1904 
 
 Portland and 
 
 Rafural 
 
 PpdrauHc 
 
 ♦♦♦♦ 
 
rranklin Institute Library 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 Class6Sl-S BoohJ-lz^B 
 
 Accession ■5^'~i;^<D 
 REFERENCE 
 
 Given by Af r . C • P Q> We l i 
 
1 5 1904 .-/^ ^./y 
 
 NOTES ON 
 
 AMERICAN CEMENT 
 
 BY 
 
 WM. G. HARTRANFT. 
 
 COPLAY CEMENT CO. 
 
 WORKS : COPLAY, PA. 
 OFFICE: ALLENTOWN, PA. 
 
 MANUFACTURERS OF 
 
 Portland and Natural Hydraulic Cement. 
 
 COMMERCIAL WOOD AND CEMENT CO. 
 Selling Agent, 
 Girard Building, Broad and Chestnut Sts., 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 1896. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 CEMENT 5 
 
 Analysis of Saylor's Portland Cement lo 
 
 Letters, Majors Gillespie and Gilmore 13 
 
 Early Prejudice Against American Cements 15 
 
 Letter, Captain J. B. Eads, Chief Engineer, Mississippi 
 
 Jetties 19 
 
 Improved Anchor Cement 21 
 
 Tests on Improved Anchor Cement 21 
 
 Anchor and Commercial Rosendale Cements 23 
 
 Cooperage 25 
 
 Color of Natural Cement 27 
 
 Tests on Saylor's Portland Cement 28, 40, 50, 54, 90 
 
 Captain W. W. Maclay's Paper on Use and Testing Port- 
 land Cement 29 
 
 D. P. Collins' Paper on High Testing Cement 33 
 
 Directions for Preparing Portland Cement 37 
 
 Tests, St. Louis Water Works 38 
 
 Tests, Engineering Department, Kansas City, Mo 42 
 
 Notes on Testing 45 
 
 Notes on Cement 55 
 
 Tests on Saylor's vs. Alsen 56 
 
 Tests, Engineering Department, Philadelphia, 1895 48 
 
 Tests, Engineering Department, Philadelphia, 1894 46 
 
 Tests, Engineering Department, Philadelphia, 1893 58 
 
 Tests, Engineering Department, Indianapolis, Ind 60 
 
 Tests, Northwestern Elevated Railroad, Chicago, 111.... 62 
 
 Tests on Commercial Rosendale Cement 64 
 
 Tests on Commercial Portland Cement 92, 94 
 
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Diploma, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893.. 4 
 
 Concrete Culvert, Coplay, Pa 11 
 
 Diploma, International Exposition, Philadelphia, 1876... 12 
 
 Saylor's Portland Cement Works, Mill A 14 
 
 Saylor's Portland Cement Works, Mill B 16 
 
 Mississippi Jetties 18 
 
 Stock House, Mill A 20 
 
 Concrete Stock House, Mill B 20 
 
 Girard Avenue Bridge, Philadelphia 22 
 
 Old Orchard Shoal Light-house, New York Bay 26 
 
 Cement Steps, Reading, Pa 30 
 
 Brooklyn Bridge 32 
 
 New York Concrete Docks 36 
 
 Concrete Bridge, Philadelphia 44 
 
 Cement Sewer Pipe 52 
 
 Cement Pavements 70 
 
 Cement Steps, Pottsville, Pa 74 
 
 Cement Driveway, Chester, Pa 78 
 
 Concrete Dam, Shamokin, Pa 82 
 
 Concrete Sea Wall, League Island Navy Yard 86 
 
 Reading Paper Mill's Dam, Reading, Pa 96 
 
CEMENT. 
 
 The art of making a good hydraulic lime or 
 cement, by the mixture of pozzolana and fat lime, 
 as practiced so successfully by the early Romans, 
 seems to have been lost at the time the Roman 
 Empire was overrun by the Barbarians, about 300 
 A. D. For centuries afterward, fat lime and 
 sand, although not usually hydraulic, was used 
 for all purposes requiring mortar. In the early 
 part of the eighteenth century we find the want of 
 an absolutely reliable hydraulic cement was felt all 
 over Europe, and many experiments were being car- 
 ried on to find such a material. 
 
 The discovery of how to make artificial lime, or 
 what is now known as Portland Cement, by mixing 
 lime and clay together, may be said to have taken 
 place in 1757, with the experiments of Col. John 
 Smeaton for a hydraulic mortar for use in the 
 Eddystone Lighthouse. The results of these expe- 
 riments are probably known to most readers; how, 
 after finding that some of the limes of Europe, 
 which contained traces of clay, showed a greater 
 tendency to harden under water than the pure fat 
 limes, he made a hydraulic cement by adding a 
 percentage of ground, burnt clay to the fat lime, and 
 
6 
 
 with this mortar built the stone lighthouse tower 
 on the most dangerous reef on the English coast.^ 
 This lighthouse was completed and the lantern 
 lighted, October i6, 1759. This great work — the 
 greatest of its kind hitherto undertaken — remained 
 for 1 20 years a stable monument of Smeaton's engi- 
 neering skill. Passengers on the steamers, now ply- 
 ing along the Southern coast of England, may yet 
 see the spar of this lighthouse, standing some 
 twenty feet out of water, along-side of the new 
 lighthouse which was erected in 1879; the Smeaton 
 Tower having been weakened at the foundations, 
 owing to the rocks on which it was erected having 
 been worn away by the action of the waves. 
 
 Dr. Michaelis' Work on Hydraulic Mortar, pub- 
 lished at Leipsic in 1869, says: ''A century has 
 elapsed since the celebrated Smeaton completed the 
 building of the Eddystone Lighthouse. Not only 
 to sailors, but to the whole human race is this 
 lighthouse a token of useful work. A light on a 
 dark night, in a scientific poiht of view it has illu- 
 minated the darkness of almost two hundred years. 
 The Eddystone Lighthouse is the foundation on 
 which our knowledge of hydraulic mortar has been 
 erected, and it is the chief pillar of modern archi- 
 tecture. Srneaton freed us from the fetters of tra- 
 dition by showing us that the purest and hardest of 
 
 *The first lighthouse, erected on the Eddystone Reef in 
 1700, being of wood, was blown down ; the second, also of wood, 
 erected in 1709, was destroyed by fire during the year 1755. 
 
7 
 
 limestones is not the best, at least for hydraulic pur- 
 poses, and that the cause of hydraulicity must be 
 sought for in the argillaceous mixture." 
 
 Palsey says of Smeaton in his work dated 1838 : 
 ''Of all the authors who have investigated the prop- 
 erties of calcarious mortars and cements, from time 
 immemorial to the present day, our countryman, 
 Smeaton, appears to have the greatest merit; for 
 although he found no new cement himself, he was 
 the first who discovered in, or soon after the year 
 1756, that the real cause of the hydraulic properties 
 of lime and cement consisted in a combination of 
 clay with the carbonate of lime." 
 
 Following Smeaton, came other noted experi- 
 menters, Higgins, Dobbs, Vicat, John, St. Ledger; 
 following them, J. C. Aspdin's patent of 1824, for 
 the manufacture of what he called Portland Cement, 
 made by burning lime and clay together in a kiln at 
 a low degree of heat, until the carbonic acid gas 
 was expelled and afterwards grinding the product to 
 a fine powder. Then followed Frost, who erected 
 the first mill for manufacturing Portland Cement 
 near London in 1826. 
 
 The industry grew slowly, without much improve- 
 ment in the quality of the product until 1855 or 
 i860, when, owing to the change in the burning, 
 whereby the mixture of lime and clay (silica and 
 alumina) were burnt to the point of vitrification, 
 instead of simply expelling the carbonic acid gas, 
 the quality of the cement was very much improved 
 
8 
 
 and at once asserted its superiority over the natural 
 cements made in England (Roman Cement) and the 
 United States (Rosendale Cement). At that time 
 the natural cements were manufactured in the same 
 way as they are at the present time, by simply cal- 
 cining a calcarious limestone, as it is found in nature, 
 at a low temperature and afterwards grinding it in 
 the same manner as it is done with the hard burnt 
 artificial Portland Cement product. 
 
 As the manufacture of Portland Cement began to 
 spread in Europe, small quantities were shipped 
 to this country in about 1865, and as the importa- 
 tions increased and the product sold at from $5.00 
 to $7.00 per barrel, it attracted the attention of the 
 Natural Cement manufacturers in this country and 
 experiments were made with the material found 
 here, but owing to the lack of a thorough knowledge 
 of the materials and the manner of handling them, 
 all efforts to profitably make a Portland Cement 
 failed until 1872. In that year David O. Saylor, 
 president of the Coplay Cement Co., who had been 
 experimenting with the argillaceous limestone found 
 at Coplay, from which they were making a natural 
 cement, succeeded in making a Portland Cement, 
 after various failures and reverses, together with a 
 large expenditure of money. This Portland Cement, 
 the first to be manufactured in the United States on 
 a paying commercial basis, was called Saylor's 
 Portland Cement," and the quality was'pronounced 
 by all authorities on cement as fully equal to the 
 
9 
 
 best of the foreign brands. The present condition 
 of work done twenty years ago with this cement is 
 excellent and has fully justified the confidence 
 placed in it by the early users. 
 
 From this time on the growth of the Portland 
 Cement business became phenomenal and the use 
 of this grade of cement has increased every year 
 from fifteen to thirty per cent. The capacit)^ of the 
 Coplay Cement Co.'s works was enlarged year after 
 year to meet the increased demand for ''Saylor's 
 Portland," which immediately took a leading 
 place in the cement trade; from one small kiln mak- 
 ing only 1800 barrels in the year 1875, the plant has 
 been increased to the capacity of 400,000 barrels per 
 annum, and stands to-day the finest and best 
 equipped cement factory in the world for making 
 large quantities of the highest grade of cement. 
 The new addition, erected in 1895, to this plant 
 (which in itself has a capacity as large as any other 
 factory in the United States and as large as most of 
 the foreign works) was completed after two years' 
 careful study of all the methods of burning, grind- 
 ing, and after a personal inspection by Mr. Chas. M. 
 Saeger, Superintendent of the Coplay Cement Co., 
 and the writer, of all the Portland Cement Works in 
 Europe. 
 
 It was found that in the European factories the 
 percentages of lime, silica and alumina were guaged 
 largely by the ''rule of the thumb," as was done in 
 this country. Knowing the benefits to be derived 
 
lO 
 
 from an absolutely uniform mixture, the Coplay 
 Cement Co. decided to place Automatic Weighing- 
 Machinery in their works for gauging the raw 
 materials, which results in a guarantee to the trade, 
 of a uniform cement at all times. With the excep- 
 tion of one factory in Denmark, the Coplay Cement 
 Co. is the only company in the world which guages 
 their raw materials by the use of Automatic Scales. 
 
 The ^'Saylor's Portland Cement" and the 
 ''Commercial Portland Cement" are manufactured 
 from a mixture of argillaceous limestone and pure 
 carbonate of lime which is found in inexhaustible 
 quantities on the property of the Coplay Cement 
 Co. at Coplay, Pa. The following is a complete 
 analysis of their Portland Cement: 
 
 Silica (Sol.) 19.67 
 
 Silica (Insol.) 97 
 
 Alumina 6.93 
 
 Sesq. Oxide of Iron.. . . 5.41 
 
 Lime 62.79 
 
 Manganese 1.72 
 
 Carbonic Acid 99 
 
 Sulphur II 
 
 Phosphoric Acid 038 
 
 Magnesia, Oxide 1.16 
 
 Potash and Soda 275 
 
 These elements are found in the state of Bi-basic 
 Silicates of Lime and Aluminate of Lime, in which 
 condition they should be found to be a true Port- 
 land Cement. ''Saylor's Portland Cement" has 
 
I 1 
 
 now been before the public for twenty years, and 
 has been subjected to the severest tests under all 
 conditions, and in every case has been pronounced 
 by the user as a superior cement. 
 
 We ask you to read the testimonial letters, found 
 further on, they having been selected from our let- 
 ter-files and covering the various work on which our 
 cement has been used, and, on this unimpeachable 
 testimony, covering a period of twenty years, we base 
 our claim that '^Saylor's Portland Cement" is 
 unexcelled for any work requiring Portland Cement. 
 
 CONCRETE CULVERT, COPLAY, PA. 
 
 EIGHT FEET DIAMETER. 
 
 Built of Saylor's Portland Cement. 
 
^3 
 
 UNITED STATES ENGINEER'S OFFICE, 
 River and Harbor Improvements and Fortifications 
 ON South Atlantic Coast. 
 Army Building, cor. Houston and Greene Streets. 
 
 New York, December 19, 1S76. 
 Gentlemen — I am well acquainted with "Saylor's Portland 
 Cement," having tested it frequently for the manufacturers, and 
 to some extent having used it upon the government works under 
 my charge. It compares favorably in quality with the English 
 Portland Cements sold in the New York market. I found it on 
 exhibition in the "International Exhibition" at Philadelphia. 
 There were fourteen Portland Cements exhibited, all of which 
 were tested under my direction. "Saylor's Cement" stood 
 among the five best specimens. I have no hesitation in recom- 
 mending its use where Portland Cement is required. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Q. A. Gilmore, 
 Brev't Maj .-General, U. S. A. 
 
 U. S. ENGINEER'S OFFICE, 
 Room 59, Army Building. 
 
 New York, May 9, 1883. 
 Sirs — The experience I have had with your cement is too 
 limited to enable me to make you a statement of any special value 
 for publication. In making selection of a cement for use in the 
 construction of cement jetties to protect the eastern shore line 
 of Sandy Hook, near the fort, I desired, all other things being 
 equal, to e7icoiLrage hoine productio7is, and the tests furnished by 
 your company proving satisfactory, I decided finally to use your 
 brand called "Saylor's Portland Cement." My order covers 
 fifteen hundred or more barrels ; of this amount nine hundred 
 barrels have been delivered, all of which have proven of superior 
 quality and equal to my requirements. I have not had occasion 
 so far to reject a single barrel. I see no reason why your cement 
 •should not become a favorite brand in the general market. 
 
