New-York tribune., 1885-08-09
BRICR-MARING At HAVERSTRAW
IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS NADIA DISCOVERY
ON SUNDAY.

IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS MADE-A DISCOVERY
ON SUNDAY.
The original Dutch settlers who planted their
homes the shadow OF the mountains a Haversraw
confined their energies to the cultivation of the so un
mindful the wealth beneath their feet, aud 1t was
e.eryed for the English develop the business OF
making which has made this town one OF tho most
on the banks the Hudson. The few inhab
I,ants In tho days before the Revolution had made
small quantities OF rough, unsapcly bricks enough Tor
the cbimneys OF their humble dwellings. bat the hfst
kiln of brick for regular market was made In 1870
when a company from Philadelphia set mp ono on the
tsnk OF tho creek which through the town. The
enterprise was n failure and 1t remained for man
whose skill and enterprise laid the foundation for the
wealth OF Haverstraw the business at later
day James Wood native OF Colchester. England
and this country In 1901 From bis boyho0d ne
had been bred the trade OF trick making and he was
accustomed TO say that brick making poor man
business for It required capital to start with After
hs arrival In America he started his business at Sing
sing but In 1918 he removed 10 Haverstraw. being
attracted not only By the deposits OF clay but by the
apparently unlimited supply Of wood that was growing
In the forests the mountains near nj hand
From the time when the Chldrenof Israel labored In
the clay under the eyes OF Egyptian askmasers to the
day that James Wood went to averstraw. there was no
Important Improvement 10 the business OF brick making
ono day "A sloop aground near Woods brick yard
and one OF the crew. who had worked at the business IN
rarrv.own showed him how TO make a mould with n
bo,,on and a ~veni" Soon after this an English
man Of his acquaintance sent him piece OF
anthracite coal a. curiosity. Placing q
mart OF II on the fire he with surprise tina,
n burned with Intense heat but without emitting the
smoke which accompanies the burning Of bituminous
coal and he remarked. IL that stun VIII bnrn VIII
burn brick" borrowing mortar aud pestle hc pniser
xed pecc OF the coal and mixed II with the clay Tor
four brick aud having marked thcm placed them IN tue
sh. f-.l,. I.t,rr q IA. saur
were smned aud glance showed that his experiment,
wa. succcssiu. IIc hnd made great discovery, and
from that moment the business OF brick making eas
rcvoutioii.ed.
Wood ncrt placed tho brick mixed with coal dust In
the upper OF the kiln. ana found the result to be
that they were burned hard tho rcs ihns which
had never happened before VI To that time had been
Impossible to mako tho bricks In kiln of un:sorn
ouallty They were always divided into hard"
lsaimon and pale" The last soft and useless
"maiIy burned throughout. The advantages OF this
recess threclod tho bricks were not only
and fuel. II hal previously taken thirteen days to
burn a kiln The same thing now done IN ak or seven
and .ha once sixty cords OF wood II done
with thIfty The 0f coal duet Diminished the cost
Of bricks ~ "a thousand. and more tnan 5ooOOO9Oo
ainnt for his discovery. but he failed to ealz. wealth
rom the source thai gave wealth 70 others ana c wa
removed 20 Tarrytown whore he died at the age OF
eighty on March o l5o5 lie w%s Iuga " Slsep'
Tho brick making business ASSUMED vast proper
tions The owners Of real estate rich from the
material furnished 10y their lands ma the manufacturers
have ganel wealth from the products OF their In tsy
The Proximity Of the great city furnishes really
et and tho Hudson River Ia means OF communication
that nakcs transportation CHEAP ana easy All things
combine To make Iiasersraw Of the most available
aces tor business IN the state In lso2 fresh
Impetus added 10y the Invention OF the automatic
hcL machine by Richard Yer Nacn the present Mayor
o Ilnyersraw He Is accuSomed to that the great
improvement flashed across his mind one snnda morn,
Ing when. during the sermon Dis thoughts hai wandered
o the subject that had long engrosscd his attention.
and he awoke his rcVcIy just In time TO hear the
Minister n his closing pray invoke the Lord to have
mercy npon those whose thoughts had been In other
ulace. during the hours OF divine service
Al tho present time nfy firms are engaged in the
manufacture at HayerstrRw, giving employment to
nearly 900 men, employing 40 hines and turning
nut Ina one year 3C2 ca 900 brick which would build
wall ten feet h IA and foot thick go miles long