Annual Report, 1904, Vol. 15: With Accompanying Papers (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Annual Report, 1904, Vol. 15: With Accompanying Papers On account of the removal of Prof. J. B. Weems from the state, Prof. Louis G. Michael Of the Iowa State College, at Ames, was appointed Survey Chemist by you and is serving in that capacity. In addition to the preparation of a number of county reports during the past year, more time than heretofore has been devoted to some of the larger economic problems with the pur pose Oi publishing results in a convenient form to meet a real and growing demand for information in regard to the quarry and cement materials; the coal; and the gypsum of the state. A preliminary report on the Portland cement industry and Iowa's natural resources with reference to Portland cement, prepared by Edwin C. Eckel and H. F. Bain of the United States Geological Survey, is published this year. This report is a product Of the helpful co-operation Of the State and National Geological Surveys, a co-operation which has been efficient along a number Of lines during the year. The report shows plainly that the limestones and clays Of Iowa are a proper field for the careful study of the cement manufacturer, and it is believed that this preliminary report will attract the attention of capital seeking investment along this line. A number of urgent requests for this report, from responsible parties, are already on file. A more thorough study, looking to a complete report on Portland cement possibilities in Iowa, is now being undertaken by Dr. S. W. Beyer in connection with his investigation of quarries and quarry products within the state. The field work on these reports will require at least another summer. The series of coal tests that have been undertaken by the Iowa Geological Survey, co-operating with the United States Survey, promises to bring out facts that will be of interest to every user of coal. The coal was in all cases donated by mine operators and in every instance but one carried without charge by the railroad companies. Five car loads Of coal from as many important mines in Iowa have already been tested, and with the results obtained it will be possible to illustrate the nature and significance of the work. For the first time in the history of the country coal from practically all of the coal producing states has been brought to a single, well equipped plant, and has been tested under the same conditions and by the same men, whose position guarantees a fair and' impartial statement Of results. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.