The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-10
For the Democratic Advocate.
Brickmaking in Westminster.

|
4 visit 10 The brckyarl of L. c. Matthews will
soon impress one with the fact that it is enter
prise of no small importance. 1t is on the laud :"
COL John X. LOngweli of this city, and is located
on The line of the Western Maryland tstlr,.I about
| one fourth ola mile from the depot short dis
lance from the brickyard is meadow, owned by
Theodore Englar, from which Mr.. Matthews OBJ
iains his Clay The meadow is leased from Mr.
Eneiar by Mr. Matthews and affords Us good quality
Of clay as can he found anywhere and POSSESSES
great merit Ono proof of its superiority * the fact
that for three years past clay has been obtained
from this same bank for the manufacture of a very
fine article of milk pots.
Mr. Matthews began the manufacture of brick at
this point in August 1851. During the first season
he manufactured 10000. lie experienced some
difficulty at first in the selection of hands and in
handling them to the best advantage, &c. As he
progressed he became better acquainted with the
| adaptabity Of each man for certain work, aud OF
course had to make several changes. His object
was to place each emplOye where he would serve the
best purpose. In 1855 he manufactured over 100000
brick steadily increased his facilities and made
| some improvement in his methods of handling the
clay, &c. In 1885 Mr.. Matthews manufactured 726
| 600, nearly three fourths of a million This a
good season. one in which the weather caused but
little interruption The following season was very
/ rp'o0o
It was a very unfavorable season for brick making
The brick would not dry and it regarded as the
worst season there had been for brick making fol
| twenty years Mr. Matthews had orders for more
brick than he could make, and being thoroughly
alive to business he determined to fill his orders if
brick could be obtained. lie accordingly bought Of
/ VIM Oursler 10000. r. E. Frizzell 1000, and from
VIM H. Bell 5oO1O. These. with his own manufae
| ture, supplied those contracted for aud left him
with about $1,000 OH hand. 1t has been the aim Of
Mr.. Matthews to make none but firSt-class brick
and owing to this fact he usually has orders Col
about as many he can make. A number of good
substantial buildings erected during the last foui
years testify to the quality and the popularity of this
manufacture of brick. Among these we NIGH
name the following in Westminster and vicinity
the new addition to Western Maryland College and
Ward Hall, Hotel Albion the First National Bank
| the Await block three new schoolhouses for the
county at different points, house and barn of Jacob
Shaefler Bachman's Valley; the fine house of Chris
/ tian Gunther, on Bachman road; the fine parsonage
in Uniontown and in Baltimore the house of L. H.
Eppley, on Patterson avenue four for Henry Water
man. near Pennsylvania avenue; four new houses
near Druid Hill Park and two in of erection
OH Pennsylvania avenue. For the coming season
Mr. Matthews will increase his facilities for manu-
| featuring brick He has leased the fine body OF
clay at CarrOllton station, OH tile western Nuryluu
Railroad, from Elias Houck and as soon as the
weather permits VIII establish yard at that point,
and will endeavor 10 manufacture during the COM
ing season. ut the two yards at least 000O00 brick,
| and probably more.
This industry is growing one, and We may soon
expect to see il assume much larger proportions 1t
gives employment 10 large number of men, many
ofwhom have families andare paid by the thousand
brick manufactured
II is an interesting sight, when this yard is in full
operation to visit it and watch the nodas operdHdi
To watch them dig the clay cart it to the machine
where it is ground and tempered, watch the sanding
of the molds molding the brick oh-bearng, drying,
setting the kiln. and all the work and handling.
from the digging of The crude clay 10 the nicely
burned brick. Mr. Matthews employs the most
thorough system in this business, and knows just
how to manage the large force employed by him
to get their work well done and on time. lie pays
them well, and declares his happiest moments to be
those when he goes upon the yard on Saturday
evening and watches the upturned, smiling conn
tenances of his employees when they are anticipnt-
ing n call 10 ''get your pay" His hands entertain
for him the highest respect and it is not strange
he governs them by frmness and compassion. They
know he means just what he says and this is III
ways tempered with kindness. At the burning Of
the last kiln Mr.. Matthews gave his hands treat in
the form of an 'oyster bake" He purchased three
barrels of fine oysters. and Informed the crowd Of
about thirty persons that they were there for them
to eat. They took him at his word, and governed
themselves accordingly. After spending most en-
joyable time they adjourned but not until they had
heartily thanked their employer for his kind re-
membranee ofthem, and expressed an earnest wish
that they might spend the coming brick season with
him. Mr.. Matthews is well and favorably known
in this community, having served it faithfully for
number of years in the capacity of auctoneer.
Failing health caused him to abandon that for his
present business He is n most thorough business
man, and can always be found where his business
calls him. This is an industry of which the people
of this community should show their appreciation
by giving it their patronage. A VISITOR.