 Very truly, G. L. Gillespie, 
 
 Major of Engineers, Bt. Lt. Col. U. S. A. 
 
i 
 
^5 
 
 PREJUDICE. 
 
 In the early years, when the Coplay Cement Co. 
 was struggling alone trying to introduce American 
 Portland Cement, the greatest obstacle was preju- 
 dice. Not so much from the engineer in charge of 
 large work, as from the small user and large dealer. 
 The latter, generally being in close business relation 
 with the importers, very often would not try to sell 
 the American product, or bring its merits to the 
 notice of consumers. The engineers in charge of 
 large work, on the other hand, cheerfully investi- 
 gated it and finding that the raw material and the 
 brains existed at the Saylor's Portland Cement 
 Plant, to make the best grade of cement known, 
 readily permitted its use under the same restric- 
 tions as to strength and fineness, as the Foreign 
 Cements. 
 
 Among the early users of ^'Saylor's Portland 
 Cement" were: 
 
 Geo. S. Greene, Jr., Engineer in Chief, Dept. Docks, New York. 
 Saml. H. Wells, Commissioner, Dept. Parks, New York. 
 Capt. J. B. Eads, Chief Engineer, Mississippi Jetties. 
 E. L. Corthell, Chief Engineer, N. Y. S. W. & B. R. R. 
 
 C. C. Martin, First Asst. Engr. in charge of constructing 
 
 New York and Brooklyn Bridge. 
 Gen. Q. A. Gilmore, Corps of Engrs., U. S. A. 
 
Maj. G. L. Gillespie, Corps of Engrs.^ 
 J. C. Campbell, Chief Engineer, 
 Edward Clark, Architect, 
 
 U. S. A. 
 
 Croton Aqueduct, N.Y. 
 U. S. Capitol, Washings 
 
 ton, D. C. 
 Tribune Bldg., N. Y. 
 
 R. M. Hunt, 
 
 Architect, 
 
 James W. Eaton, Superintendent, New Captl., Albany,N. Y. 
 and many others. 
 
 All of these parties have many times testified 
 to the merits of " Saylor's Portland Cement" 
 as compared with the best quality of Foreign 
 Cement, and recognized by such authority, the 
 unwarranted prejudice has entirely disappeared and 
 to-day the ^'Saylor's American Portland Cement" 
 is used largely on important engineering work all 
 over this country, taking the entire capacity of the 
 greatly enlarged works to supply the demand each 
 year. 
 
19 
 
 MISSISSIPPI JETTIES. 
 
 May 19, 1886. 
 
 Gentlemen — I have your note of April 23, 1886, with inqui- 
 ries concerning the condition of the concrete blocks at the mouth 
 of the Mississippi, made with your "Saylor's Portland Cement" 
 in 1878, '79. I am glad to inform you that these blocks show no 
 signs of deterioration whatever, their edges and angles being 
 still sharp and perfect. One mile of these blocks with a parapet 
 built over them continuously were placed on the East Jetty, and 
 a one half mile of similar blocks were placed on the West Jetty 
 at the sea ends of each. A portion of the parapet and blocks on 
 the East Jetty were injured by a severe hurricane about a year 
 or two after they were built, but this result was not caused by 
 any inferiority of the cement or concrete. I consider it the best 
 cement I have ever used. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 James B. Eads, 
 
 Chief Engineer, 
 
 UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE. 
 
 Port Eads, La., February 26, 1894. 
 Gentlemen — Replying to query contained in your letter of 
 19th inst., I would state that for 1,500 feet from the outer or sea 
 end of the East Jetty the concrete work built by Captain Eads is 
 still intact. Most of the wall originally built, however, was 
 destroyed during storms in 1882 and 1886, but this was due to 
 faulty construction, the base not being sufficient for the height, 
 the force of the sea overturned the blocks. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 C. A. Donovan, 
 
 U. S. Assistant Engineer, 
 
CONCRETE STOCK HOUSE, MILL B. CAPACITY, 40,000 BBLS. 
 
21 
 
 Improved Anchor Cement. 
 
 Improved Anchor Cement is specially manu- 
 factured for the Philadelphia Department of Public 
 Works, 1 20,000 barrels having been used in build- 
 ing sewers and bridges in the city of Philadelphia 
 during the years 1894 and 1895. 
 
 This brand of cement is superior to any of the 
 Rosendale or Natural Cements on the market, it 
 being composed of a large percentage of Saylor's 
 Portland, and has a strength almost as great as the 
 Belgian and English Portland Cements. The follow- 
 ing tests are taken from the last annual report of 
 the Director of Public Works, Philadelphia : 
 
 [EXTRACT.] 
 
 R. L. Humphrey, 
 
 Inspector of Cement. 
 
 Geo. S. Webster, 
 
 Chief Engineer. 
 
 Brand — Improved Anchor. 
 
 Fineness — Average 98.4 per cent, on a No. 50 seive. 
 No. of Briqiiettes Moulded — 1420. 
 Samples collected from one hundred and seventy- 
 nine shipments. 
 
 AVERAGE TENSILE STRENGTH, NEAT CEMENT. 
 
 AGE OF BRIQUETTE. PER SQUARE INCH. 
 
 7 days 232 lbs. 
 
 28 " 327 
 
 2 months 411 
 
 3 
 4 
 6 
 18 
 24 
 
 434 
 448 
 484 
 
 509 
 567 
 
Natural Cement. 
 
 Anchor and Commercial Rosendale are lightly 
 burnt, natural hydraulic cements. These cements 
 are so well known that little more can be said. For 
 a cheap, natural cement, good for public and 
 domestic requirements, they have no equal and are 
 always preferred to the other brands. 
 
 They have been extensively used on work where 
 large bodies of .concrete are required, as well as for 
 floors, cisterns, retaining walls, bridge abutments, etc. 
 
 In the report of the engineer in charge of the 
 Girard Avenue Bridge at Philadelphia, Pa. (where 
 1 5,000 barrels of Anchor Cement were used), he says 
 that of all of the different natural hydraulic cements 
 experimented with and tested for concrete the 
 Anchor proved the strongest and most satisfactory 
 in all respects. 
 
 The following extract is from said report, pub- 
 lished in the Journal of the F'ranklin Institute, Phil- 
 adelphia, Pa., March, 1874 (page 181): 
 
 ''The materials used were Portland, Rosendale, 
 Coplay Anchor and Old Lehigh Cements, sharp 
 river sand, coarse screened gravel and broken fur- 
 nace slag. Of these, seventeen samples, each of a 
 different proportion, were carefully mixed and kept 
 under water thirty days, after which time they were 
 
24 
 
 tested with the following result : The New York 
 Rosendale Cement had failed entirely, perhaps on 
 account of its not being fresh when used. Its quali- 
 ties have lately been very unreliable, and it was 
 therefore rejected. The Portland Cement, as was 
 expected, acted by far the best. The Coplay and 
 Old Lehigh showed nearly equal strength. 
 
 Later and more careful comparison between the 
 Coplay and Old Lehigh proved that the former was 
 strongest and best adapted for subaqueous work. 
 
 From the result, the following material and 
 proportions were selected : 
 
 I part Anchor. 
 I part River Sand. 
 4 parts Furnace Slag. 
 
 ''The Strength of the Concrete was 308 pounds 
 per square inch after thirty days' immersion in 
 water." 
 
 Record for last year shows these natural cements 
 tested, neat: 
 
 24 hours. ... 45 to 70 lbs. per square inch. 
 
 7 days 100 to i 50 '' 
 
 I month. ... 150 to 200 " 
 
 I year 375 to 400 
 
25 
 
 Cooperage. 
 
 The barrels in which these cements are packed 
 are of the best quality, and are manufactured at the 
 works, thereby insuring a perfect barrel. 
 
 All their cement barrels are lined on the inside 
 by a strong moisture proof paper, which allows the 
 cement to be kept in storage without caking or 
 becoming damaged by accidental exposure. 
 
 They ship large quantities of cement in bulk, 
 also in paper, cotton and Burlap bags, the paper 
 bags being furnished free of charge, and the Burlap 
 and cotton bags being charged for at 7 and 10 cents 
 respectively ; the same amount being credited when 
 they are returned in good condition to Coplay, Pa. 
 
 Cement shipping in bulk is very desirable and 
 economical when parties are situated to handle it in 
 this condition. 
 
 They have arrangements with the railroad com- 
 panies to furnish them with water-tight compart- 
 ment cars, and can insure the safe arrival of any 
 consignment. 
 
 Their shipping facilities are very perfect and 
 convenient. The works are located at Coplay, Pa., 
 on the main line of the L. V. R. R., one hundred 
 miles west of New York City, and sixty-five miles 
 north of Philadelphia. 
 
26 
 
 Oed Orchards Shoal, Zowtr S^vo:)\iork ^ay , Jf.y. ^j^j 
 
Color of Natural Cement. 
 
 Extract from Gen. Q. A. GILMORE'S work on Lime and 
 Cement. Page 162. 
 
 The color of the manufactured cement being 
 due principally to the presence of a small quantity 
 of Oxide of Iron and sometimes of Manganese, or 
 to the Carbonates of these Oxides, which for all 
 practical purposes are conceded to be a passive 
 ingredient in hydraulic mortar, should be a matter 
 of indifference to consumers. In fact the presence 
 of a large proportion of the coloring principle, like 
 that of any other inert substance, might be expected 
 to have a tendency to deteriorate the quality of the 
 mortar by diminishing the cohesive strength of the 
 cementing substance, and, therefore, if taken into 
 consideration at all, ought at least to direct suspi- 
 cion to the darker varieties. 
 
28 
 
 CHIEF ENGINEER'S OFFICE— AQUEDUCT COMMIS- 
 SIONERS, 
 
 ROOM 213, STEWART BUILDING. 
 
 New York, Feb. 12, 1894. 
 Gentlemen — Herewith please find memorandum 
 of tests of Saylor's Portland Cement, as made at 
 office of Reservoir M., Purdy's Station. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 W. H. Spencer, Chief Clerk, 
 
 SAYLOR'S PORTLAND CEMENT. 
 
 AVERAGE OF TEN BRIQUETTES. 
 
 Fineness — 10,000 meshes per square inch 
 Neat cement, tensile strength, i day. 
 " " " 7 days 
 
 28 
 
 Mortar — 2 to i 7 
 
 3 to 1 7 
 
 " 2 to 1 28 
 
 " 3 to 1 28 
 
 5y%<^o residue. 
 300j^Q lbs. per sq. inch, 
 
 667A 
 
 744t*o 
 318 
 
 214 
 
 449to 
 
29 
 
 American Society of Civil Engineers. 
 
 [instituted 1852.] 
 
 Notes and Experiments on the Use and Testing of 
 Portland Cement. 
 
 A Paper by WILLIAM W. MACLAY, C. E., Member of the 
 Society, for which the Normal Medal was 
 Awarded November 7, 1877. 
 
 [extract from page 311.] 
 
 At the present time, when so many important 
 works are being carried on in this country, in which 
 large quantities of Portland Cement are used, where, 
 formerly, some of the different varieties of Ameri- 
 can hydraulic cement would probably have been 
 employed, any experience tending to produce uni- 
 formity in the results of its testing, or to show the 
 effects of heat and cold upon the mortar or concrete 
 into which it enters, would seem to be very useful 
 to the profession, and of sufficient importance to be 
 given in detail. -^^ ^ 
 
 This apathy on the part of the English engi- 
 neers, in requiring a finely ground cement for their 
 work, has produced a corresponding disinclination 
 on the part of the manufacturer to supply it. 
 About two years ago, in preparing the specification 
 for a large quantity of Portland Cement to be deliv- 
 ered in this city, the writer, in the test for fineness, 
 required that at least 85 per cent, of the cement 
 should pass through a sieve containing 2500 meshes 
 per square inch, that the weight of the struck bushel 
 should not be less than 1 1 5 pounds, and the tensile 
 
CONCRETE STEPS, READING, PA. 
 Built of Saylor's Portland Cement. 
 
31 
 
 strength, for the seven-day test, at least 250 pounds 
 per square inch. Several English manufacturers, 
 applied to by the importers to fill this contract, 
 declined, except for unusually high prices, alleging 
 that the cement, as ordinarily burnt, if ground to 
 the degree of fineness required, would not come up 
 to the weight required per struck bushel, and that 
 in consequence of the extra burning producing a 
 harder material to grind, much unnecessary expense 
 would be entailed upon them. The cement was 
 eventually supplied by the Burham Co., at the ordi- 
 nary market price, and, although passing the test 
 for fineness, never came quite up to the standard 
 required in the weight per struck bushel. 
 
 In contrast to this may be mentioned the recent 
 experience of the writer with the Coplay Cement 
 Manufacturing Co., in supplying Saylor's American 
 Portland Cement, under a contract, in which the 
 test for fineness only required that 80 per cent, of 
 the cement should pass through a sieve 2500 meshes 
 per square inch, that the weight of the struck 
 bushel should not be less than 1 10 pounds, and that 
 the tensile strength per square inch at the end of 
 seven days should be 250 pounds, or, in other words, 
 a lower standard of fineness and weight than in the 
 contract above alluded to, which was filled by the 
 Burham Company. When this American Portland 
 Cement was supplied on the work it was found to 
 exceed considerably the requirements of the three 
 tests, averaging over 1 20 pounds per struck bushel, 
 over 250 pounds per square inch in tensile strength, 
 and over 90 per cent, passing through a sieve con- 
 taining 2500 meshes to the square inch. 
 
32 
 
 BROOKLYN BRIDGE. 
 Saylor's Portland Cement Used in Building Foundations. 
 
 THE TRUSTEES OF THE NEW YORK AND 
 BROOKLYN BRIDGE. 
 
 Office, No. 21 Water Street. 
 
 Brooklyn, March 20, 1883. 
 Agents Saylor's American Portland Cement. 
 
