Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-06-14
Cedar. FALLS Pottery.

Cedar Falls Pottery.
The manufacture Of stone-ware In
our State has lately taken forward
movement in the matter of importance.
1t has already and will continue to be
. manufacturing interest of vast inn
portance as the natural resources Of our
State become better known by the peo-
pie. Until within few years the man.
ufacture or stone-ware was not known
In Iowa. the people being supplied
from the extensive potteries Of Ohio.
When II was discovered that the advan-
tages for manufacturing were as good
In this State ~ In Ohio. Potteries began
to be built, and there are now besides
the one at this place, one at Manchester,
Eldora, West Mitchell. and they are,
now very strongly urging the import
ance Of one at Dubuque. That one at
Dubuque would be Of. great advantage
to that place Is beyond question a.
the difficulty of securing the clay will
be made matter Of small Importance
by the completion Of the Eldora Rail-
road. &0R
The Pottery at this place was built by
Martin White, an old resident Of this
place. Mr.. White having disposed Of
his interest, the present proprietors are
Dewey, Sherwood & Co., Mr.. Dewey
having but recently become one Of the
firm They consume In year about
four hundred tons of clay, burning on
an average kiln week, containing
from 400 10 l.5oo gallons Of ware.
The amount of wood used In year IL
about 400 cords, and the worth OF the
ware about SIS, OOO They employ from
eight to ten hands, and pay out from
eighty to one hundred dollars week
for help. The clay 10 obtained from the
clay fields at Eldora, and Is found to be
Of q very superior quality. II is hsuled
by teams to Ackley and themes by
Railroad to this place, and cost here up
wards or eight dollars q ton. This OK
pense, will be greatly lessened by the
completion Of the Eldora Railroad, the
transportation being now the main ex-
pense In procuring II. The completion
Of this road will also benefit parties at
other points, and will be the means OF
the building Of more potteriss In this
part Of the State. bfsa ~
When brought TO this place, the clay
is thrown into cellar where IL under.
goes the process. Of grinding to condi-
tion for manufacturing into ware The
clay after grinding IL In the substances
Of morter, and Is then ready for tbs
plastic hand Of the workmen. Taking
1t to another apartment IL Is moulded
and turned into all kinda and shapes o.
ware. Forty hours Of drying and II Il
ready for the ''slip clay" used on thu
inside and which gives the ware thu
dark smooth surface. This "slip clay
il obtained from Albany, N. Y. and
costs when here about seven dollars pei
Dbl. The white finish on the out-sid,
Of ware IL made by throwing q hal
bushel OF salt in the kiln while tht
wares are drying. It requires abou,
forty hours of drying In the kiln wher
they are then ready for use.
The proprietor report a ready sale
for all they can manufacture now, and
when the completion Of the Iowa Cen
trail opens up communication with
Minnesota, they expect to branch Out
more extensively. IL has already adj
ded much to the manufacturing inter.
ests of our city aud though not the
most In Importance, 1t Is not the least
and is one among the many enterprises
that has given TO Cedar Falls such an
impetus, and the name that 1t now
bears abroad for manufacturing enter
| priscs. "a II
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