CEMENT INDUSTRY some of us have doubted that there is a field la this section for a big cement plant but the rapid growth of the cement industry and the new uses to which it is being applied should disabuse their minds S B newberry in engineering writing of concrete as a building material tell of the broadening field there is good reason to believe that an efficient substitute for wood haa been found in the hallow concrete block and that we arc still only on the threshold of the development 0 this building material opposition to its use on the part of the consumer is not to bo feared the obstacles to be overcome lie chiefly in the danger of careless or ignorant work by bidock makers and builders and in the need of study and invention to adapt the material to the economical production of convenient and beautiful structures there is every reason why concrete should become the chief building material tor the future for large and costly buildings it is likely that that solid concrete plain or reen re en forced will have the preference for smaller structures especially factories and hollow blocks are certainly cheaper more suitable and require much less technical skill in erection the of this type of construction seem to be un limited 1 mr newberry discusses briefly the history of hollow concrete blocks in construction showing that although eolla blocks were employed in the early part of the nineteenth century the advantages of the hollow form did not appear until much later accord ding to mr newberry the use of hollow concrete blocks to be filled up concrete after being placed in position was patented by bellara Se llara in england in 1875 but we believe that very largo blocks of tills hind were employed io the construction of tho breakwater piers at the port said entrance of tho suez canal several years before however this may bo there Is DO doubt that tho hollow block of concrete possesses many advantages and that its development as a standard article of manufacture at a recent rate has placed a most valuable material in the hands of tha engineer and builder