 Gentlemen — We have used during the construction of the 
 East River Bridge about seven hundred barrels of your Ameri- 
 can Portland Cement, and it has given entire satisfaction. It 
 was used at critical points, and the results have fully justified 
 its use. 
 
 I can see no reason why your cement should not entirely 
 supercede the use of the imported article. 
 
 C. C. Martin, 
 First Assistant Engineer, 
 
33 
 
 Cement Showing Too Great a Strength 
 
 ON THE 
 
 Popular Seven=Day Test May be Dangerous to Use. 
 
 [extract.] 
 
 Consular Report, No. 127, page 618, written by 
 Mr. D. L. Collins, of Messrs. Gibbs & Co., Limited, 
 London : 
 
 ''It is quite possible for an expert constantly 
 gauging with fixed conditions as to temperature and 
 atmosphere to get high results with a safe cement, 
 but, if the cement is to be tested by anyone with 
 less experience, it is necessary for the manufacturer 
 to work to a still higher standard, i, e., to increase 
 the proportion of lime to the highest possible point. 
 
 ''Some authorities think the danger of doing 
 this can be counteracted by heavy burning. This 
 certainly is not invariably the case. For instance, 
 he has seen briquettes made from cement weighing 
 123 pounds to the bushel, test at seven days, 1200 
 to 1 300 pounds on an inch and a half by an inch 
 and a half section (and which at two years could not 
 be broken with a strain of 1430 pounds), break a 
 few months later at 800 pounds. This was doubt- 
 lessly entirely due to the excess of lime which was 
 necessary to use in the original mixture, and he 
 believes it is this high proportion which has been 
 the real cause of recent concrete work failures — 
 failures that were almost unknown before high test- 
 ing cements came into vogue. 
 
34 
 
 '^Tensile strain is one of the conditions of a 
 specification most stringently enforced. At the 
 same time it should be remembered that it is a test 
 which depends greatly on the state of the atmos- 
 phere, and still more so on the skill of the manipu- 
 lator. 
 
 With regard to the latter point, it is by no 
 means an infrequent occurrence to find two men 
 making briquettes from the identical cement pro- 
 ducing results varying from 25 to 33 per cent. It is 
 therefore especially important that tests should be 
 made by skilled labor and under fixed conditions of 
 temperature, proportions of water, etc. 
 
 '^Always weigh the cement, sand and water 
 before guaging, as a very slight excess of the neces- 
 sary amount of sand or water will materially affect 
 the result. Mr. Parker says: 'There would some- 
 times be a difference of 100 to i 50 per cent., without 
 any apparent cause, in the breaking strain of two 
 briquettes made from the same sample ; consistent 
 results could only be obtained by adopting exact pro- 
 portions of cement and water.' 
 
 Unfortunately every sample will require a vary- 
 ing amount, according to the nature of its setting 
 (quick or slow), fineness of grinding and the state 
 of the atmosphere; but, as a rule, from 18 to 28 per 
 cent, will be sufficient where one-inch moulds are 
 used. 
 
 Fineness of grinding has been proved by Mr. 
 John Grant and other authorities to be the most 
 
35 
 
 important factor in the strength of concrete, and 
 it should therefore have special attention. Water 
 test is one of the safest guards as to the soundness 
 •of cement. 
 
 ''Thin cakes, or pats, should be made up and 
 placed upon a piece of glass or other non-absorbent 
 material, and then, when thoroughly set, one cake 
 should be immersed in water, the other being 
 left in the air. Care should be taken that the 
 cement is thoroughly set before immersion, and 
 for a slow setting quality, the pats may some- 
 times require 24 hours to become so. If, after this, 
 the pats show cracks on the outer edge, the cement 
 .should not be passed, unless it can be proved that 
 the effect is due only to the freshness of the grind- 
 ing, and can therefore be thoroughly remedied by 
 air slacking. 
 
 ''A further useful test is to fill a test tube with 
 gauged cement. Good cement always expands 
 slightly, so that in the course of two or three days 
 the tube will crack ; if, however, the expansion is so 
 great as to blow the glass to pieces, the cement 
 should be regarded with great suspicion." 
 
36 
 
 CROSS SECTION OF BULKHEAD OR RIVER WALL 
 AT WEST 52d. ST. SECTTON,N. R. SOUTH END. 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF DOCKS, 
 No. 117 DuANE Street. 
 
 New York, March 3, 1879. 
 Gentlemen— In reply to your request I take pleasure in 
 stating that the Department of Docks has used from August i, 
 1876, to December 21, 1878, 9598 barrels of " Saylor's American 
 Portland Cement." My experience thus extended in the use of 
 your cement enables me to recommend it even more strongly 
 than I did in my letter of February 26, 1878, for any purpose 
 requiring Portland Cement. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 G. S. Greene, Jr. 
 
 C/iie/ Engineer. 
 
37 
 
 Directions for Preparing Portland Cement. 
 
 To secure the best results from a true Portland 
 Cement a few rules must be observed, and although 
 a party may be thoroughly versed in the use of nat- 
 ural cement, lime, etc., he should note carefully the 
 following : 
 
 Portland Cement Mortar. 
 
 Spread out the exact measured quantity of sand 
 in a clean box, pour upon it the exact quantity of 
 cement and mix the whole dry until the sand and 
 cement are thoroughly incorporated. Then add the 
 required quantity of water while the material is 
 being constantly and carefully mixed up. It is 
 advisable to add the water slowly by sprinkling. 
 Continue the mixing until the mortar arrives at a 
 good plastic condition. 
 
 If too much water is added it retards the setting, 
 especially in damp, cold weather, and the work will 
 become less dense and therefore less durable. 
 
 Portland Cement Concrete. 
 
 Add to the sand and cement prepared as before 
 mentioned, while still dry, the exact quantity of 
 broken stone, mix the whole mass several times over 
 with the required amount of water until all the 
 ingredients are thoroughly and evenly mixed. 
 
 Concrete should not contain more water than will 
 give it the appearance of fresh dug earth, and when 
 rammed in and tamped down water should appear 
 on the surface which will indicate that sufficient 
 
38 
 
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39 
 
 water has been used. Such work will attain great 
 density and uncommon durability. 
 
 The quantity of broken stone to be used in con- 
 crete, provided it is of good quality, does not weaken 
 the concrete, which will obtain the strength which 
 the mortar of cement and sand would attain without 
 the additional stone. 
 
 It is, however, important that the cement mortar 
 should closely cover and fill up all the interstices 
 which may exist between the stone and to diminish 
 these as much as possible; the stone employed 
 should consist of a proper proportion of various 
 sizes, from one quarter to two inches in diameter, 
 which will pack very closely. 
 
 The following proportions have been found to 
 answer for most purposes for which concrete is used, 
 to be varied as nature of work, quality of the sand, 
 or the size of the stone may require : 
 
 I part Portland Cement. 
 3 parts Sharp Sand. 
 6 parts Broken Stone. 
 
 For concrete under water, sand and broken stone 
 should be used in equal proportion if great strength 
 is desired. 
 
 There is an erroneous idea that concrete tipped 
 into position from a height is given solidity by the 
 fall, but unfortunately the larger pieces of the aggre- 
 gate fall to the ground first, smaller pieces next, 
 and, last of all, the mortar, so that the aggregate 
 
40 
 
 RECORD OF TESTS OF SAYLOR'S PORTLAND CEMENT 
 
 MADE AT THE THAYER SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, HAN- 
 OVER, N. H., JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1896. 
 
 Materials. 
 
 Saylor's Neat. { 
 
 Saylor's and 
 Sea Sand be- 
 tweeen N o . 
 20 and 30. . . . 
 
 S A Y LO r's and | 
 Sea Sand No. ^ 
 20 to No. 30. . 
 
 -tion by V^t. 
 
 Rec rd of 
 betting. 
 
 
 
 Lbs. per Sq. In. 
 
 Sand. 
 
 Water. 
 
 Days in Air. 
 
 Days in Water. 
 
 Age— Days. 
 
 j No. Broken. 
 
 Highest. 
 
 Average. j 
 
 Lowest. 
 
 
 .22 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 16 
 
 137 
 
 102 
 
 60 
 
 
 .22 
 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 26 
 
 550 
 
 446 
 
 310 
 
 
 .22 
 
 
 29 
 
 30 
 
 14 
 
 788 
 
 617 
 
 490 
 
 
 .22 
 
 
 59 
 
 60 
 
 II 
 
 930 
 
 729 
 
 622 
 
 I 
 
 .27 
 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 190 
 
 155 
 
 130 
 
 I 
 
 .27 
 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 251 
 
 227 
 
 206 
 
 I 
 
 .27 
 
 
 29 
 
 30 
 
 4 
 
 425 
 
 40 r 
 
 373 
 
 I 
 
 .27 
 
 
 59 
 
 60 
 
 4 
 
 560 
 
 484 
 
 420 
 
 3 
 
 .50 
 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 116 
 
 107 
 
 94 
 
 3 
 
 .50 
 
 
 29 
 
 30 
 
 3 
 
 174 
 
 172 
 
 170 
 
 3 
 
 .50 
 
 
 59 
 
 60 
 
 3 
 
 180 
 
 162 
 
 150 
 
 All Briquettes were made from stiff paste, and were molded 
 by tamping with a piece of wood, f in. x f in., six inches long, 
 held in the hand. 
 
 The cement was not sifted, but taken as it came from the 
 barrel. 
 
 The persons making the Briquettes had no previous experi- 
 ence. The tests were conducted purely as an exercise for in- 
 struction to students. 
 
 A. W. French, 
 
 Instructor. 
 
41 
 
 and matrix is separated and the value of the mass 
 as an even and solid concrete is destroyed. 
 
 If the nature of the work is such that it cannot 
 be mixed up where it is actually to lay, it should be 
 taken and gently tipped into position and afterwards 
 well rammed. 
 
 In a pamphlet issued by the American Society 
 of Civil Engineers, which was presented by Max E. 
 Schmidt at the Eleventh Annual Convention, June 
 17th, 1879 the South Pass Jetties, at New 
 
 Orleans, La., where our Saylor's Portland Cement 
 was used in making the concrete blocks), we find 
 that it required 165.05 cubic yards of dry material 
 in the following proportion to make 100 cubic yards 
 of concrete after it was rammed into place : 
 
 Broken Stone 80.75 Cubic Yards 
 
 Clean Gravel 23.58 
 
 Sand 44.57 
 
 Baylors Portland Cement. . . 16.15 " " 
 
 165.05 
 
 This concrete weighed when green 160 pounds 
 per cubic foot; when thoroughly dry, 140 pounds. 
 
 Artificial Stone for Walks and Floors. 
 Carefully prepare the concrete in the manner 
 described above, put down and tamped to a depth 
 of three to five inches; on the top of this a stiff 
 mortar composed of equal parts of cement and 
 finely crushed granite or a material equally gritty is 
 
42 
 
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43 
 
 laid to a depth of an inch to an inch and a half and 
 then carefully smoothed. This will form the sur- 
 face of the stone, so the entire thickness will be 
 from four to six inches. Very large stones should 
 be from five to seven inches thick. 
 
 It is advisable to put a foundation twelve inches 
 deep of broken stone or cinders below the concrete, 
 w^hich should be well rammed, leveled off and moist- 
 ened, so that they will not absorb the water from 
 the cement. Such foundation will act as a natural 
 drainage, and it will prevent the forcible breaking of 
 the stone by the expansion of the soil after a severe 
 frost. 
 
 In hot weather all newly laid cement pavement 
 should be kept moist for some days by covering 
 them with canvass, which should be sprinkled 
 repeatedly. 
 
 Cement Plaster. 
 Should be in two coats, half inch complete. First 
 coat, one part cement and four parts sharp sand. 
 Finishing coat, one part cement and one part sharp 
 sand. Thoroughly mix the cement and sand 
 together before adding the water. 
 
 Cement Sewer and Drain Pipe. 
 First-class cement pipe is manufactured by mix- 
 ing one part of Saylor's Portland and three parts of 
 sand or gravel. Care should be taken to see that it 
 is not too wet. 
 
44 
 
 CONCRETE MONOLITHIC BRIDGE, BLUE GRASS ROAD, PHILA. 
 Built of Saylor's Portland Cement. 
 
 J. R. CLAUSEN & SON, 
 
 Cement and Sewer Pipe. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., January 23, i8g6. 
 
 Gentlemen — We have used considerable quantity of the 
 "Saylor's Portland Cement" for concrete bridge work in this 
 city and it has passed very satisfactorily the requirements of 
 this city's specifications. We only recently finished furnishing 
 "Saylor's Portland Cement" for concrete on the Blue Grass 
 Bridge, at Blue Grass Station, Philadelphia, and both the city 
 officials and contractors were well pleased with the result. In 
 future we shall furnish this cement for this class of work in this 
 this city, as it has always given entire satisfaction. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 J. R. Clausen & Son. 
 
45 
 
 Notes on Testing. 
 
 The testing of cement is not so simple a process 
 as it is sometimes thought to be. No small degree 
 of experience is necessary before one can manipulate 
 the materials so as to obtain approximately accurate 
 results. 
 
 The test for tensile strength on a sectional area 
 of one square inch is recommended because, all 
 things considered, it seems best for general use. In 
 the small briquettes there is less danger of air bub- 
 bles, the amount of material to be handled is 
 smaller, and the machine for breaking may be 
 lighter and less costly. 
 
 The manner of testing the strength of Portland 
 Cement is to mould the sample into a briquette 
 having a sectional area of one square inch and sub- 
 jecting it to a pulling strain on a proper testing 
 machine until the briquette is torn apart or broken. 
 
 For the sake of uniformity the briquettes, both of 
 neat cement and those containing sand, should be 
 immersed in water at the end of 24 hours, except in 
 the case of one-day tests. 
 
 Clean, fresh water having a temperature between 
 60 and 70 degrees F. should be used for the mix- 
 ture and immersion of samples. 
 
