San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-09
CLAY FOR THE POTTERS.

How the Finest II Prepared for Cse-The
Best Il from Missouri
It Il we'll known that the pots used by the
slassmakers must necessarily be Of the best
material, but what that material Ia, or where
It Is found. is not 80 generally known. A
gentleman connected with one Of the largest
houses in the city dealing in glassware, who
Is also interested in the manufacture, said:
"For a long time No Gay was found that
eoualed that found at Stourbridge, England,
but now no glassmaker in this country need
import any, for in the immediate vicinity OF
St Louis a clay company produces from its
mines an article fully equal in every respecs
to the English clay, and this is now in gen
eral use throughout the United States The
process of preparing it for use Is most inter-
esting. The clay is taken in carts from the
mines to the works, and there shoveled
through an opening in the wall directly into
huge watts when it Is dissolved in water.
From that moment the cleansing process be-
gins This is the most important thing In
the whole proceeding and for this reason the
carts are not allowed to enter.
"Not only are the carts kept out, but
strangers are rigidly excluded. and some in
fuence is necessary to secure permission to
visit the building. When one enters he 10
requested to clean his shoes very carefully,
as the introduction of the most minute parti-
Giles of dirt will injure the clay. Employees
are required to wear wooden shoes while at
work, for the sake of cleanliness and they
willingly comply, because leather shoes are
soon destroyed, the nails being quickly de-
stroyed by coming in contact with the clay.
Iron will not stand the contact, and brass is
consequently used instead of iron in all the
machinery which is touched by the ella while
it is in a state of solution.
"Clay, when it is stirred up in water, will
remain in solution for long time, and the
particles of sand, gravel or iron which may
be in it will settle to the bottom of the liquid
as it is carried from the large watts through
sluices to the tanks where it is allowed to
settle AS it passes through this sluice it is
screened OF run through fine wire netting,
and at this point it is constantly and care
fully watched by two workmen.
"In the tanks it remains for about week,
until the clay has settled to the bottom and
the clear water is drawn off to be used again.
The clay is then taken to the evaporating
room and placed in shallow pans, the sides
and bottoms of which are covered with coils
of steam pipe. A uniform temperature of 70
degs. is maintained as nearly as possible in
the room A large force of workmen turn
the clay over and over with shovels until it
is of the consistency of putty ready for the
GLACIERS use.
"Thence it is taken to another room, where
is powerful block molding machine which
presses it into slab which is cut into blocks
by a boy He uses sort of bow with a wire
string, and as he cuts he stamps each block
with the factory mark. Then in the drying
room they are baked slowly for five days
when they are ready for sale in that shape,
or for reduction to powder, which is sold in
barrels"-New York Mail and Express