The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-28
Ghe GateuigentRr.
nllrr, Nos. Is and q HourIeenth sIreet.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
A HIg Day at New Cumberland HeSieF'
J.,-PIny Years Experience in the
manufacture Of Fire Brick.

aInN-EItty NNhEn 61ENNANAgS INV
manufacture Of Fire Brick.
Yesterday the people Of New Cumber'
land, Hancock county, celebrated the
spmi.C Centennial Of the industry that has
made their town and vicinity famous and
pro,pcrous, This they did by serving a
sumptuous dinner in the town hall for
about five hundred persons-ladies and
peptcmcn-and listening to several ad-
dresses suitable to the occasion, the chief
ofwhrh was history Of the rise and
progress Of the iire.brick business by Hon,
Ipo, II!Atkiuson, a retired manufacturer,
The day was all that could have been de-
sired in the way Of beautiful and balmy
wcathcr-a genial, sunshiny October day
and the invited guests came in from all
parts OF the surrounding country, as well as
from Pittsburgh, Steubenyllle and Wheel.
ipg. \ band OF music was present from
Stcnbenyille to enliven the gathering by
its dulcet strains, and altogether the oc-
casion was very happy one.
Few persons have any idea Of the magni'
lndc Of the fire brick business among our
ncshbors up the river. It's growth has
been gradual from the day Of small things
in 1881 up to the great business Of 1881,
"Thc West Virginia Fire Brick Company,
rs It is called, now embraces seventeen
separate concerns, all with one exception
located on the New Cumberland side q the
river, the producing capacity Of which is
twenty millions Of brick per annum, ex-
elusive Of the fire clay that Is shipped in
bulk to u widely extended trade. These
seventeen concerns represent that many
individuals or firms Who up to the spring
Of 1878 wcrc carrying on n competitive
struggle with each other, but who arc now
united in Il syndicate after the manner OF
the Ohio Salt Company, The nlodl1 oper-
audi Is very simple-sO simple, indeed,
that the only wonder is that such IN or.
ganization was not long ago effected. In
stead of cutting prices and operating on the
principle OF the survival Of the littest,"
they arc now cOniederated In one
organization, all tho large business
Of which Is done by q clearing
house known MS the "West Virginia
Friedrich Company" Thiscompany buys
the products of each concern at given
price, effects all sales and assumes all pay
mcnts, and divides the profits pro.rata.
The concern that is able to manufacture
the cheapest, secures, OF course, the largest
margin Of profits, us all are paid tho same
price In this way oil the concerns are
enabled to do u fairly profitable business
after paying remunentiye prices to their
labor Labor is well paid ut all the yards
about three times us well Us In the In.
.jaucv Of the busincss-and we doubt II
there is community on the Ohio river
where thepeople are 80 generally well to do.
1t is estimated that the population Of
New Cumberland and viCinage Is about
1000. Nearly all this population is clothed,
fed, educated and enriched out OF the
money received for the peculiar clay that
is dug out Of the sides OF the preCipitous
hill back Of the town, and that Is praCtica'
rally inexhaustible. Not only have they
this valuable clay, but II is oVerlald with u
valuable vein OF coal. Tho coal forms q
roof over the clay and the two are dug from
the same entries-the clay first and the
coal afterwards SO that hand In hand the
manufacturers have the clay out OF which
their famous bricks are made and an
abundance OF cheap fuel for burning them.
No wonder they have prospered.
New Cumberland Is an attractive site for
n town. There Is u plain next the river
about an eighth OF n mile in width, and q
bench or plateau OF nearly similar width
Just above 1.-THE two forming almost q
perfect step Thisplateau isa sort ot Euclid
avenue, and is lined next the hill with
succession of very handsome residences.
The two parallels-plain and plateau-ex.
tend up and down the river about q mile,
and afford ample scope for good sized
longitudinal town. Here live the Porters,
the Smiths, the Freemans, the Atkinsons,
the Nlanypennys, the Campbells, and
many others whose names have been In
one way aud another connected with the
iirc.brick industry Of Hancock county for
the last fifty years.
Standing IN the midst Of this scene Of
prosperous and attractive life yesterday
Mr.. Robert ShGrrard, Of Stcubenville, re-
marked tat after rhaving somewhat
extensively in three OF the four grand dl.
visions Oithe earth's surface, lie was pre-
pared to say that he had seen no locality
That combined more advantages as o place
tolivc than the Ohio valley, OF which the
fire brick region was such an essential part.
After the serving OF the excellent dinner
in the Town Hall, Mr.. i. ]. Smith, the
worthy President OF ''the West Virginia
Fire Brick Company" called Off the pro.
gramme, which consisted Of the historical
sketch by Mr.. Atkinson, and addresses by
W. y. Porter, Esq, OF Pittsburgh, and A.
W. Campbell, OF Wheeling, supplemented
byafcw remarks from the President and Mr..
LW. plattenburg. Mr.. Porter made very
happy address, semi.historiCal in its
character in which he paid tribute 10
tile pioneers Of tho business who had
passed away ere the coming. Of this semi.
centennial. Mr.. Campbell addressed bin.
self to The subdivision Of labor rs prime
lactor in our civilization, showing its neces.
sity In order that every human being may
have an appropriate and Congenial oc.
CuPatiOn and due recompense for his skill
Atthc close OF the day Mr. Atkinson read
q carefully prepared neurology Of the fire
brick manufacturers who had passed away,
iwCnty.six in all prominent among whom
were Thomas Freeman and Robert and
Jamcs = porter-nalnes that still live In
thc,business In the persons Of their descen..
IIanls. lie also read number of Letters
from persons who could not be present, but
who ouniIed in sending their congratulations
iancd by their great industry.
Altogether the SemiC Centennial CelebrdA
ton Of the fire brick business OF Hancock
vas II highly gratifying affair, and We can
Onl, express the wish that when the full
centennial year comes round II may sec tile
success Of the business still full high ad.
.VnnrcI anil hn eOtntnnT1nfatnH Inv n rom.