The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-10
BRICKS.
Their Wholesale Manufacture
in Austin.
A Reporters Visit to the Extensive Yards
of MIR. nj. Butler, and What He
Saw.

VISITING Is a common practice now
a-days the world over, and newspaper
men are not, by far, exceptions to the
rule. Yesterday Il representative of
this paper called upon Mr.. M. Butler,
the proprietor of the brick works Just
opposite the city, on the south
side of the Colorado, to ascertain
his views on the future of the cap
ltal city, in business point of view.
Mr.. Butler has been closely identified
with Austin's commercial interest for
number OF years, and has established
an industry of which he is Justly
proud. He contemplateS building
boom at no distant day and is making
every preparation to meet the demand
for first-class bricks. In the spring of
1875 Mr.. Butler purchased THU ty-two
acres of land on the south side of the
river, erected works and commenced
the manufacture of bricks, using
old style machines. Time has
crowned his Efforts with sue
cess, and to-day he has the
best equipped and most complete
works in the state. Last year he man
ufactured and sold about 100000
bricks, only having two months de-
lay on account of extreme bad
weather. New machinery has been
substituted for old, and of the inn
proved Sword brick machine, which
he has had in operation for while, a
few explanatory remarks, perhaps,
would not be amiss. IL is not, as
many suppose, dry press, not having
sufficient power, but is medium be-
tween dry press and mud machine,
and is capable Of keeping num-
Der of good workmen busy turning
off 81 600 bricks per day. The services
OF two cartmen, two feeders, three
truckers, an oiler and off-bearer are
necessary to perfectly operate this ma
chine, and without that number the
daily production would fall far
short of the amount spoken of above.
Monday next Mr.. Butler will put
in operation his mud machide, which
has been idle since November last, and
which turns off 1900 bricks per day.
The total will then reach the
enormous number of 5000 per day, or
II, 268,000 per year, counting every
working day.
The new Atlas engine recently
placed is model of beauty, and be-
ing of thirty-five horse power, with
boiler of forty horse power, is capable
of running the machines, force pumps,
etc.
In the yards at convenient points
are four large clamps or furnaces,
each of which will hold 10000 bricks
Clamp No. 2 is being filed as rapidly
as possible, and during the coming
week the red glare of a cedar wood
fire will illuminate the armament in
the vicinity of Buffers brick work
About the different clamps are 1000
cords of cedar wood, furnished by the
brake owned by Mr.. Butler and lo-
Gated few miles up the river.
An abundant supply of water is at;
hand for all purposes -irrigating, feed
ing the boiler, watering stock and for
bathing purposes. A well thirty-five
feet deep and ten wide furnishes water
for the purposes above mentioned.
AS reorganization, Mr.. Butler EN-
ploys between fifty and seventy-tive
men in the different branches of his
business, has four teams constantly
delivering orders, and, in brief, turns
out morebricks than any yard in the
state.
He also has yard at Dallas.
The residence of Mr.. Bntler and his
family is situated to the north of his
yards, and is as cosy and neat as any
one could desire. His furniture is
rich and elegant, and his beautiful
home can well tank among the palaces
of this city.
The obligations of the writer are
rendered Mr.. and Mrs. Butler for cour-
tesies extended during his visit to
their beautiful country" home.