 The proportion of water varies with the fineness, 
 age, or other condition of the cement and the 
 temperature of the air, but is approximately as 
 follows : 
 
47 
 
 For briquettes of neat cement, Portland, about 
 25 per cent.; Natural or Rosendale, about 30 per cent. 
 
 For briquettes of one part cement and one part 
 sand, about i 5 per cent, of the total weight of the 
 cement and sand. 
 
 For briquettes of one part cement and three 
 parts sand, about 1 1 per cent, of the total weight of 
 the sand and cement. 
 
 If an excess of water is used, that which does 
 not combine chemically with the cement will remain 
 suspended in the mass and be a source of weakness, 
 while, if an insufficient quantity be used, a chemical 
 action will have been set up without the possibility 
 of its being completed, and as a result will be 
 equally fatal to the strength of the cement. 
 
 It is not possible to give full instructions in the 
 art of gauging a cement. It can 'only be acquired 
 by practice. The cement must be brought, by dex- 
 teriously working it with a trowel, into a pasty, tena- 
 cious mass that will remain in almost any form into 
 which it is beaten, and this condition should be 
 attained with the minimum of water and in the 
 shortest possible space of time. 
 
 Cement should be ground so fine that only 10 
 per cent, is rejected by a sieve of 10,000 meshes per 
 square inch. The finer the cement, if otherwise 
 good, the larger quantity of sand it will take and 
 the greater its value. 
 
 The fineness to which a cement is ground (the 
 aggregate being the same) will practically determine 
 
49 
 
 its adhesive powers, and, therefore, if the cement 
 gives satisfactory results wlien tested neat, and is 
 finely ground, there can be no reason to doubt that 
 it will carry its fair proportion of sand. 
 
 The advantage of testing the cement with the 
 sand to be used has the advantage of determining 
 the ultimate strength of the structure and the suit- 
 ability of the sand, for if the cement has given 
 good results when tested neat and possesses every 
 property of a good cement, and yet fails when tested 
 with the sand, it may fairly be assumed that it is 
 the sand that is at fault and not the cement. 
 
 Mr. Grant says that he ''has (recently) met with 
 two sands which, though both sifted clean through 
 the same sieves and not much unlike each other 
 even under the microscope, gave results that dif- 
 fered 50 per cent.'' 
 
 An average of five briquettes should be made 
 for each test, only those breaking at the smallest 
 section to be taken. 
 
 The stress should be applied to each briquette 
 at a uniform rate of about 400 pounds per minute, 
 starting' each time at O. With a weak mixture one 
 half the speed is recommended. 
 
 No matter whose make of machine is used for 
 testing, the strain must be applied to the briquette 
 at a uniform rate, otherwise a false result will be 
 obtained, for if the weight is put on very quickly the 
 briquette will bear a greater strain than if it is 
 applied slowly. 
 
50 
 
 Tests on Saylor's Portland Cement 
 
 Tests made by Andrew Rose water, City Engi- 
 neer, Omaha, Neb., during the year 1894, on 
 Saylor's Potland Cement. 
 
 NEAT CEMENT. ONE PART CEMENT, TWO PARTS SAND. 
 
 Age of Briquette. Per Sq. Inch. Age of Briquette. Per Sq. Inch. 
 
 7 days. 515 lbs. 7 days. 193 lbs. 
 
 30 655 " 28 " 238 " 
 
 60 " 707 *' 60 " 268 
 
 90 " 752 " 90 " 273 
 
 6 months. 836 " 
 
 Average of 5 Briquettes each. 
 
 Test on two cars Saylor's Portland Cement, 
 shipped May 8, 1894, to Phoenix Paving Company, 
 League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia. 
 
 NEAT CEMENT. ONE PART CEMENT, THREE PARTS SAND. 
 
 Age of Briquette. Per Sq. Inch. Age of Briquette. Per Sq. Inch. 
 7 days. 657 lbs. 7 days. 171 lbs. 
 
 30 " 745 30 " 232 " 
 
 Average of 10 Briquettes each. 
 
51 
 
 The rapidity with which a cement sets or loses 
 its plasticity furnishes no indication of its ultimate 
 strength. It simply shows its initial hydraulic 
 activity. 
 
 In selecting cement for experimental purposes, 
 take the samples from the interior of the original 
 packages at a sufficient depth to insure a fair expo- 
 nent of the quality, and store the same in tightly- 
 closed receptacles, impervious to light or dampness, 
 until required for manipulation, when each sample 
 of cement should be thoroughly mixed, by sifting 
 or otherwise, that it shall be uniform in character 
 throughout its mass. 
 
 When cement is gauged and made into a pat or 
 briquette, the first change observable is that the 
 water comes to the surface, the next that the water 
 is absorbed by the cement, the samples will then 
 begin to heat, and lastly it will gradually return to its 
 original, or what may be called its normal tempera- 
 ture, and it is this last period that may with justice 
 be understood by the word ''set." 
 
53 
 
 WILSON & BAILLIE MANUFACTURING CO., 
 Manufacturers of "Kosmocrete Artificial Stone." 
 
 Brooklyn, N. Y., May 8, 1893. 
 Gentlemen — In reply to yours of the 5th inst., would say 
 that we are glad to report that we have used thousands of barrels 
 of your " Saylor's Portland Cement" in our " Kosmocrete " 
 work (sidewalks, cellars stable floors, etc.), and it has given 
 entire satisfaction. 
 
 We give a guarantee on all our work for five years, and we 
 have executed work with your cement that has been in place for 
 seventeen years, and is in perfect condition to-day. We refer to 
 sidewalks corner Eighth Street and Broadway and Seventeenth 
 and Broadway, New York, and many other jobs. 
 
 We consider "Saylor's Portland Cement" equal to any, 
 superior to many of the foreign brands. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 Wilson & Baillie Mfg. Co. 
 
 E. H. Baillie, Sec'y. 
 
 May 8, 1893. 
 
 Gentlemen — In reply to yours of the 5th inst., inquiring as 
 to our opinion of "Saylor's Portland Cement," we have used it 
 exclusively and consider it a faultless article. We have the 
 credit of producing the strongest sewer pipe in the market. As 
 to this statement, can refer to the Chief Engineer of Department 
 City Works of Brooklyn, Chief Engineer of Flushing, and many 
 other good authorities. 
 
 Yours truly. 
 
 The Wilson & Baillie Mfg. Co. 
 
 E. H. Baillie, Secretary. 
 
54 
 
 Tests on "Say lot's Portland Cement.'' 
 
 Tests made June 21, 1894, on sample of Say- 
 lor's Portland Cement taken from work at Collins' 
 Factory, Third and Canal Streets, Philadelphia, at 
 Booth, Garrett & Blair's Physical Testing Labora- 
 tory, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 SEVEN-DAY TESTS ON ONE-INCH BRIQUETTES. 
 
 NEAT CEMENT. I PART CEMENT; 3 PARTS SAND. 
 
 552 lbs. 190 lbs. 
 
 514 " 166 " 
 
 568 " 163 
 
 597 " , 182 " 
 
 608 " 172 
 
 Avg 568 lbs. Avg 175 lbs. 
 
 Tests made February 24, 1896, from sample of 
 Saylor's Portland Cement taken from stock in yard 
 of J. R. Clausen & Son, Twenty-seventh and Dia- 
 mond Streets, by Lathbury & Anderson, Philadel- 
 phia, Pa. 
 
 FINENESS. 
 100 ^ passes No. 50 sieve. 
 99.1 % " No. 74 " 
 96.5 % " No. 100 " 
 84 ^ " No. 200 " 
 
 SEVEN-DAY TESTS, ONE-INCH BRIQUETTES. 
 
 Briquette No. 1870 640 lbs. 
 
 " " 1871 610 
 
 " 1872 635 " 
 
 " 1873 657 " 
 
 1874 615 " 
 
 Average 631 lbs. 
 
Notes on Cement 
 
 In order to make Portland Cement it requires a 
 homogeneous mixture, containing in proper propor- 
 tions carbonate of lime, alumina, silica and iron. 
 This mixture must be subjected to a heat sufficiently 
 high to produce a vitrified, dense and heavy 
 clinker. 
 
 The induration or setting of Portland Cement 
 consists in the formation of a real mineral, of a 
 crystalline rock species, which appear to be analogous 
 to natural zeolites. This fact can be confirmed 
 by microscopic examination of Saylor's Portland 
 Cement. The set will be found to consist of trans- 
 lucent, and to some extent even of transparent 
 crystalline particles of different forms, exactly like 
 those of the zeolites of nature. 
 
 Portland Cements are of a bluish gray color and 
 Natural Cements are light or dark, according to the 
 character of the rock from which they are made. 
 
 The nearer a natural, hydraulic cement ap- 
 proaches the Portland in color and texture the 
 greater its strength. 
 
56 
 
 TESTS MADE ON "SAYLOR'S" PORTLAND CEMENT, 
 
 IN COMPARISON WITH 
 
 ''ALSEN" PORTLAND CEMENT, 
 
 AT THE Laboratory of the Cambria Iron Company, 
 Johnstown, Pa. 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 -13 
 
 a; 
 
 Tensile Streneth 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 
 > 
 
 'a, 
 
 Per Square 
 
 nch. 
 
 Per Cent, of 
 
 bi) 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 a; 
 
 
 S 
 
 rt 
 
 
 
 
 Fineness. 
 
 .5 
 
 
 
 o> 
 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Brand. 
 
 00 
 
 g 
 
 =! 
 
 
 t/3 
 
 13 
 
 Neat 
 
 Neat 
 
 Sand 
 
 
 
 !U 
 
 CO 
 
 >^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 I to 1 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 "A 
 
 
 of Bart 
 
 
 
 No 
 
 j 
 
 No. 
 
 100 
 
 
 bora 
 
 
 1— 1 
 
 <A 
 
 u 
 
 0 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 Sieve. 
 
 Sieve. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 d 
 
 Hrs. 
 
 Days, 
 
 Days 
 
 
 
 
 
 PRR. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I28I 
 
 (Alsen's) 
 
 
 40,184 
 
 75 
 
 5 
 
 125 
 
 312 
 
 188 
 
 98.8 
 
 88.4 
 
 4 hours 
 
 1282 
 
 
 
 
 130 
 
 290 
 
 198 
 
 98.8 
 
 88.4 
 
 
 1283 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 137 
 
 3T0 
 
 192 
 
 98.8 
 
 89.2 
 
 
 1284 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 133 
 
 320 
 
 200 
 
 98.8 
 
 88.8 
 
 
 1285 
 
 
 
 PRR. 
 
 
 
 140 
 
 300 
 
 198 
 
 98.8 
 
 88.4 
 
 
 I29I 
 
 (Saylor's) 
 
 i-i I 
 
 30;559 
 
 100 
 
 5 
 
 178 
 
 305 
 
 225 
 
 99.6 
 
 93-6 
 
 2 hours 
 
 1292 
 
 
 
 
 170 
 
 320 
 
 230 
 
 99.6 
 
 93-6 
 
 
 1293 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 183 
 
 3^7 
 
 225 
 
 99.6 
 
 93.6 
 
 
 1294 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 172 
 
 308 
 
 230 
 
 99.6 
 
 93-6 
 
 
 1295 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 185 
 
 320 
 
 230 
 
 99.6 
 
 93-6 
 
 
 
 
 PRR. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I3OI 
 
 (Saylor's) 
 
 1-27 
 
 826 
 
 100 
 
 5 
 
 215 
 
 335 
 
 290 
 
 99.9 
 
 95-2 
 
 2 hours 
 
 1302 
 
 
 
 
 
 210 
 
 320 
 
 290 
 
 99.9 
 
 95 2 
 
 
 1303 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 210 
 
 375 
 
 225 
 
 99.6 
 
 94-4 
 
 
 1304 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 208 
 
 350 
 
 280 
 
 99.6 
 
 94.4 
 
 
 1305 
 
 
 
 PRR. 
 
 
 
 208 
 
 390 
 
 280 
 
 99.6 
 
 94.4 
 
 
 1306 
 
 (Alsen's) 
 
 2-2 
 
 1,065 
 
 75 
 
 5 
 
 215 
 
 320 
 
 268 
 
 98.8 
 
 83.6 
 
 . 3 hours 
 
 1307 
 
 
 
 
 ^75 
 
 310 
 
 270 
 
 98.8 
 
 83 2 
 
 
 1308 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 190 
 
 318 
 
 265 
 
 98.4 
 
 83 6 
 
 
 1309 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 180 
 
 317 
 
 275 
 
 98.4 
 
 83.2 
 
 
 I3IO 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 188 
 
 305 
 
 282 
 
 98.4 
 
 83.2 
 
 
57 
 
 The ultimate value of a Portland Cement is its 
 cohesive strength. 
 
 The amount of water it will require to properly 
 guage a cement will vary with almost every cement, 
 and can only be ascertained by experiment. 
 
 Good cement may be drowned by an excess of 
 water. 
 
 Cement work should not be tampered with after 
 setting has begun. 
 
 Loamy sand is a great enemy to good cement. 
 
 The sand and cement should be well mixed 
 together dry before water is added, and the latter 
 should be added little by little to the mixture. 
 
 We have been repeatedly asked by consumers 
 who may be compelled to hold large quantities of 
 our cements on hand for a considerable period, 
 whether it will retain its properties without deteri- 
 orating or becoming stale. In reference to this, Mr. 
 Henry Reid says : ''I have used Portland Cement 
 which has lain for upwards of two years in a large 
 covered building exposed to the air without any care 
 or attention, and found it good and without deterio- 
 ration, in fact equal to a new cement." It is, how- 
 ever, essential that it be kept in a perfectly dry 
 place, and there will be no difficulty in retaining all 
 its excellent qualities. 
 
58 
 
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59 
 
 When bricks and stone are laid in cement they 
 should first be thoroughly wet, as otherwise they 
 absorb the water from the cement mortar. 
 
 Clean water and sharp sand should be used with 
 cement ; the cleaner and sharper the sand the better 
 the mortar. 
 
