The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-12
BIG DEVELOPMENTS IN KAOLIN.
An Important Enterprise Opening up IN
Aiken.
From the Manufacturers Record.

Near Bath Paper Mill was once Il
small village called Kaolin from the
fact that immense deposits Of the finest
kaolin were found there. This kaolin
was manufactured into china ware, fire
brick, etc. This industry thrived until
the beginning of the war, when 1t was
abandoned. These deposits were neg
lected until bought up by Northern par
ties for less than hundredth part OF
their value. McNamee & Co., the own
ers of this property, control the market
for the unwashed kaolin in the United
States. Several land owners in the same
vicinity found deposits of kaolin, but
when they attempted to force the clay
on the market McNamee & Co. usually
bought up the property or lowed the
price of kaolin until they ctfectually
stopped competition. But within the
last few months immense deposits have
been found in several parts of the coun-
ty, some being quite fine and free from
grit, bnt most of it requiring washing
to remove foreign matter. The people
are wild about it, and the old sand hills
worth only 81 or S2 per acre have leaped
up to $40, $50 and 500. Several conf
panies have been formed to manufact-
ure and ship the kaolin, while Others
are organizing. Among those i'll oper-
alton are the Imperial Kaolin Co., capl-
tai stock 100000, Mr.. Wagener, of
Charleston, president. THIS company
is building 25 or 80 miles of railroad to
their works in Aiken County. They
have had their kaolin analyzed, and 1t
is pronounced to be Of superior quality,
and more, they have sent samples to
Europe and had it manufactured into
ware, which is pronounced to lie of ex-
cellent quality. Specimens of this ware
can be seen at the office Of the company
in Charleston. The Aiken Porcelain
and Manufacturing Company, OF
Aiken, Mr.. Emanuel, president, capi-
tai stock $4,000, with the privilege Of
increasing to any desirable amount, is
now developing its property extensive
ly. They are putting in a plant to cost
$4,000; also building railroad . miles
long to connect at Graniteville with the
South Carolina Railroad and the Rich
nlond and Danviile Railroad. This will
give them fine shipping facilities, and
they expect to have their clay on the
market in six weeks. They are arrang-
ing to cut timber off their own property
to erect storehouses, warehouses and
tenant houses. This company will not
only ship kaolin, but intends
to manufacture it into all kinds of Use
full ware; also to manufacture drain
pipe, friedrich, chimney 'fues, etc. The
stock of this company has all been tax
en- up and they propose to enlarge their
plant extensively and increase their
capital stock, probably to s5o0,000, be-
fore many months have passed.
Some of the other companies are: the
Davies Manufacturing Company, capi-
tai stock $4,000; the Allen Company,
capital stock $4,000, the Lamar Com
pany, capital stock $4,000, and the
Franklin Company, capital stock $780,
900. The Graniteville Mining and Porce-
lain Company, capital stock $4,000,
with the privilege of increasing to
:Sl00,C0O, is now being pushed by MIR.
w. S. Rowland, of Graniteville, S. c.,
while DR.. r. P. Edwards, Of Granite,
vile, is agitating the forming ola stock
company to work his extensive beds,
and Mr.. J. \. Edwards and others are
busily prospecting to ascertain the eN,
tent of their kaolin deposits. Mr.. W.
S. Rowland, an expert, says that the
kaolin deposit of Aiken county is the
largest in America, if not ii the world
After washing, the Aiken county kaolir
is pronounced be as good if not better
than the best English, French and
China clays, and, while the English
clay only nets 20 or 25 per cent. aftel
being washed, the Aiken clay nets from
IS to 90 per cent. Parties are agitatins
the question of building. tile. and drain
pipe works, while it is likely that othel
industries of similar character vii
spring up soon. ....-. .
The Atlantic Coast Line is surveying
line which will run through the hear
ofthe kaolin region, and as soon as it i:
permanently located villages will h'
laid out and built up. .....-.
Picks, shovels and augurs are being
brought into requisition; the old sane
hills are being dug and bored into, anr
more clay is being found every day. |
all is true that is told of this wonderful
! find there IS no reason why Alhel
county will not manufacture Il larg'
share Of the china ware for the Unitct
States, and towns spring up which ma,
rival Trenton, y. j., in this importan
industry. Owners of. kaolin deposit
are constantly receiving aid from out
side parties in developing their clay
Twenty thousand tons of kaolin wer
imported during last year, and the com
panies of Aiken county hope to suppl.
large portion of this demand, beside
exporting to considerable amount.
\. f..
A STunificent TevaS NliIlionairo