122 University Geological Survey of Kansas. 
used 2634 tons of cement plaster; the Fair used 1800 tons; 
the New York Life building used 1280 tons; the Great North- 
ern hotel used about 2000 tons. 
Cement plasters have remarkable fire-proof properties, which 
are greatly increased by certain admixtures. Mixed with as- 
bestos it has been used for plastering the inside of stove bowls. 
Calcined gypsum is mixed with finely ground cinders and 
poured between the iron joists in fire-proof buildings. Tempo- 
rary plates are placed above and below the joists, giving a 
smooth under surface for the finishing coat of the ceilings of 
the lower stories, and a smooth upper surface on which the tile 
floor may be laid. This material is claimed to be thirty-five 
per cent. lighter, of twenty-five per cent. greater strength, and 
sixty per cent. cheaper than tiling which has long been used 
for this purpose. ‘This material was used in this way in the 
government building at Omaha, and gave good satisfaction. 
Mr. C. C. Quincy, of Chicago, has experimented on varying 
mixtures of asbestos and cement plaster for fire-proof material. 
He has now a mixture of these which has double the fire-proof . 
qualities of the ordinary plaster and the hardness is not affected. 
This mixture is of special service around the steel beams in fire- 
proof buildings. In such buildings a small fire will sometimes 
be sufficient to warp these beams, and so twist the structure 
and injure very greatly its strength. This mixture, when sub- 
jected to the very severe test of heating to redness and then 
throwing water upon it, shows no change in hardness, and it is 
almost a perfect non-conductor. ‘This is certainly a most im- 
portant discovery, and will cause an increased demand for the 
eypsum plasters. | 
Gypsum plaster has been mixed with sawdust and molded 
into blocks which are then readily nailed to the wall for finish. 
They make a portable and very light finish. Calcined gypsum 
is used as part of a mixture for scagliola finish, in imitation of 
marble and onyx. It is colored and polished for inside interior 
finish with beautiful results. 
Gypsum is used as filler in the manufacture of many fine pa- 
pers. In the form of plaster of Paris, much of it is used by the 