 Neat cement reaches its full strength in a much 
 shorter time than a mixture of sand and cement. 
 
 Good Portland Cement continues to harden 
 and attain a great strength for a long period. 
 Some tests show an increase at the end of seven 
 years. 
 
 Portland Cements differ from Natural Cements 
 in that if kept away from dampness they improve 
 instead of deteriorating with age. 
 
 Our cements are all subject to the severest tests 
 at the works, before allowed to go on the market. 
 
 During the course of a year more than 30,000 
 briquettes are broken, showing the care and scrutiny 
 exercised in manufacturing our cements. 
 
 At many of the recent large fires, artificial stone 
 made of Portland Cement has proved itself to be the 
 best fire-proof building material. 
 
 Concrete should be made as required. If setting 
 begins before the concrete has been put in place it 
 is worthless. 
 
6o 
 
 COMPETITIVE TESTS MADE ON PORTLAND CEMENT, 
 
 BY CITY ENGINEER, INDIANAPOLIS, IND., FEB., 1896. 
 
 Brand. 
 
 Alsen 
 
 Alpha 
 
 Atlas 
 
 Commercial. . . 
 Dyckerhoff . . . 
 
 Saylor's 
 
 Shifferdecker . 
 Star-Stettin . . 
 
 Sandusky 
 
 Henry 
 
 Jossen 
 
 K. B. & S 
 
 Lagerdorfer. . . 
 
 Porta 
 
 Empire 
 
 Germania 
 
 Hemmoor . . . . , 
 
 Hilton 
 
 Hercules 
 
 Gristower 
 
 Neat. 
 
 3 Sand to 
 
 I Cement. 
 
 7 Days. 
 
 14 Days. 
 
 7 Days. 
 
 14 Days. 
 
 637.639 
 
 549.632 
 
 143 
 
 • 149 
 
 187 . 192 
 
 479.483 
 
 523.549 
 
 197 
 
 . 209 
 
 260.268 
 
 532.580 
 
 594.632 
 
 172 
 
 . 198 
 
 212.229 
 
 457-458 
 
 448.497 
 
 107 
 
 . 163 
 
 172. 178 
 
 552.563 
 
 538.566 
 
 201 
 
 . 207 
 
 244. 276 
 
 623.656 
 
 768.789 
 
 122 
 
 . 143 
 
 263.292 
 
 486.493 
 
 436.530 
 
 137 
 
 . 149 
 
 235.237 
 
 692.718 
 
 564.628 
 
 T A8 
 
 • 193 
 
 257.278 
 
 580.623 
 
 692.693 
 
 T 8 r 
 I05 
 
 212 
 
 239.257 
 
 538.543 
 
 682.706 
 
 143 
 
 152 
 
 187.198 
 
 402.454 
 
 442.490 
 
 210 
 
 234 
 
 226.240 
 
 
 4.68 . ^AK 
 
 134 
 
 135 
 
 141 . 166 
 
 426.473 
 
 516.525 
 
 194 
 
 203 
 
 228 . 264 
 
 523.549 
 
 608 .637 
 
 103 
 
 117 
 
 159.187 
 
 443.467 
 
 462 .480 
 
 147. 
 
 162 
 
 215 .246 
 
 523.558 
 
 512 . 560 
 
 216 
 
 235 
 
 228.237 
 
 476.482 
 
 515.528 
 
 134. 
 
 139 
 
 178. 190 
 
 408.414 
 
 308.342 
 
 218. 
 
 232 
 
 192 . 201 
 
 437.442 
 
 447.485 
 
 161. 
 
 178 
 
 138.189 
 
 569.578 
 
 631.635 
 
 128. 
 
 137 
 
 210.218 
 
6i 
 
 In hot weather cement work should not be 
 
 allowed to dry too quickly. It should be sprinkled 
 with water to protect it from the sun. 
 
 Very strong Portland Cement is heavy, of a 
 bluish gray color and crystalline in texture — the 
 result of the high temperature at which it is burned. 
 
 The smooth, clayey-mortars made by the New 
 York Rosendale and other similar cements are due 
 to an excess of clayey matter in the cement, as 
 evidenced by their want of strength when compared 
 with the gray, crystalline, gritty mortars made 
 with the Portland, or the other natural cements of 
 that character. 
 
 One barrel Saylor's Portland contains three and 
 one half bushels. 
 
 One barrel Saylor's Portland weighs 400 pounds. 
 
 One barrel Improved Anchor or Anchor con- 
 tains four bushels. 
 
 One barrel Improved Anchor or Anchor weighs 
 300 pounds net. 
 
 Thickness. 
 
 Inch. 
 
 K Inch. 
 
 K Inch. 
 
 I Bbl. Saylor's Cement will cover 
 
 I " " " and I sand will cover 
 
 72 
 108 
 
 36 ft. 
 
 48 ft. 
 96 
 144 
 
 72 ft. 
 
 144 
 216 
 
 2 
 
RECORD OF TESTS OF CEMENT MADE BY 
 C. V. WESTON, 
 
 CHIEF ENGINEER NORTHWESTERN ELEVATED RAILROAD, CHICAGO. 
 
 I Inch Biiquettes. 3 Parts Sand. i Part Cement. 
 
 Brand. 7 Days. 28 Days. 60 Days. 90 Days. 120 Days. 
 
 Sandusky 100 lbs. 220 lbs. 286 lbs. 248 lbs. 200 lbs. 
 
 Giant 220 " 183 " 223 " 212 " 200 " 
 
 Diamond 140 " 245 " 224 " 227 " 240 " 
 
 Yankton 115 " 136 " 218 " 223 " 228 " 
 
 Aalborg 155 " 190 " 221 " 241 " 275 " 
 
 Wayland 165 " 184 " 215 " 245 265 " 
 
 Saylor's 120 " 197 " ... " 249 " 272 
 
 J. J. JOHNSON CEMENT & LIME CO., 
 
 No. 1104 Security Building, Chicago. 
 
 Chicago, III., May 19, 1896. 
 
 Co7nme7'cial Wood and Cement Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Gentlemen — We now confirm onr dispatch of this day: 
 *'In addition to all orders ship Angus & Gindele one carper 
 day." 
 
 I was over to the city testing offices this morning and they 
 only have a 7 days' test — on neat cement, 5 days 509 lbs. 6 days 
 628 lbs., 7 days 644 lbs. One part cement, three parts sand — 2 
 days 21 lbs., 3 days 85 lbs., 4 days 176 lbs., 5 days 156 lbs., 6 days 
 207 lbs., 7 days 226 lbs. The sample of "Saylor's'* was taken 
 off of the street. Will report to you the fourteen day and longer 
 tests as we obtain them. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 J. J. Johnson, 
 
 President. 
 
63 
 
 Laboratories of Wm. S. McHarg, 
 Chicago, III., 
 Chicago, July 12, 1895. 
 
 Mess. Angus & Gindeh\ Contractors^ Northwestern Ele- 
 vated Railroad^ Chicago, III. 
 
 Gentlemen — Enclosed find report on American 
 Portland Cements submitted for sixty days' test. 
 Briquettes one square inch section, moulded by hand, 
 proportions of sand by weight; kept twenty-four 
 hours in air and the remaining time in water, broken 
 at ages stated : 
 
 Volume, One Part Cement ; Three Parts Sand. 
 Brand. 7D«i>s. 28 Days. 60 Days. 
 
 Empire 96 lbs. 127 lbs. 193 lbs. 
 
 Medusa (Sandusky) loi " 166 " 204 " 
 
 Yankton 91 " 131 230 " 
 
 Wayland 123 " 179 " 187 
 
 Diamond 75 " 117 " 149 " 
 
 Giant 77 " 
 
 Saylor's 116 193 " 236 
 
 The sand tests are the only value in rating a 
 cement. Yours truly, 
 
 Wm. S. McHarg. 
 
64 
 
 Testing Laboratories of Lathbury & Anderson, 
 
 1319 Filbert Street, 
 Philadelphia, March 19, 1896. 
 Report of tests of "Commercial Rosendale Cement" for 
 New York Mutual Life Insurance Co.'s new building, Philadel- 
 phia. Architect, P. W. Roos, New York. Reported to Mr. 
 S. E. Moore, contractor. Sample taken from cement on work. 
 
 SEVEN-DAY TENSILE TESTS. 
 
 six parts cement mortar (2 SAND 
 ONE PART CEMENT TO TWO TO I CEMENT) MIXED WITH I PART 
 
 PARTS SAND. SLACKED LIME BY MEASURE. 
 
 63 lbs. 91 lbs. 
 
 57 " 85 " 
 62 " 95 " 
 53 " 77 " 
 
 58 " 71 " 
 
 Avg 59 lbs. Avg 83 lbs. 
 
 12 % water. 
 
 FOURTEEN-DAY TENSILE TESTS. 
 
 ONE PART CEMENT TO ONE ONE PART CEMENT TO THREE 
 
 PART SAND. OF SAND. 
 
 133 lbs. 71 lbs. 
 
 170 " 87 " 
 
 171 85 " 
 147 " 70 " 
 
 155 " 79 " 
 
 Avg 155 lbs. Avg.... 78 lbs. 
 
 17 ^ water. 9 % water. 
 
 TWENTY-EIGHT-DAY TENSILE TESTS. 
 
 ONE PART CEMENT TO ONE ONE PART CEMENT, THREE 
 
 PART SAND. PARTS SAND. 
 
 180 lbs. 103 lbs. 
 
 185 " 98 " 
 
 168 " 100 " 
 
 178 107 " 
 
 175 " 94 " 
 
 Avg. ... 177 lbs. Avg. ... 100 lbs. 
 
 17 ^ water. 9 % w^ater. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 Lathbury & Anderson. 
 
65 
 
 TREASURY DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Washington, D. C, December i6, i86g. 
 Gentlemen — Yours of the 13th, asking my opinion as to the 
 character of your Anchor Cement is received. In reply I have 
 to say that we have used it exclusively on the Appraisers Stores 
 at Philadelphia and it has given entire satisfaction. I should 
 have no hesitation in using it on any work under my charge. 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 A. B. Mullen, 
 
 Supervising Architect. 
 
 Bagley, Smith & McGaw, 410 Walnut Street. 
 
 Philadelphia, July 6, 1874. 
 Gentlemen — This is to certify that we have used your brand 
 of Anchor Cement in the foundation of piers at Girard Avenue 
 Bridge and that it has in every respect given us good satisfac- 
 tion. The weight said to be contained in the barrels has invari- 
 ably overrun. The engineer in charge, who has made the tests, 
 has always found the different samples, taken at intervals of a 
 month or so, to bear the same results in strength, and it gives me 
 pleasure, as one of the firm of sub-contractors, to add our testi- 
 monial to many others. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 Bagley, Smith & McGaw. 
 
 BALTIMORE AND POTOMAC R. R. CO. 
 
 Baltimore, January 11, 1873. 
 Gentlemen — I have used over 26,000 barrels of Anchor 
 Cement in the construction of the Baltimore and Potomac Rail- 
 road Tunnel, in the city of Baltimore, and find it of uniform 
 good quality. I can therefore recommend the Anchor Cement 
 as one of the best hydraulic cements now in use. 
 
 Very truly, 
 
 Thomas Seabrook, 
 
 Eng., Con. and Man. 
 
66 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. 
 
 Philadelphia, August 26, 1892. 
 Gentlemen — In reply to your favor of the 25th inst., would 
 state that I have authorized the use of the Coplay Cement in the 
 concrete foundations for asphalt pavement on Broad Street, the 
 samples tested having exceeded in strength the standard required 
 by the city for its public work. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 James H. Windrim, 
 
 Director. 
 
 HENRY MAUER & SON, 
 New York City. 
 
 Philadelphia Office, September 15, 1892. 
 Gentlemen — In answer to your favor of the 15th, would say 
 that we used 3000 barrels of your Anchor Cement in setting the 
 floor arches in the thirteen (13) story Betz Building on South 
 Penn Square, Philadelphia. We find this cement excellent. 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Henry Mauer & Son, 
 
 H. Stahr, Manager. 
 
 W. B. IRVINE. ANDREW CARTY. 
 
 KNICKERBOCKER LIME COMPANY, 
 
 Manufacturers of Wood Burnt Lime, 23D Street, Below 
 Spring Garden Street, American and Dauphin Streets. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., January 24, 1891. 
 Co7nmercial Wood and Ceinent Co., Sales Agent Coplay Cement 
 Co., No. 718 Girard Building, Philadelphia. 
 
 Gentlemen — We have handled several thousand barrels of 
 your Anchor and Saylor's Portland Cements. 
 
 Wherever we have sent these cements they have always 
 given entire satisfaction. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Irvine & Carty. 
 
67 
 
 LEHIGH VALLEY R. R. CO. 
 
 Bethlehem, Pa., July i8, 1882. 
 Gentlemen— The Lehigh Valley- Railroad Company have 
 used your Anchor Cement almost exclusively for the last several 
 years. It has always given satisfactory results when used. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 A. E. Stedman, 
 
 P. A. Ell g 1716 er . 
 
 THE JACKSON-JONES COMPANY, 
 Lime and Cement. 
 
 Washington, D. C, March 26, 1894. 
 Gentlemen — Replying to your favor of the 24th inst., the 
 Anchor Cement was used in the Electric and Telephone Con- 
 duits in this city. About 8000 barrels were used in this work. 
 The telephone company experimented with quite a number of 
 domestic cements and finally determined upon the use of Anchor 
 and would have no other. 
 
 It gave great satisfaction to them and I am quite sure it will 
 meet all requirements where a domestic cement is to be used. 
 
 Very truly, 
 
 The Jackson-Jones Co. 
 
 Office of JOS. BANCROFT & SONS' CO., 
 
 ESTABLISHED 183I. 
 
 Wilmington, Del., 2 mo. 23, 1895. 
 Co7nmerczal Wood and Cejnent Co. 
 
