Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-05-05
VISIT TO THE WORKS OF THE PORCELAIN NAN
UFAcTURIEG COMPANY

On Yesterday, in company with Mr.. Holman,
of this city, We visited kaolin, the name given
to the Works of the Porcelain Manufacturing
Company, organized little over year ago. 1t
is situated in Edgefield District, :. e., about s
miles below Hamburg The location is elevated
and healthy, and the bed of Porcelain clay EN-
braces about % acres. 1t is embedded some
Is feet below the surface, and is 20 feet in depth,
affording sapply ample for almost an unlimited
demand. The works of the Company are erec.
ted about quarter Of. a mile from this bed, and
consist of main building 40Nl20 feet with a
kiln-house crossing one end, 40x8O feet in size,
two stories high, with basement where the fuel
Is supplied to heat the kilns.
Adjoining this is the "Sp House SOx70 feet,
where flint, teld5par &C., are crushed by means
of French Burr, Mill Stones, and other machine
ry, and thrown into watts ready for the workmen.
An engine of 25 horse power drives the machi-
merry.
We found about 80 hands busily engaged in
the various processes OF work, crushing the ma
tive flint, moulding pitchers, cups and saucers, or
fashioning the ncatest models for China ware.
Having but recently found that the clay was
adapted to making China, they have not yet made
complete sets, but their pitchers are very white
and perfect, and fully attest the practcability of
producing China ware not inferior to the choisest
articles OF French manufacture.
They are now engaged in making fruit cans to
be used with Dsyton's Patent Exhauster, and on
yesterday were preparing kiln, consisting of
1000 dozen of these new and superior articles
for preserving fruit. This alone will be heavy
business, as the can is much better than tim or
glass, owing to its anti-corosiye and durable
nature.
We could not in the limited space of notice
like this, give definite idea Of the process of
making ware. When moulded it is allowed to
dry until sufficiently hard to receive the sizing.
After going through this process one or more
times, according TO the nature Of the ware, it is
put into the furnace in what are called ssggers,
or tubs, varying in size according to the size OF
tho ware, aud made of i composition of old
croclery aud clay. These are piled ono above
that below it. until the kiln is full, when fuel is
This requires the utmost care and takes We be-.
lieyc nearly Is hours, when after standing about
the same length Of time, to cool, it is ready to
unpack and remove to the salesroom.
We learn that the composition Of the saggets
is especially adapted to the manufacture Of lire
brick, and the company are about to add u ma
eh,nc io' u"uiu'"S 'uc'i. inie m'' a''o TG ,.
convenience.
The company have shipped large quantities Of
the clay to the North, to be used by Crockcry
Manufacturers, anl it has proved superior to any
found in this.country. Ii Northern companies
can make it pay to ship it l,4OO miles at II ex-
pense Of Sll per ton it would seem that it must
be profitable to Manufacture it ou the spot, where
its cost is scarcely 81, and where wood, labor and
living are all To be had at the cheapest rates.
We therefore look forward to see the Southern
Porcelain Manufacturing Company become u
source Of profit to its projectors, and of pride to
thefrenls of progress incur community. Though
located in oar sister State, it is peculiarly an
Augusta cn'erprisr-bcing owned by residents of
our city ami Eenc: We feel o local interest in its
success.
The workman are chiefly English, and occupy
cottages erected in the vicinity. a neat Church
has also een erected where service is held regu.
larly. and the whole place presents the appear
ance ni w-lLordsr,.G community.-Angusta
Disvut1..