The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-01-24
The Kaolin Deposits Of Augusta County.

The Kaolin Deposits Of Augusta County
IN former numbers of our paper we have
had occasion to speak Of the immense mines
OF rich iron ores Of various kinds, which have
been found in Augusta county, and which,
when properly developed, are destined to be
sources OF great wealth to our county. We
now propose to say few words in regard
to the kaolin beds in the Southern portioa OF
the county
These beds OF this valuable material were
discovered many years ago, in digging a
well on 4 tract OF land then belonging to
the late Major George Eskridge. After dig
ging to the depth of four or five feet, white
clay was reached, which was so different in its
appearance and quality from anything that
had ever been seen in this part OF the colln-
try, as to excite the curiosity of all who saw
it. When dried, it was as white as lime, and
so entirely free of everything like grit, that
when pulverized, it felt like family tlour.-
Persons in the neighborhood used it as a
substitute for lime in white. washing. A
specimen OF it was sent to Prof William B.
Rogers, the eminent geologist, who was then
one of the Professor Of the University of
Virginia, and he 1T once pronounced it to
be kaoiin OF very fine quality.
No attempts were made to utilize the
property, until about the End wear of the late
war, When company Of cnterprising gen.
tlemen bought 100 acres of land on which
the deposit was situated, and established a
mandatory OF wares to supply the wants
of the people. At this factory large quanti-
ties Of Rockingham and yellow wares of the
best quality were manufactured and some of
the coarser kinds OF white wares were pro
duced, but as the company had neither the
skilled labor nor the chemicals necessary
for the production OF the finer varieties, no
attempt WAS made to manufacture pure white
wares.
In consequence OF the rapid decline in the
value Of the currency and the Interference
of the CONSUMPTION officers with the opera
tives. during the war, the works were sus.
pended. After the war was over. an effort
was made to revive the manufacture, but
most OF the stockholders were so Grip
pied in their circumstances that they could
not contribute the necessary amount of cap
ital, and the attempt was abandoned.
In 1873, the property with all the i'm
provements and machinery, was soli to
company OF English gentlemen, but shortly
after they bought, disastrous fire occurred
which destroyed most of the buildings and
some of the machinery. This rendered it
necessary to rebuild in more substantial style,
and also to replace the injured machinery.at
heavy cost, which was done.
The losses by fire and bad mana cement OF
the property so embarrassed the purchasers
that they were unable to pay the deferred
instalmcnts OF purchase money. and the
property was sold under decree and bought
in by the original company, who now hold
it.
The tract contains 120 acres OF arabic land,
we'll situated, in salubrions, wealthy and
Intelligent neighborhood. The improve
ments cousistof Il number of dweling-hous-
es, large store house, extensive potteries,
several kilns for burning wares, &c.
The deposit of Kaolin extends over FORTY
ACRES of land. 1t lies in l0neina or layers,
varying somewhat in quality, and in thick
ness from one to five feet. These rest one
upon another, and the aggregate depth from
the surface of the white clay (which begins
four or five feet from the surface of the
greund) to the bottom, which rests on
graveily bed, Is about FoRTY-Two FEET, as
has been ascertained by digging through the
mass of white clay to the gravel.
The quantity of Kaolin. is. therefore, I'M
limited, and the supply of pine wood to be
used 10 the kilns, on the land and on adjoin-
ing tracts, is inexhaustible.
1t is much to be regretted that such
source IF wealth, and one which could give
profitable employment to so many laborers,
should remain idle. We doubt if there is
any investment in Virginia which offers more
attractions to capitalists and skilled laborers.
We should be much gratified if some persons
acquainted with the manufacture of earthen-
hold Of this property and bring it into active
operation.
The present owners having no acqlain-
lance with the business and no active CAPT.
tai to invest in an enterprise Of this kind,
are willing to sell the property OH very ac-
commodating terms.
Experience has proved that the clay in
its crude state is adapted 10 the manufac-
ture OF buckingham and yellow ware of the
best quality. friedrich, terra Gotta ware and
drainage pipe of excellent quality have been
made Oft, and from experiments made with
some Of the clay, which was sent to the New
Jersey Potteries. it was announced that c
and granite ware OF good quality can be
produced from it.
The property was sold to the company OF
English gentlemen in 1873, for SIS, 000,-
$4,000 OF which was paid in hand. Since that
sale the Old building have been substituted
by new ones OF more substantial quality and
some valuable additions have been made to
the machinery. We doubt not that the
property as it now stands can be bought for
the balance due from the English company.
We neglected to say that the property is
situated on the south branch of the Shenan-
doah, about twelve miles south of Staunton,
and between five and six miles from Way
nesboro. The revival of the iron business
will create a great demand for fire. brick,
and there is an increasing demand for
drainage pipe. for sewerage in towns and
drainage in the country. Terra Gotta ware
is also coming more and more into use every
year. We respectfully invite the attention
of capitalists to this property.
The LEONARD SCOTT PUBLISHING Co.,
Al Barclay Street, New York, have publish
ed BLACKwooD for January in good season.
The serial, ''Mine is Thine, is continued.
The second article, Murder of Commits
sioner Fraser, Delhi, 1885, is striking
narrative of circumstantis.l evidence, Leading