The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-01-28
CLAY AS KING.
Growth Of the Industry. The Manufactor.
les in This CITY.


dations and inside walls has had it's day, and
wood, the heretofore only material for floors
and supports, has been RELOCATED to the con.
struction of cheap buildings and cottages
The day has come when contractors are able,
through the medium of fire clay, tile and
iron Orders, to present to their patrons
buildings that are fire proof, time proof, and
burglar proof In fact, so largely have the
clay products entered into the construction
Of buildings, that a fire sufficient to melt
iron may be kindled in one of the rooms Of
many great piles, and with the doors closed,
uncomfortably warm. 1t is only few years
ago that tile was recognized in its true value,
and when it was fully demonstrated that it
is practically indestructble, factories sprung
up all over the country by scores.
As means OF draining lands, drain tile
has no superior. 1t is cheaper than either
wood or iron, and lasts forever. Many
miles of La Sale county, and many thousand
miles Of our broad land, have been, and are
now being, reclaimed to cultivation and use.
fulness by means of this product of clay.
Again, the sidewalk, one of the most annoy.
ing questions in city government, is made,
practically, an easy matter. Stone from
exposure to the weather, retains Its surface
but few years, after which it scales off and
makes worse walk than cinders. Wood is
destined to rot and disgust its owner in a
very brief period. A substitute for both, the
square tile, makes the best walk in the
world, and if properly laid and taken care
Of, will last a hundred years In heavier
blocks, for street paving, tiles are also found
superior to all other material, and are rap
idly coming into use in all the large cities.
Pottery ware and sewer pipe also have
earned share in the field of commerce, and
although the former is not anything new,
a finer class of goods, both in finish and
durability, are being produced in large guam.
titles.
Situated in the center of unlimited clay
fields, Ottawa could not help but reap, in q
measure, the benefits of these great indus
tries The first factory was established here
by Mr.. Tozer in about 1875. 1t was not q
success; but the plant was operated by Geo.
Jekyll and S. r. Blanchard from 1877 to
1879, at which time the Pioneer Fire Proof
Construction Co., with Mr.. johnson, of Chi
cago, at its head, purchased the site and,
removing the whole outfit, at once erected
large plant for different class of ware. The
original works were engaged only in the
manufacture of drain tile and fire brick, but
realizing the coming demand for building
tile, increased the capital stock to $4,000
and by 1885 had the largest tile plant under
one roof in the State. They employed dur
ing 1886, l45 men per month, working night
and day, and in 1887 the number employed
was $50, to whom, with the men in the clay
pits, over $1,000 per month was paid for
labor, amounting for the year to over
$50, 900. During the ear the production
was estimated at 100000 worth of ware,
all of which was made on contracts For
1888 the prospects of this corporation are
unusually bright. The fire brick depart
ment, added in 1887, will employ the same
number of men as the tile department, max
ing in all 800 men. or 800 people who gain
a livelihood by its presence, while the
merchants of this city will be benefited to
the amount Of $l3, 900 per month, expended
for groceries, clothing, etc. Mr.. Holland, a
man of wide experience, takes the post of
and resident director, giving
Vice President Griffin a much needed rest.
BRIGHTON,
As our Eastern suburb chooses to call itself,
is the location of two important tile indus.
tries under the respective arrangements Of
the Ottawa Fire Clay and Brick Co. and
Hess & Crotty. Both factories employ about
thirty men each, aad their average yearly
production, since the first fire went in, in
1883, has been about 100000, or $4,000
each They have been of immense benefit to
the North side, and the city in general,
manufacturing fire brick, paving tile, etc.
The Pottery Works, on the South side,
established in 1887 are running in full blast
with ten men employed. Their monthly
production is five kilns of 1000 each, or
$40, 900 gallons per year, valued at $4,000
to $4,000.
All the clay products of this city are rec
ognized as the best in the world, and with
the 81 ,000, 900 Chicago Sewer Pipe sy Indicate
next year will be bright one in the history
Of our city.
The organization of the American Sewer
Pipe Co. probably means the erection OF
sewer pipe works west of our city next
season; while the attention Of practical pot
tiers is now drawn to the matter Of manufac-
turing here what is known as stone china.
The Cheyenne via the c. ID. . X. X.
BY recent extension of the Burlington
Route, a new, direct and first class line Is
now omen 10 the public from Chicago, Pc.