 Gentlemen — We are obliged for thy note of yestsrday. I 
 have this morning been speaking with our foreman, who used 
 the Anchor Cement perhaps fifteen years ago, and has been with 
 t:s continually since, and he makes a good report respecting it. 
 Tlie walls that he has had to break into have been very hard. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 Wm. p. Bancroft. 
 
68 
 
 GEORGE O. TENNY, 
 Contractor for Railroads, Sewers, Water-Works, Etc. 
 
 Clifton, S. C, July 15, 1895. 
 
 Gentlemen — I take pleasure in stating that I have used con- 
 siderable of your " Commercial" brand of Rosendale Cement in 
 the foundations and dam I am building for the Clifton Manufac- 
 turing Co.'s No. 3 cotton mill. 
 
 The cement has given entire satisfaction in every respect 
 and I do not hesitate in recommending it to anyone wishing 
 cement of this class. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 George O. Tenney. 
 
 GAFFNEY MANUFACTURING CO. 
 
 Gaffney, S. C, July 15, 1895. 
 Gentlemen — Regarding the quality of your "Commercial" 
 brand of Rosendale Cement, I take pleasure in stating that I 
 have used this brand for the work being done at Gaffney and 
 Tucapau Mills and have found it perfectly satisfactory. I have 
 used several carloads already and expect to use several more. I 
 do not hesitate to recommend this cement to anyone wanting a 
 first-class article. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 H. D. Wheat, Treas, 
 
69 
 
 THE BARBER ASPHALT PAVING CO., 
 I Broadway. 
 
 New York City, February 29, 1892. 
 To Caj^roli P. Bassett, Hydraulic Eui^iiiecr, Oi'cmge and New- 
 ark, N.J. 
 
 Dear Sir — We have been asked to write you the fact that 
 the Commercial Rosendale Cement furnished us by the Com- 
 mercial Wood and Cement Company of Philadelphia has been 
 excellent and just as represented. Our regular tests show it to 
 be above the required tests of New York and our company. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 J. W. Howard, 
 
 Super in ten den t . 
 
 THE NATIONAL CONDUIT MANUFACTURING 
 COMPANY. 
 Times Building. 
 
 New York City, April 3, 1894. 
 Gentlemen — Replying to your communication of yesterday, 
 we are pleased to be able to say that during the past season we 
 have used upwards of 10,000 barrels of your Commercial Rosen- 
 dale Cement in the work which we have been doing for the 
 Philadelphia Traction Company. 
 
 Our experience has been that your cement is a particularly 
 strong one, and for our purpose has given entire satisfaction. 
 You can depend upon it we would not have used your material 
 had it not been A No. i, as we have given a fifteen-year guar- 
 antee on our work to the Philadelphia Traction Company, and 
 deposited cash securities wnth them for our guarantee. 
 
 Very truly. 
 National Conduit Manufacturing Co. 
 
 E. S. Perot, President. 
 
7° 
 
 PHILADELPHIA WORKING MEN's MODEL HOME. 
 
 Cement Sidewalks, Curbing and Cellar Floors Made of Saylor's and 
 Commercial Portland Cements. 
 
 OFFICE OF E. STEWART & COMPANY, 
 N. E. Corner American and Diamond Streets. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., April 8, 1896. 
 Co7n7nercial Wood &^ Cement Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Gentlemen — We are pleased to state that in the cement 
 pavements, curbs and cellar floors of the block of houses bounded 
 by Mascher, Hancock, Wilt Streets and Montgomery Avenue, 
 we used your " Saylor's Portland Cement" for the finish and 
 your "Commercial Portland Cement" for the concrete with the 
 best of results. In fact all the cement we have had from you, 
 covering a period of twenty years, has given perfect satisfaction. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 E. Stewart & Co. 
 
WARNER H. JENKINS CO., 
 Engineers and Contractors for Artifical Stone. 
 
 Philadelphia, July 14, 1894. 
 Gentlemen — Replying to your favor of equal date asking 
 for our opinion of the ".Saylor's Portland Cement," as frequently 
 used by us in granolithic and concrete work in general, we have 
 no hesitation in saying that we consider it the highest grade of 
 American manufacture. Our first experience with this cement 
 was in Lebanon, Pa., some eight years ago, where we con- 
 structed a large amount of sidewalk paving, and to-day it 
 remains perfect in every respect. We have never had an 
 instance where cement supplied us under the above label but 
 what has been uniform and given entire satisfaction. 
 
 We remain, with much respect, 
 
 Warner H. Jenkins Co. 
 
 GREEN & WILSON, 
 '* Kosmocrete" Artificial Stone Sidewalks, 
 No. 115 West Street. 
 
 New York, May 16, 1878. 
 
 Gentlemen — Relative to our opinion concerning the quality 
 of your "Saylor's American Portland Cement" we herewith 
 cheerfully submit the same. 
 
 During the last two years we have used large quantities of it 
 in the manufacture of our "Kosmocrete" Stone for sidewalks, 
 garden walks, cellar and stable floors, etc., and our judgment of 
 its quality for such use is, that it has given us entire satisfaction 
 in every particular. In uniformity of strength and color it has 
 never yet been equalled by any of the foreign brands imported 
 into this country, of which a sample trial will convince all inter- 
 ested in the use of Portland Cement. 
 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Green & Wilson. 
 
72 
 
 ENGLEBERT WAGENBLAST, 
 Manufacturer of Sidewalks, Stable-Floors, Etc., 
 Reading, Pa. 
 
 Reading, Pa., April 17, 1893. 
 Gentlemen — Answering your favor in reference to the 
 " Saylor's Portland Cement" would say that I have used large 
 quantities for sidewalk work during the past two years, and 
 in my work it has always made a very satisfactory job and I can 
 cheerfully recommend it. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 E. Wagenblast. 
 
 JAMES B. STUBER, 
 Contractor for Paving of all Descriptions. 
 
 Allentown, Pa., May 16, 1893. 
 Gentlemen — I have used your "Saylor's Portland Cement" 
 exclusively during the past thirteen (13) years for sidewalks, 
 etc., and have always found it first-class. The work done thir- 
 teen years ago is to-day in as good condition as when first laid. 
 As for durability and general excellence I feel no hesitation in 
 recommending "Saylor's Portland Cement." 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 James B. Stuber. 
 
 ELMIRA SEWER PIPE AND FIRE BRICK CO. 
 
 Elmira, N. Y., June 26, 1886. 
 Gentlemen — In our business as manufacturers of sewer pipe 
 and artificial stone we have during the past four years exten- 
 sively used your "Saylor's Portland Cement." We have also 
 sold large quantities to contractors and builders in this vicinity 
 and it has always given perfect satisfaction. We can, therefore, 
 after the most thorough and practical tests, unhesitatingly recom- 
 mend this brand of cement as certain to do all that is asked for 
 it, and shall use large quantities of same this season. 
 ' Respectfully, 
 
 Elmira Sewer Pipe Co. 
 
73 
 
 WELDON & BABBITT, 
 Contractors for Cement Sidewalks, Etc. 
 
 CoNNEAUT, O., May lo, 1894. 
 Gentlemen — In reply to your inquiry of the 8th inst., would 
 say that w^e take pleasure in saying that we have handled 
 "Saylor's Portland Cement" the last two years for putting down 
 sidewalks, pavements, etc., and that it has given perfect satis- 
 faction in all places where used. We have no hesitation in 
 recommending it as being a strictly first-class article and equal 
 if not superior to any cement we have used in the ten years we 
 have been in the cement trade. Respectfully yours, 
 
 Weldon & Babbitt. 
 
 M. MICHAELS & SON, 
 Contractors for Cement Sidewalks, Etc. 
 
 Kankakee, III., May 11, 1894. 
 Gentlemen — We have used considerable " Saylor's Portland 
 Cement" in the construction of cement sidewalks and curbs and 
 cheerfully recommend it as being equal to the best German 
 brands of Portland Cement. 
 
 Yours very respectfully, 
 
 M. Michaels & Son. 
 
 BLEAKLY COAL AND LIME CO., 
 Coal, Lime, Building Material, Etc., Camden, N. J. 
 
 Camden, N. J., May 3, 1895. 
 Gentlemen — For five years we have used your " Saylor's 
 Portland Cement" and we have had better satisfaction with it 
 than with any other brand of Portland Cement we ever handled. 
 We have made it into cement pavements, stable-floors and in the 
 foundations of the heaviest buildings built in this city with the 
 best results. We consider it the highest grade of Portland 
 Cement on the market. 
 
 Yours respectfully. 
 
 Bleakly Coal and Lime Co. 
 
74 
 
 CONCRETE STEPS, COPING AM) SIDEWALK, POTTSVILLE, PA. 
 Built of Saylor's Portland Cement. 
 
 LEWIS GRANT, 
 Contractor for Cement Sidewalks, Heavy Masonry, Etc. 
 
 PoTTSViLLE, Pa., January 22, i8g6. 
 Gentlemen — In reply to yours of yesterday, would say that 
 I have twenty-eight steps from the street to my house. They 
 were laid in 1884 out of concrete and finish made from "Saylor's 
 Portland Cement." The steps were laid on the terrace without 
 any foundation, and with the exception of a few cracks on the 
 ashlers they are as perfect as when first laid ; there is no disinte- 
 gration and they show no signs of wear. I have also laid your 
 cement along-side of the best imported cement and I defy an 
 expert to tell which is the American and which is the imported. 
 
 Yours truly, Lewis Grant, 
 
75 
 
 SHILLINGER BROS., 
 Roofing and Pavincx Contractors, 
 Granolithic and Cement Work. 
 
 Toledo, Ohio, January 30, 1896. 
 
 Gentlemen — In answer to your favor of the 28th inst., we 
 would say that we have used your " Saylor's Portland Cement" 
 in our last year's work and it has given excellent satisfaction. 
 We laid the "Saylor's" alongside of the best brands of German 
 Cements and it stands well. 
 
 We can cheerfully recommend "Saylor's Portland Cement" 
 to anyone using cement for sidewalks or any kind of concrete 
 work. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 SCHILLINGER BrOS. 
 
 JOHN FARRELL, 
 
 Contractor for all Kinds of Cement Work. 
 
 Xenia, Ohio, January 27, i8g6. 
 Gentlemen — In reply to your inquiry would say that I have 
 used the "Saylor's American Portland Cement" in sidewalk 
 work and find it an excellent article for that purpose. The 
 cement turns out a good white color, uniform throughout. It is 
 finer ground than the German cements I have used heretofore ; 
 namely the "Germania" and "Dyckerhoff" brands, and will 
 therefore carry more sand and make a better finish. I have 
 done work here in Xenia with "Saylor's Portland Cement" 
 that can't be beat. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 John Farrell. 
 
76 
 
 OFFICE OF CITY ENGINEER. 
 
 Pittsburg, Pa., February 2, i8gi. 
 Gentlemen — About two years ago at the solicitation of your 
 agents here, I allowed your "Saylor's Portland Cement" to be 
 used in city work. Since then it has been used in the construc- 
 tion of the large brick and stone sewer running from Thirty-third 
 Street to the East End, the contract price of which was over 
 $300,000. It was also used in the Haights Run Sewer, the 
 Twenty-eighth Street sewer, and is now being used in the large 
 brick and stone sewer we are constructing at Homewood. I 
 have found it to give entire satisfaction and can cheerfully 
 recommend its use. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 W. W. Browne, 
 
 City Engineer . 
 
 GARRISON, WILLIAMS & CO., Limited. 
 Grain, Baled Hay, Cements, Lime, Etc. 
 
 Pittsburg, Pa., February 2, 1891. 
 Coplay Ceinent Co., Allentown, Pa. 
 
 Gentlemen — We have sold large quantities of your cements 
 in this market, both of Anchor and of Saylor's Portland. The 
 Anchor we furnished for the immense glass works at Jannette. 
 We are now furnishing it for the Pennsylvania Railroad work 
 on all their divisions running into Pittsburg, beside numerous 
 other places. It is giving entire satisfaction. We have the first 
 complaint to hear from it yet. 
 
 Your Saylor's Portland we used here in the rebuilding of 
 the Ninth Street Bridge. Our penitentiary here used it to the 
 exclusion of all other Portlands ; their engineer claims to have 
 gotten better results out of it than out of many imported Port- 
 lands. It is now used exclusively in city work here, our engi- 
 neer preferring it to all others. Our dealings, both with your 
 cements and your company, have been entirely satisfactory. 
 
 Yours truly. 
 
 Garrison, Williams & Co. 
 
77 
 
 A. B. MEYER & CO., 
 Coal, Lime and Cement, Sidewalk Cement a Specialty. 
 17 N. Pennsylvania Street. 
 
 Indianapolis, Ind., January 28, 1896. 
 
 Gentlemen — Replying to yours of the 23d inst., would say 
 that our city engineer, Mr. C. C. Brown, had about 400 lineal 
 feet of cement sidewalk laid during September, 1894, with 
 " Saylor's Portland Cement," " Star Stettin " and " Dyckerhoff," 
 and during the summer of 1895 Mr. Brown, city engineer, and 
 ourselves inspected this walk, and after a careful examination 
 Mr. Brown stated that his judgment told him that "Saylor's 
 Portland Cement" showed up and stood better than the "Star 
 Stettin" and "Dyckerhoff," which were used at the same time 
 and under similar conditions, and that he would have no fear of 
 using " Saylor's Portland Cement" wherever the requirements 
 called for the best grades of imported Portland. We expect to 
 use large quantities of your "Saylor's Portland" for sidewalk 
 w^ork during the coming season. 
 
 During last season we used several thousand barrels of your 
 "Commercial Portland Cement" for making concrete in our 
 street w^ork. This we used under our chief engineer's specifica- 
 tions, calling for cement of 350 lbs. neat in seven days, and 
 in making his tests of this cement a large number of the 
 briquettes broke at 400 lbs. neat in seven days. He especially 
 commended this cement in its sand carrying capacity, and no 
 doubt we will want several thousand barrels of the " Commercial 
 Portland" for our street work the coming season. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 A. B. Meyer & Co. 
 
