110 University Geological Survey of Kansas. 
Other instances may occur where the mines are located near by 
the railroad line, and yet some distance away, so that a switch 
must be built or the product must be teamed. In most cases, 
if the deposit is sufficiently large, it would seem that the better 
way would be to build a switch to the mines and locate the mills 
at or near by the material to be used. This is particularly true 
where the surface is even, so that grading would be light. If 
a company is sufficiently strong to manufacture plaster at all, 
it is probable that it will furnish enough freight to justify a 
railroad in placing the ties and steel on a graded road-bed. 
The greater number of our mills in the state, excepting those 
already mentioned, have acted upon this principle, and have 
had switches constructed reaching the mines. 
The Agatite Company’s mill at Dillon is a noted exception to 
this. The mines are three-eighths of a mile from the railroad. 
Instead of building a switch down to the mines, the company 
located its mills at the railroad and built a horse-car track to 
the mines, and draws the raw material to the mills. .To one 
who has not made a careful calculation of the expenses con- 
nected with such an enterprise it would seem that a considera- 
ble saving might have been made by building a railroad switch 
to the mines and locating the mills in a convenient position 
with reference to the gypsum earth deposits. In this particular 
case such a position could readily be found without removing 
the mills far enough from Dillon to require the erection of new 
residences for the employees and operators. 
The American Cement Plaster Company, at Mulvane, have 
constructed their plant upon the principle that it is cheaper to 
bring the railroad to the mills than to locate the mills on the 
main line of the railroad. Accordingly, they have a switch 
reaching into their grounds, and have the mills located imme- 
diately at the mines. ; 
Arrangement of Buildings, ete. 
It is probable that different companies entertain different 
ideas regarding the desirability of the extent to which buildings 
should be erected for the establishment of plaster mills. At 
least one is led to such a conclusion by observing the char- 
