized. The 

 limestone and clay properties above referred to were purchased, 

 and an abandoned flour mill at Carthage Landing on the Hudson 

 was leased and equipped with suitable machinery, a drying chan- 

 nel and two upright kilns. The manufacture of Portland cement 

 was commenced at these works early in 1881. The product, 

 though small in quantity, was of excellent quality and had a 

 ready sale. Tests and reports by Messrs Clark and Maclay 

 demonstrated the value of the cement, and the experimenters 

 were satisfied that the manufacture could be made a commercial 

 success on a larger scale. At both the Low Point and Carthage 

 Landing plants gashouse coke was used for fuel. 



Average analyses of the clay and limestone used are given 

 later in this paper, in discussing the operations at South Ron- 

 dout. A typical analysis of the cement made at Carthage Land- 

 ing follows. 



Lime 59.43 



Magnesia .., 1 . 72. 



Peroxid iron 5 . IT 



Alumina 8.13 



Carbonic acid 



Silica 24.1 



Water, alkalis, etc 1 . 45 



100 