 CHANDLER & MAPS, 
 Lumber, Brick, Lime, Paints and Oils. 
 
 Long Branch, N. J., August i, 1891. 
 Commercial Wood and Cement Co. 
 
 Gentlemen — We have sold quite some of your Commercial 
 Rosendale and Commercial Portland Cements and find it has 
 given entire satisfaction. Never a fault found with it. 
 
 Truly yours, Chandler & Maps. 
 
78 
 
 CONCRTEE DRIVE-WAY AND SIDEWALKS, CHESTER, PA. 
 Built of Saylor's Portland Cement, 
 
 JOHN F. JOHNSON, CEMENT FINISHER, 
 1009 Madison Street. 
 
 Chester, Pa., August i, 1895. 
 
 Gentlemen— In answer to your inquiry as to how the "Say- 
 lor's Portland Cement" I have been using for sidewalk work 
 has turned out, would say that my experience with this brand of 
 cement has been most satisfactory, it having proven to be very 
 strong and a very good finishing cement. I enclose you a 
 couple of photographs of cement work I have done with your 
 "Saylor's Portland Cement." 
 
 I have laid this cement in sidewalk work, where it came 
 directly in contact with the very best brands of German cement 
 and in all cases the "Saylor's Portland Cement" is wearing as 
 well and has as good color as the work done with these high- 
 grade foreign cements. I shall always use the "Saylor's Port- 
 land Cement " in future when I wish to make a good job. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 John F. Johnson. 
 
79 
 
 REINHARD & WEAVER, 
 
 Manufacturers of Artificial Stone Sidewalks. 
 
 Allentown, Pa., May 6, 1893. 
 Gentlemen — In answer to your inquiry as to our experience 
 with " Saylor's Portland Cement" for sidewalk construction, 
 will say that we have used this cement during the past years and 
 in every case have found it to be equal to the best foreign Port- 
 land Cements. Very respectfully yours, 
 
 Reinhard & Weaver. 
 
 NEW JERSEY SEWER PIPE AND CONSTRUCTION CO. 
 Drain, Sewer and Well Pipes, Artificial Stone 
 AND Cement Ware. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., December 22, 1892. 
 Gentlemen — We herewith state that we have extensively 
 used the "Saylor's Portland Cement" in our business and that 
 we consider it to be in every respect as good as a great many 
 brands of the imported cement and superior to some of them. It 
 has always come up to our expectations. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 New Jersey Sewer Pipe and Construction Co., 
 
 C. SCHNELL, 
 
 Gejteral Manager. 
 
 INTERNATIONAL PAVEMENT CO., 
 No. 71 Broadway. 
 
 New York, January 27, 1883. 
 Gentlemen — Having used extensively your "Saylor's Port- 
 land Cement" in the construction of cellar floors, sidewalks, 
 pits, etc., where the same has been subjected to extreme pres- 
 sure from water, and, having found it to answer all claimed for 
 it, I take pleasure in recommending it to all in want of a first- 
 class, reliable cement, and assure you we shall continue to use it 
 wherever occasion may require. Yours truly, 
 
 J. D. Frost, 
 General Superintendent . 
 
So 
 
 LUTHER KELLER, 
 Dealer in Portland and Rosendale Cement. 
 
 ScRANTON, Pa., February 9, 1894. 
 Gentlemen — I take pleasure in adding my testimony in favor 
 of " Saylor's Portland Cement." I have sold it for the past fif- 
 teen years and I find it gives universal satisfaction. This cement 
 has been used in all large contracts in this section. 
 
 The Scranton Gas & Water Co. in their three large reservoirs 
 used this brand almost exclusively; the Lackawanna Iron & 
 Steel Co. used it for all their heavy work ; the Delaware, Lacka- 
 wanna & Western Railroad Co. used it on all their work ; the 
 Jermyn Water Co.'s Dam, at Jermyn, Pa., was built with it; the 
 Providence Gas & Water Co. used it in their dam, and it has 
 been used in all large contracts for city work. 
 
 Very truly, 
 
 Luther Keller. 
 
 OFFICE OF E. E. MYERS, 
 
 Architect, 
 3 and 4 Moffet's Block, Detroit. 
 
 Detroit, Mich., March 5, 1895. 
 Gentlemen — Being fully acquainted with the character and 
 quality of " Saylor's Portland Cement," I have determined on 
 its use in the Wilkes-Barre Court House purely on its excellent 
 quality. Too much stress cannot be placed on the importance 
 of the character of cement, especially in structures where heavy 
 loads are to be sustained. Having had extensive experience in 
 the use of " Saylor's Portland Cement," I have always found it 
 reliable and sustains all that I have heard claimed for it. The 
 uniformity of the cement has given me confidence in the 
 material, and have found it so reliable that I have determined 
 upon its use in the building herein before mentioned. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 E. E. Myers, 
 
 Architect. 
 
8i 
 
 OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER, 
 
 Reading, Pa., January 27, 1896. 
 Gentlemen — Your "Saylor's Portland Cement" was used 
 for the concrete lining of our High Service Reservoir built last 
 summer, and the result warrants the assertion that for this class 
 of work it equals any foreign cement I have ever used. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 E. Chamberlain, 
 
 City Ejii^ineer. 
 
 ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, CITY OF OMAHA. 
 
 Omaha, Neb., January 11, 1895. 
 Gentlemen — In answer to your favor of the 8th, would state: 
 First — That this department will permit American Portland 
 Cements with the quality requirements of Portland Cement 
 under our specifications, upon equal terms with any imported 
 cements. 
 
 Second — Personally I would give American products the 
 preference, other things being equal, and think the Public 
 Works Department would join me in giving such preference. 
 We have made a series of tests of "Saylor's Portland Cement" 
 in the past year, and they have proven highly satisfactory ; in 
 fact, the results thus far exceeded those of any other cement 
 submitted at this office. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Andrew Rosewater, 
 
 City Engineer . 
 
 Vosburg, Pa., June 28, 1886. 
 Coplay Ceme7it Co., Allefitowit, Pa. 
 
 Gentlemen — We have used in the construction of our work 
 *75oo barrels of your Saylor's Portland and 1800 barrels of your 
 Anchor Cement which have given the best satisfaction. The 
 tests made from day to day for the past year have established its 
 uniform quality and strength. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Lentz & Co. 
 
 * Vosburg Tunnel. 
 
82 
 
 CONCRETE CORE WALL, ROARING CREEK WATER CO.'S DAM. 
 Being Built of Saylor's Portland Cement. 
 
 ROARING CREEK WATER COMPANY. 
 
 SHAMOKIN, PA. 
 
 Shamokin, Pa., May 7, 1896. 
 Commercial Wood a7id Cement Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Gentlemen — Replying to your favor of the 5th inst. we have 
 to-day sent you by express three photographs showing part of 
 the exposed concrete work of our dam, which we have erected 
 with your "Saylor's Portland Cement." Most of the cement 
 used last year was placed in the foundation of a core wall from 
 twenty to thirty feet below the surface of the ground, therefore 
 photographs of it could not be taken. 
 
 The 4000 barrels of cement used last season have been 
 entirely satisfactory. 
 
 In regard to the quantity that will be required this year, we 
 cannot yet tell, but the shipment of a carload every alternate day 
 can continue for at least two weeks, in the meantime we will 
 make a probable estimate of the quantity required and advise 
 you. We are. Yours very truly. 
 
 Roaring Creek Water Co. 
 C. Q. McWilliams, Treasurer, 
 
S3 
 
 DELAWARE AND HUDSON CANAL CO., 
 Northern Railroad Depot. 
 
 Albany, N. Y., January 21, 1891. 
 
 Gentlemen — In answer to your inquiry as to the character- 
 istics and merits of the " Saylor's Portland Cement" which we 
 have purchased from you during the last two years, I am glad 
 to be able to say that it has proven entirely satisfactory and in 
 my opinion is as desirable for railroad engineering structures as 
 any imported Portland Cement which we have used. 
 
 We have had occasion during the past three months to 
 remove abutments, in which your cement was used, and, there- 
 fore, I am able to say with a full knowledge of the facts that the 
 results have been eminently satisfactory. We have used it in the 
 coldest weather, during the past two 3^ears, with a large percent- 
 age of salt, and have found it entirely satisfactory. 
 
 Its hydraulic properties have been thoroughly tested in coffer 
 dams where we have used it and have proved to be excellent. 
 We propose to continue using it as our standard cement until 
 something equally good and less expensive shall appear on the 
 market and this we fail to find. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 A. J. Swift, 
 
 Chief Engineer. 
 
 N. B. — The above company used 10,000 barrels of " Saylor's 
 Portland Cement" during the two years ending August, 1890. 
 
 H. P. COOPER, 
 Dealer in Cement, Iron, Etc. 
 
 PoTTSviLLE, Pa., May 12, 1895. 
 Gentlemen — I have sold your "Saylor's Portland Cement" 
 for the best work done here. It was used in the heavy dam for 
 the Girard Water Co., also in the Shenandoah Dam, and I am 
 now supplying it for the new Traction Power Houses and dynamo 
 foundations. The engineers and mechanics of this section con- 
 sider your cement the best grade of Portland Cement on the 
 market. Very truly yours, 
 
 H. P. Cooper. 
 
84 
 
 MANUFACTURERS NATURAL GAS CO., 
 
 Canonsburg, Pa., May 8, 1895. 
 Gentlemen — It is with pleasure that I commend " Saylor's 
 Portland Cement." Our company has used about 400 barrels in 
 the erection of three heavy pumping plants to pump natural gas, 
 and in each case " Saylor's Portland Cement" has given perfect 
 satisfaction while other cements have failed. 
 We will always use "Saylor's." 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 Manufacturers Natural Gas Co., 
 Per N. Johnston, 
 
 Superintendent . 
 
 CANONSBURG IRON & STEEL CO., 
 J. F. Bunke, Superintendent. 
 
 Canonsburg, Pa., May 15, 1895. 
 Gentlemen — In reply to your inquiry as to the quality of 
 " Saylor's Portland Cement" we are glad to be able to say that 
 it has proven entirely satisfactory. We have used it with the 
 best brands of German Portland, and we consider "Saylor's" to 
 be equally as good if not superior to any cement we have ever 
 used. Yours respectfully, 
 
 Canonsburg Iron & Steel Co. 
 
 THE NORTH RIVER CONSTRUCTION CO., 
 
 N. Y., W. S. & B. R'Y. 
 
 New York, March 10, 1883. 
 Gentlemen — As supplementary to the statement made about 
 your cement, in my history of the Mississippi Jetties, I will state 
 that the concrete blocks built with "Saylor's American Portland 
 Cement" at the sea ends of the jetties have withstood for three 
 years severe exposure to the waves and are at this date intact. 
 I am fully justified by the test of time in the approval I gave of 
 your cement. Should I have other sea walls to build I would 
 have no hesitation in using it. I am truly yours, 
 
 E. L. CORTHELL, 
 
 Chief Engmeer, N. V., W. S. B. R'y. 
 
F. F. GRUNINGER, 
 Wholesalp: Lumber, Shingles and Cements, Omaha, Nek. 
 
 Omaha, Neb., April 9, 1896. 
 Commercial Wood and Cement Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Gentlemen— I am pleased to inform you that I just received 
 a visit from Mr. Daley, to whom I gave four barrels of "Saylor's 
 Portland Cement" and tests of which were made by him in some 
 large water tanks for the city. Mr. Daley said that one large 
 tank was made and cemented wnth the "Saylor's" and another 
 with the best English Portland they could get, but, upon testing 
 them with water, they find that the one made of "Saylor's" is 
 perfectly hard and holds water in good shape, while the other, 
 made of English Cement, is as loose as a basket and will not hold 
 water. 
 
 The city engineer is more than pleased with the results and 
 has agreed to specify this cement on all city work. There were 
 two and a half barrels used in the first tank, thus leaving one and 
 a half, which they are going to take and reline the tank which 
 was cemented with the English cement and give the "Saylor's" 
 further test. I am well pleased with the outcome of this and am 
 going to push the sale of this cement vigorously, and think that 
 the price now will not make any difference as it did as they know 
 it is the best cement on the market. 
 
 Yours trul}^ 
 
 F. F. Gruninger. 
 
 KEELING, RIDGE & CO., 
 General Contractors. 
 
 Pittsburg, Pa., February 2, 1891. 
 Gentlemen — We have used your "Saylor's Portland Cement" 
 for several years, and are now using it in the construction of a 
 large brick and stone sewer at Homewood for this city. We pre- 
 fer it to any imported cement we have ever used, and cheerfully 
 recommend it to anyone wanting a first-class Portland Cement. 
 
 Very truly. 
 
 Keeling, Ridge & Co. 
 
86 
 
 CONCRETE SEA WALL AND LANDING STEPS, LEAGUE ISLAND 
 NAVY YARD. 
 Built of Saylor's Portland Cement. 
 
 CIVIL ENGINEER'S OFFICE, 
 
 Department of Yards and Docks, U. S. Navy Yard. 
 
 League Island, Philadelphia, September 22, 1893. 
 Dear Sir — Mr. F. C. Arthur, the contractor for constructing 
 159 lineal feet of protection wall at this Navy Yard, presented 
 for testing, prior to use in the concrete part of his contract, 345 
 barrels of "Saylor's American Portland Cement" as required by 
 the specifications of his contract. The cement to have a tensile 
 strength of not less than 425 pounds per square inch at the end 
 of seven days. A test sample was taken from every fifth barrel 
 as unloaded by the contractor and made up in test lots of five 
 briquettes each. All the lots passed the limit, and have been 
 used exclusively in the construction of the concrete wall. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 C. C. WoLCOTT C. E., U. S. N. 
 
 In Charge of Engineering Work. 
 
87 
 
 CAMDEN IRON WORKS. 
 R. D. Wood & Co., Proprietors. 
 
