The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-04-25

stone in shape, much more could o.
done.
In many portions of Kansas, along thu
rivers, species of clay is found deposi
ted which makes BRICK Of the color, and
even of superior quality to the Milwau
kee brick. So far the manufacture hat
not been attempted with the best labor
saving machinery, or in any scientific
way, but even in its present shape its
value is understood. They are made in
my own town. l have taken some
pains to examine the matter, at different
ti..es, and as understand it, the clay
suited for the purpose is washed down
by foods from tho upper rivers. When
the rivers are full of it the water is very
thick, and of whitish, creamy appear
ance. It only comes with The upper
foods, and is strongly impregnated with
alkaline substances. Mixed with sandiin
burning lit vitrifies like, glass, which is
made of alkalies and sands. The brick
are of q whitish yellow, and are imper-
ishabie when we'll made. They ring
like fine earthenware or, glass, make q
good fire BRICK, and are the most dura.
Die, imperishable building material we
have, and will hereafter be one of our
most important articles of export.
There is another field rich in promise.
In Western Kansas, beyond the line of
the upper magnetism limestone of Mitch
ell, Osborne, Russell, Ellis and Rocks,
and on that line to the west, there are
hills of chalk, sometimes in beds of the
consistency of whiting. remember, in
my old explorations in what was then
the wild Indian country, ~e would
smuse ourselves by cutting various ar
ticles with hatchets or our pocket knives,
out of the chalk. There are hills where
you could cut nice castle with a hatch
ct. The chalk and the whiting have
commercial value, and will be worked
and proftably exported, but the great
mine of wealth from that source must be
worked in another direction. Some Of
these chalks and clays are of a valuable
quality as the base of fine earthenware.
Flint and other silicious matter is abund-
ant in that upper region. This is des-
tined to be the Staffordshire OF the Unit
ed States. While there are some very
excellent manufactures in New Jersey
and elsewhere, the great bulk of Our
earthenware comes from England and
France. Wepay millions on millions tor
this article. We should not only make
for our.own country, but export earthen'
ware. hope the day is coming when
We will send cups to Brazil to pay for
our coffee.
must close this article. l have spok
en- chiefly of the products of section
with which am most familiar; the State
has many others. To develop all these
resources wo must import from othe.
States and countries skilled laborers and
artizans, to teach our own laborers and
artizans. We should make our own
shoes, our own clothing, put together the
wagons We use, tho agricultural nipple
ments We waste, the furniture. and to do
this must encourage those who begin
these enterprises. We must teach our
children to work. intend that my own
children shall know what learned-to
work.
expect to SEQ the day when the dams
on our rivers shall furnish slack water
navigation for cheap freight, connected
with locks at the mills. expect to see
the time whom her great resources shall
not be shipped out in manufactured
grain and the lowest grade Of cattle,
when the genius and spirit that has
given Kansas history and name will
find new field of enterprise in develop
ing her marvellous resources.
commenced this article at ten o'clock
and it is past midnight and must close.
l may, a. other thoughts suggest them
selves, write some other time. do not
know that anything l have said will be
useful, but I::offer it,as it is possible it may
be. You have struck the right question.
You have struck it at the right time.
There are, no doubt many gentlemen
far more competent to offer information
on this important subject, but fully ap-
preciating your good motives and pur-
pose, and wishing it more fruitful har-
vest than 1 can offer you, l remain,
Very truly your friend,
WM. A. PHILLIPS.