Chris,

Here, I think, we have a snapshot of what the argument is all about. We have an 
industry that is supposed to be knowledgeable about historic materials and 
methods. That's why they are given stewardship of our most important historic 
buildings.  

The European Lime Revival dog and pony show comes to town and many in our 
industry just jump on the bandwagon with little critical thought. How many stop 
to ask whether we really did things the same way in America? How many are 
schooled enough, have done the reading and thinking to know that other 
technologies significantly displaced lime in the 19th Century, that hydraulic 
lime was never a major player here and wasn't produced here on any significant 
scale? 

Don't get me wrong, the hydraulic lime guys put on a pretty good show. It 
leaves one with the perception that this is it, no need to worry or think any 
more, there is a product that is the answer for all your applications and it 
comes from Europe. This perception, however at odds with the truth, is what too 
many in our industry now think is reality.

There is a body of scientific research and historical information being 
published now that can set the record straight. I remain enough of an optimist 
to think that if the truth is presented, if the challenges are voiced, that 
most people will get it. 

At the same time the people who stand to lose if the truth is known are doing 
everything they can to muddy the waters. At some level they are banking on the 
assumption that many in the industry will remain what ][<en describes as "a bit 
backwards when it comes to reading", and that many will remain in the 
inexcusable position Ken describes, where lack of information amounts to a 
license to "make it up as we go along".

So that's what the argument is all about.

Mike E

> But there were many books written about the 19th century lime and 
> cement industry in the US. I personally have over 50. So are you 
> saying that if we don't bother to research the facts reality becomes 
> whatever we perceive it to be, or in other words we can make it up as 
> we go along? :
> 

 
> That is a somewhat faulty argument seeing as Americans have always 
> been a bit backwards when it comes to reading or writing books. The 
> fact that there is or is not a paper trail does not condition reality, 
> only our perception of it. You may almost as well ask give me one book 
> not written in Europe about trees being a major player in the US. If 
> nobody wrote a book about it does a bear shit in the woods? ;-)
> 
> As to the subject of the argument at hand I have no opinion.
> 
> ][<en

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