 Camden, N. J., October i, 1893. 
 Commercial Wood and Ceme7it Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Gentlemen — In reply to your request in regard to " Saylor's 
 Portland Cement" that you furnished the Camden Iron Works, 
 would say that it exceeds in quality and fineness any cement I 
 ever used, giving even better results than you guaranteed. 
 
 Having had occasion two months after the concrete was 
 placed in the ground to excavate along-side of it, and to dig into 
 it for some detail work, I was surprised at the strength of the 
 concrete, in that, when cutting it off, the cement was strong 
 enough to break the Conshohocken Stone that composed it, 
 instead of drawing out as is usually the case, and instead of 
 crushing and crumbling the cement and sand part of it broke off 
 the same as stone, viz. — with sharp, clean edges. 
 
 The foundation, before mentioned, is loaded very heavily, 
 and is liable at any time to receive a falling load of 1200 tons in 
 addition to its dead load, therefore it is very gratifying to know 
 that the cement from which the concrete is made and with which 
 the masonry is laid is the best that can be obtained. 
 
 You may rest assured that in future I shall insist in all my 
 specifications that "Saylor's American Portland Cement" be 
 used in preference to all others. Very truly, 
 
 S. F. Adams, Engineer . 
 
 Camden Iron Works. 
 
 WESTERN PENITENTIARY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 Alleghany, Pa., July 26, 1882. 
 Gentlemen — We have used in the foundations and super- 
 structure of our new buildings at Riverside "Saylor's Portland 
 Cement," which has given entire satisfaction, and we consider 
 it, from tests made, fully equal to the best foreign cements. A 
 briquette of two square inches after having been submerged six 
 months showed a tensile strength of 1000 pounds, or 500 pounds 
 to the sectional inch. Yours truly, 
 
 S. S. Ferguson, 
 
 Engineer . 
 
88 
 
 HUDSON TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION CO. 
 
 New York, February 27, 1883. 
 Dear Sirs — In the construction of our tunnel thus far we 
 have used many thousand barrels of your "Saylor's Portland 
 Cement," and have universally found it equal to the best brands 
 of foreign cement. In fact, we ask for nothing better, and shall 
 continue its use where a superior quality of cement is required. 
 We can show you excellent samples of its strength and general 
 character at any time. Trusting you may furnish as good an 
 article in the future as in the past, I beg to remain, 
 
 Yours respectfully, CD. Haskin, 
 
 Manas;er. 
 
 S. E. MOORE, 
 
 Bricklayer and Builder, 
 1029 Filbert Street. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., January 17, 1891. 
 Gentlemen — We have used 6000 barrels of ''Saylor's Port- 
 land Cement" during the past year in constructing the new 
 County Prison at Holmesburg Junction, Philadelphia. The 
 cement was entirely satisfactory in every respect. 
 
 Very truly yours, S. E. Moore. 
 
 I. H. HATHAWAY & CO., 
 
 Bridge Contractors, Etc. 
 Girard Building, Philadelphia. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., May 4, 1893. 
 Gentlemen — Answering your communication as to how the 
 "Saylor's Portland Cement" you have shipped us for the past 
 two or three years has turned out, would say that we have used 
 it on government, municipal and private work, and in every case 
 we found it to pass all tests required. 
 
 We are now using this cement to build a large distillery 
 plant at Eddington, Pa. We can cheerfully recommend this 
 cement for any work where the best Portland Cement is required. 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 I. H. Hathaway & Co. 
 
89 
 
 HADLEY & BARBER, 
 General Contractors. 
 
 Canton, Ohio, April 9, 1896. 
 Com7nercial Wood and Cement Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Gentlemen— Answering your inquiry as to the " Saylor's 
 Portland Cement" used on the work at Ashtabula, Ohio, would 
 say that we used upwards of 1000 barrels of this brand of 
 cement for grouting the brick pavements at that place last sea- 
 son, and it gives us pleasure to state that the cement gave us 
 excellent satisfaction. 
 
 We regard the " Saylor's Portland Cement" as a high grade, 
 thoroughly reliable cement. We would cheerfully recommend 
 it to anyone having use for Portland Cement in this line of 
 business. Yours truly, 
 
 Hadley & Barber. 
 
 A. L. FRAME, 
 Coal, Lime, Cement, Etc. 
 
 Reading, Pa., January 27, 1896. 
 Gentlemen — I used your "Saylor's Portland Cement" on 
 work done for the City of Reading during 1895, and it has given 
 such entire satisfaction that I shall continue using it on future 
 contracts that I may receive. Respectfully yours, 
 
 A. L. Frame. 
 
 Wheeling, W. Va., April i, 1896. 
 Commercial Wood and Cement Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Gentlemen— Answering your favor of the 28th inst., we are 
 glad to say that all the work done with the "Saylor's Portland 
 Cement" you have been shipping us for the past three years is 
 in excellent condition. We have placed this cement in the most 
 particular work done in this section and guaranteed it equal to 
 anything on the market. We have never had a complaint of any 
 sort, the cement having given the best satisfaction. We antici- 
 pate a large sale for it this year. Very truly yours, 
 
 Miller & Stein, 
 
9° 
 
91 
 
 JOHN ATKINSON, 
 Bricklayer, Builder and Contractor, 
 Office, 1327 Buttonwood Street. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., July 12, 1892. 
 
 Gentlemen — In reply to your favor of even date, would say 
 that I used several thousand barrels of your "Saylor's Portland 
 Cement" last summer in making the concrete foundations of the 
 Reading Railroad terminal's new train shed, and am at present 
 using it in large quantities for the brick work in the Main Station 
 at Twelfth and Market Streets. 
 
 I used several different brands of cement on this work, but 
 consider the Saylor's Portland Cement" received from you one 
 of the highest grades of Portland Cement manufactured, and 
 the most satisfactory brand I have ever used. 
 
 Last year I used 2500 barrels of it at Glen Mills, Pa., on the 
 House of Refuge, and 3000 barrels at Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, on 
 the Deaf and Dumb Asylum. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 John Atkinson. 
 
 FRANKLIN M. HARRIS & CO., 
 Mason Builders, 1611 Filbert Street. 
 
 Philadelphia, May 12, 1894. 
 To Whom it May Concern — The manufacturers of "Say- 
 lor's Portland Cement" were the only parties that would guar- 
 antee their cement to pass the requirements of the specifications 
 for cement to be used in the concrete foundations of the Harrison 
 Block, Tenth and Filbert Streets. 
 
 The specifications called for a cement to be ground so fin© 
 that seventy-five per cent, would pass through a sieve with 40,000 
 meshes per square inch. This cement being an American Port- 
 land, it is worth noting that the importers of both English and 
 German cements were asked to bid on these specifications. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 * F. M. Harris & Co. 
 
92 
 
 Tests on Commercial Portland Cement 
 
 Test made by Booth, Garrett & Blair, Phila- 
 delphia, for Charles McCaul on Commercial Port- 
 land Cement," supplied for People's Traction Com- 
 pany's power house, Ogontz, Philadelphia, March 
 22, 1895. 
 
 SEVEN DAY TENSILE TEST. 
 
 NEAT. TWO PARTS SAND TO ONE PART CEMENT. 
 
 330 lbs. 143 lbs. 
 
 350 " 160 " 
 
 300 " 153 
 
 300 " 158 " 
 
 " 157 " 
 
 Average . . .322 lbs. Average 154 lbs. 
 
 Test made on Commercial Portland,'* Car 
 L. V. 72, shipped to Melody & Keating, April i, 
 1895. 
 
 SEVEN DAYS. ONE MONTH. 
 
 Neat 378 lbs. 494 lbs. 
 
 I Cement to 2 Sand 138 " 210 " 
 
 I Cement to 3 Sand 98 " 177 " 
 
93 
 
 MELODY & KEATING, 
 Bricklayers and Builders, No. 2118 Diamond Street. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., May i, 1895. 
 Gentlemen — We have used about 2500 barrels of your " Com- 
 mercial Portland Cement" in the foundations of the Electric 
 Traction Car Shed at Kensington Aventie and Cumberland 
 Street and found the same to be a quick-setting, strong cement 
 and proved satisfactory in every respect. 
 
 Yours truly. 
 
 Melody & Keating. 
 
 J. C. BURWELL, 
 
 Coal, Lime, Sand, Cement, Gravel, Etc., Winsted, Conn. 
 
 Winsted, Conn., January 15, 1895. 
 Gentlemen — Replying to your favor of even date, we are 
 glad to say that the "Commercial Portland Cement" you have 
 shipped us from time to time during the past has been just as 
 guaranteed by you, and we have found it fully equal to the for- 
 eign cements. 
 
 Your "Commercial Rosendale" has also given our trade 
 good satisfaction. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 J. C. BURWELL. 
 
 THE FAWCETT VENTILATED FIREPROOF 
 BUILDING CO., Limited. 
 No. 104 South Twelfth Street. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., May 14, 1894. 
 Gentlemen — Answering your favor would say that we have 
 used a large quantity of your "Commercial Portland Cement" in 
 making the cement floor arches in the new ten-story "Lorraine" 
 Apartment House, at Broad and Fairmount Avenues, where the 
 Fawcet System of FireprooYing was used exclusively. Our engi- 
 neer has tested this cement very thoroughly and we find it to be 
 a first-class article. 
 
 Very truly yours. 
 The Fawcett Ventilated Fireproof Building Co., Ltd. 
 
94 
 
 Testing Laboratories of Lathbury & Anderson, 
 No. 1319 Filbert Street, 
 
 Philadelphia, June 25, 1895. 
 
 Report of test of Commercial Portland 
 Cement." Average sample from lot of 100 barrels 
 in L. V. Car No. 7665, at Carpenter Street and Gray's 
 Ferry Road. Reported to Commercial Wood and 
 Cement Company, Philadelphia. 
 
 SEVEN DAY TENSILE TESTS. 
 
 NEAT. 
 
 
 TWO SAND TO ONE 
 
 CEMENT. 
 
 Briquette No. 1240. . 
 
 ..387 lbs. 
 
 Briquette No. 1245. 
 
 ...166 lbs. 
 
 1241.. 
 
 ..370 " 
 
 " " 1246. 
 
 ...141 " 
 
 " 1242.. 
 
 ..326 
 
 " 1247. 
 
 ...136 " 
 
 1243.. 
 
 ..380 " 
 
 " 1248. 
 
 ...144 " 
 
 " 1244.. 
 
 ..373 " 
 
 " 1249. 
 
 ...163 " 
 
 Average . . . . 
 
 , . 367 lbs. 
 
 Average , , , 
 
 . , , 150 lbs. 
 
 TWENTY-EIGHT DAY 
 
 TENSILE TESTS. 
 
 NEAT. 
 
 
 TWO SAND TO ONE 
 
 CEMENT. 
 
 Briquette No. 1250. . 
 
 . . 596 lbs. 
 
 Briquette No. 1255. 
 
 . . . 250 lbs. 
 
 " 1251.. 
 
 ..590 " 
 
 " " 1256. 
 
 ...265 " 
 
 " 1252. . 
 
 ..589 " 
 
 " 1257. 
 
 ...266 " 
 
 1253.. 
 
 ..578 " 
 
 " 1258. 
 
 .\.279 " 
 
 " 1254.. 
 
 ..599 " 
 
 " 1259 
 
 ...258 " 
 
 Average, , , , 
 
 . . 590 lbs. 
 
 Average. . . 
 
 , , , 263 lbs. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 Lathbury & Anderson. 
 
95 
 
 HUGH McINNES, 
 
 Dealer in Building Material. 
 
 Yard and Office, No. 1328 North Ninth Street. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., May 17, 1894. 
 Gentlemen — I have used your "Commercial Portland Ce- 
 ment" for the last four years and have sold it in all cases for 
 inside cellar floors, and would say further that to my knowledge 
 I never had a barrel returned or one word of complaint. Found 
 it superior for cellar work or cement floors to very much of the 
 foreign cement. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Hugh McInnes. 
 
 CHARLES W. ENGLISH. 
 Lumber and Building Materials. 
 
 MoNTCLAiR, N. J., July 30, 1891. 
 Gentlemen — I have been supplying my trade with the 
 "Commercial Brand of Portland Cement" for some time and 
 have yet to hear of the first complaint, it having given good sat- 
 isfaction. 
 
 Your respectfully, 
 
 Charles W. English. 
 
 HUGH H. O'NEILL, 
 
 Mason and Contractor. 
 
 Jenkintown, Pa., September 15, 1892. 
 Commercial Wood and Cement Co., Philadelphia. 
 
 Gentlemen — Answering your favor of the 13th inst., would 
 say the "Anchor" Cement you shipped me last month was used 
 in setting the brick work for the new stand pipe for the Jenkin- 
 town Water Co. The car of "Commercial Portland" was used 
 in the concrete foundations for the stand pipe. 
 
 These cements have given excellent satisfaction and I will 
 continue to use and recommend them. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Hugh H. O'Neill. 
 
96 
 
 STONE DAM, AT READING PAPER MILLS. 
 Built with Saylor's Portland Cement. 
 
 \VM. H. DECHANT, C. E. 
 
 Reading, Pa., June 26, 1893. 
 
 Gentlemen — Your letter of December 10 to Geo. F. Baer, President Reading 
 Paper Mills, was referred to me. I have deferred an answer until now so that the 
 result of actual trial could be given. 
 
 We used your Saylor's Portland Cement " in building the Tulpehocken Dam 
 for the Reading Paper Mills last year, the last for the top part of the dam being 
 used about the 20th of November, making the age of the cement work named seven 
 months. I have taken pieces of this cement from the top of the dam and tested it 
 for tensile strength, and find the cement mixed with the sharp sand used in the 
 work in the proportion of i to i to average 416 lbs. per square inch. We tested the 
 same cement and sand while the dam was being built and the average of five 
 briquettes, three weeks old, show a strength of 252 lus. per square inch. The two 
 tests compared show a strengthening increase of 61 per cent, in seven months. I'he 
 " Saylor's Portland Cement" has given us very good satisfaction, and we hope you 
 will have no difficulty in keeping up its high record. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Wm. H. Dechant, C. E.