Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-06-16
ESTABLISHING A POTTERY
Interesting Experiment Being
Made at the Brick Yard
Grounds
Meeting of the Committee of
Arrangements for the Com
ing Celebration
Col. w. p. Clough and Party
Arrived in the City Last
Evening

A rough brick chimney, rather rudely
constructed, standing on the brick yard
grounds, at the foot Of Sixteenth street
attracted the attention OF HERALD rep
resentatiye yesterday afternoon, while
strolling about the outskirts OF the city
Seated near the brick chimney was an in-
divdua who was engaged In placing
wood IN the furnace. In reply to inqur-
les, the fireman said that the chimney or
oven had been constructed for the purpose
Of experimenting with the clay In this
part of the country, with the ultimate
view Of establishing a pottery and tile
works IN this neighborhOOd. While the
reporter was engaged in conversation
third individual Joined the party, and
the fireman turned to the new conner and
stated that he was the gentleman under
whose directions the experiments were be-
| ing made.
| The reporter Immediately recognized
the gentleman as Mr.. Hankins, who at
| tracted so much attention at the Portland
| Industrial exposition last year by taking
what seemed TO be pieces Of mud aud
| shaping and forming flower pots, jugs,
plates and thousand other articles.
| Crowds surrounded his booth at all times,
aud Mr.. Hankins' skill excited wonder
and attention.
Mr. Hankin led the reporter TO frame
building standing on the edge of the brick
yard. Within the building on a wooden
table were a number Of pots, Jugs and
other articles. In one corner OF the room
lathe used by pOtters had been placed,
while clay, graphite, silica and other
material was stored In prOfusiOn.
In conversation with the reporter Mr..
] la MI III "a ~ fAd a hpuTn
Of the wonderful resources Of this section
Of the country that he was determined to
experiment with the clay providing any
could be found, and II his experiments
proved successful lac intended 10 establish
| "a pottery I'm this vicinity. lie was satis-
fled that the blue clay found In the bay In
ineXhaustible quantity would prove yalu-
liable for such common articles as Hover
pots and tilcing. but he intended TO make
an effort 10 liud material for making
sewer pipe, fire bricks, line earthen ware,
etc. To this end he secured clay from the
vicinity Of Lake Samish and also the
Fairhaven coal mine.
As the result Of his first experiment,
Mr. Haukius exhibited brick which he
said would stand about $500 degrees OF
heat. The brick was perfectly formed,
d the only difference between II and the
English fire brick was that the latter is OF
a lighter color. The difference In color
was explained by the fact that the per-
ccntage OF silica was greater IN Tue Eng
lish brick The high standard attained
by the English brick is the result OF
I several hundred years labor, but for the
first experiment, Mr.. Ilankins thinks the
p brick manufactured 10y him is superior to
r any he has seen in this country
4 The greatest interest is attached to the
4 experiments being made with sewer pipe.
e II the proper quality Of pipe can be made
here IL will result IN the saving OF
n thousands of dollars 10 the city when the
4 proposed sewage system will be con
. structcd Mr.. Hankins is firmly con-
y vlnced that he will be able TO make as
good, strong and endurable pipe as is
made anywhere on the coast.
No more favorable site can be iOund
.. than Fairhaven for the establishing OF a
j pottery. Almost every ingredient and
q material needed can be found In the i'm
70 mediate vicinity. Silica Is one OF the
most important ingredients needed anc
=. AN eight foot vein OF IL was encountered
!, in the Fairhaven coal mine. Graphite
~ figures largely In the manufacture o
% earthenware and this is found IN unllm
= tied quantities on the line Of the Fairha
~ ven and Southern. The experiment
- made have been very satisfactory and M
Id, doubt Is el pressed Of It's ultimate success
II Mr. Hankins is practical experienced
a. and skillful potter and his experiment
M are conducted In "A thorough manner.