The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-24
THE NEW BRICK WORKS.
The Machinery Arrived and Opera
tions to Begin at Once.

The machinery for the operation Of the
Chatham County Machine Brick Works
reached here yesterday. The works are
owned and are to be operated by Messrs. +.
Lowell q Sons. The yards and plant are
located near Musgrove creek adjoining the
land upon which the operations OF the
Savannah Brick Manufacturing Company
are now conducted. Mr.. Henry Roberts
will be the superintendent. Some thirty
hands have been busy several days getting
the place ready for the machinery. The
owners propose to spend $1,000 at the start
in putting the works into operation, ana
will increase the facilities as the demands OF
their trade increase. The three machines
will make 5000 brick each in a day, and
the first kiln will be Of $50, 900 brick, This
will be subsequently, increased to 100000.
There is thought to be sufficient clay on the
land to make 100000 900 brick.
This gives Savannah three brick manu-
factories, and the payroll Of each will run
from $500 to $500 per week. When the pew
works get their product upon the market
there will in all probability be lively com
petition Though there is nothing Of the
sort as yet limited at, it is not improbable
that there will be a war.
The price of Savannah made brick is $40
and $ll. Atlanta, Macon and Augusta
made brick come lower, but 1t is claimed
that when the cost of Transportation
and the size of the brick, Savannah brick
being larger, are considered, the cost is very
nearly the same. Convict labor, of course,
gives a great advantage to the Atlanta and
Augusta brick.
The business of modern brick making has
grown so large that old and primitive
methods had to be discarded, and this most
important Of the useful and substantial in
dustrles has fully kept pace with the sister
arts and sciences Of the age. To the brick
makers has been given great work which
they cannot taI TO manage well, and upon
them depends the beauty, solidity and COM
fort Of the homes of the people,
According to the census Of 1885 there were
made in that year in the United States
5. So, 3G2, 900 brick in 1851 different estab-
lishments, employing 66,355 hands, The
capital invested was S27.G136l6, and the
wages paid $l3, AS, 532 The value of the
product was $32 49,, 587. Since 1880 the
production has doubled. There are on the
lists Of the National Brick Makers Associa-
ton more than 10000 brick and tile makers.
The product of the year 1887 in the United
States reached Z 800, 100000, at an average
value of 81 80 per thousand, the product
representing a total of $50 80 900. When
it is remembered that the first crude
brick machine was invented in 1888, it
seems incredible that the business should
have reached such large proportions.
Nathaniel Adams, of Cornwall, N. Y, was
the inventor. The machine was simply a
hand molder, but in 1910 he invented
mower machine. 1t is related that Mr..
Adams undertook to establish a brick yard
at Philadelphia and built power (horse)
machine. But he was not allowed to start
it, as a mob destroyed the machine ard
drove Mr.. Adams and his family from the
city.
1t would be almost impossible to burn the
yearly product of brick with wood now, as
it would take 2, 500,0 900 cords. This would
reach 3, ZOO miles in length. Natural gas
where it can be obtained, excels all other
methods of burning. Experiments are be-
ing made with oil and also with artificial
gas generated at the kiln. The serious draw
backs IN modern machinery are a tendency
to overproductiOn, and making of a too
large brick, which greatly increases the cost |
of manufacture. The latter difficulty viii
be obviated, it is thought, by the machinery
of the new works here A suitable and
proper size for brick is 81 inches long,
inches wide and a inches thick.