Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-10-24

tire Of Brick an PtyBlOufh-EGrty
Failure and Final Success.
The student Of civilization, in his re-
searches among the records of antiquity,
will discover that the progress of mankind
has stamped itself upon their habitations.
fixing their character and determining the
materials of which they were composed.
Among the different races which now in
habit the earth, nothing more clearly de-
monstrates the degree of civilization to
which they have arrived as these places
which they call home. The snow hut of
the Esquimaux, the bamboo structure of
American Indian, illustrate the climatic
differences of barbarisin, while the iuips of
the ancient castles Of the old world speak
of an era of lawlessness and violence, of
turbulent barsnS and tyrant kings.
Perhaps the sheltering foliage of the
wids-sp .eading tree, TO which the first man
was driven by the suns fierce rays or the
falling rain, suggested to him the idea Of a
shelter from the viscissitudes of the wealth
er, and the tree itself, uprooted by the
breath of the storm god, furnished a por-
ton of the material for the first house built
above ground. The caves and clefts in
rocks had been found lily adapted to his
wants and requirements and subject to the
visits of wild beasts and loathsome reptiles
Ages may have elapsed before the discov-
cry or the building material Of Which we
design to speak. but Il not thought OF pre-
viously. the flood, which undoubtedly
floated oil most OF the wooden houses in
its path, probably suggested to the minds
of the children of Noah the necessity of
habitaiions of weighticr and more cndur-
able character. Stone was found too hard
tn be worked by the simple tools of that
remote are, and its rough exterior offsndcd
the eye which feasts on beauty and shape:i-
ness. Sooner or later brick made its APP
pearancc-not, indeed, ia its present state
OF perfection. but yet an improvement on
any building material then known. We
will not venture to say who discovered it.
or how lis uses became known. Probably
the sides of a pit dug for cooking purposes
in clay soil gave out the first hint. Betha,
as it may, we cannot dlvest our mind of
the idea that the Tower of Babel, by which
the Inhabitants of earth hoped to reach
heavens gate Itself and 10 secure a place
or refuge in the event of another inunda-
ton, was built of brick. At least it looks
as if ii might have been in all the pictures
we have seen Of it. We have sometimes
regarded it as a matter of regre! that this
great building enterprise was not permitted
to proceed to its completion, thou IN we
would have hated to have been found dead |
carrying the last hodfull of bricks up that
long flight of stairs. The location of the
(away of in Asla) we have also
regarded as unfortunate. Had it been built
in Marshall County, the ruins would have
answered admirably for Cour, House
and trip to the upper stories would have
taken uAoDemocratic County officials /
much nearer Heaven than they are likely
ever to 60. Blu. it was our intention 10
speak of real triumph of mind over mat
ter, and TO record an addition to the re-
sources and means of wealth Of Plymouth |
Plymouth is built OF wood. A glance at !
the town will convince anyone that this
statement is as near the truth as writers for |
the press are ever credited with getting.
But when we say that the era Of wood is |
past, and henceforth brick will be used in |
all permanent improvements made here,
perhaps our statement will he rcccived with |
grains of allowance. 1t is fact. never
lheless. Afterm failures to make good
brick in the vicinity of this place, the pa
Hence Of those who have been experiment
ing in the manufacture of this article has
been rewarded with complete success.
Perhaps a history of brick in this locality
may not prove unihicresting. To premise.
The soil surrounding and composing this
place is sandy or loamy, and it is rarely
that spot can be found of ciayey char
acter on the surface. BY digging, how
over, the indications Of clay are observed
10 increase, but several feet OF sand must
be removed before it can be found in any
quantity, and then it seems to lack that
quality which makes the particles adhere
10 each other and intcrmingle. In Is47
Mr. - Bass burned kiln of brick on
The spot known as "the old brickyard,"
near the farm OF Moses Mann, ESQ.,, and /
he northwest line of the corporation Of
hesc brick three buildings were erected
the county Jail, the Wilcox residence,
md the Pomsroy store. The latter was
destroyed in the great fire of 1857 the sec
md was torn down by DR.. T. A. Borton
rear or so ago, and the last mentioned
llone remains. The quality of these brick
vas inferior, and, after successive failures
o produce good article, it became GEL
rally conceded that good brick could
lot be manufactured here-at lenst thi.
vas the prevailing opinion when the bank
'uilding was erected, the materials COM
losing which being brought from Laporie.
Up to last year but little success had re-
Varded those who vcntured in the business
rom time to time, nor were the brick used
replace the buildings burned down in {
anuary, 1867, regarded Of the best quality.
Among those most largely interested in
uruing brick this year are the Borton
'roe. and Woodward Bros. With one of
ne former we have -conversed, and he
links that the difficulties in the way oil
laking good brick here are fully under
God and can be overcome. In the clay
'hich they have been using large per
sntage of magnesia has been discovered u
his nscessitates hotter fire than is usu- F
Iy renuired and desfroys the rinninnLl