Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-03
ABOUT CLAY PIPES.
LARGEST FACTORY IN THE WORLD
ApPOMATTOx COUNTY.
HOW IT CAME TO Be ESTABLISHED
An Ohio Man Traced Down One OF
the Pipes, and Built n Great Fnc-
tory Where 1t Was Mnde-Cnr-
Loads Made I'm "a Day.

The largest tobacco-pipe factory in the
world is located In Appomattox county.
near Pamplln City.
This is in Itself an interesting fact'
and one not generally known, but the
manner in which the factory came 10 De
located in Appomattox is Of even greater
interest.
1t had been known for many years
prior to the war between the states that
there existed clay in that county well
ADAPTED TO the manufacture OF TOBACCO
Mines hut the industry was carried on
in the most desultory way Sometimes
mario n. odd times would fashion re"
,,,da nines and sell them in the neigh
borhood. generally at the country store
receiving I'm exchange such articles as ne
coveted most and were within the reach
of tho very moderate means derived
frono the sale Of his handiwork'
WHITES HAD TO MAKE THEM
put at the close of the war the whites
,nrned their attention TO the clay de-
oosits II was a necessity, and not
| matter of choice.
| The war had swept away everything
II was a short road to absolute want
| There were no crops growing, anu no
| thing had been left from previous years
| tn helm tide over the one In whlch tle
| earth Welded nothing. therefore, the
farmers had TO cast about Tor some way
of making money 10 keep want lroin the
| door and IL was in this way that theS
| came to developing the deposits Oh PIP
cIav ON their lands. The implements win
| manufactured
einnle and rude, and 1t must be con-
fcssed that the article which they iaori-
cated did not bear the closest possiple re-
eorob,ance TO those turned out by the
thousand to-day.
THE pipes were sold TO local merchants
who shipped them to wholesale dealer
in northern cities, who sold them " ie
tailers throughout the country
And now comes the part OF the storS
that sounds rather romantic, though
ia every word true, according 10 'u'
Annomattox man who told the story 10
Dispatch reporter.
Among the retail dealers who purchased
a lot of these poor mems pipes was
groceryman in a little town in ONO. IL
sold them at from to cents apiece ah'
found them very popular
WHERE THE SCHEME STARTED
Amonp those who purchased one was
wealthy citizen of the town, VINO was ie'
IN do so by a less wealthy neighbor, Wh
had found them sweet smokers. The capl
talIst was delighted. He smoked nothih
else for some time, and finally inquire
OF the groceryman as to- where the pipe
were made The latter could only CIV
the name Of the wholesale dealer from
whom he had purchased, but from hin
the gentleman learned that the pipe
were made from a clay-bank in the coun
~ Of Appomattox, in Virginia
The gentleman saw that the pipes wer
OF very rude construction. He saw ais
that were proper machinery used the
couId be turned out with great rapiditJ
and that a profit could Ae made at seliln
them at a penny apiece. He was GROWN
interested. and finally his mind dwelt
much upon the subject that he cam
over TO Virginia, and to the little town 2
Appomattox. He went at once to IN
store of the dealer in pipes, and was no
long I'm finding that the best were ma !
at a bank about eight miles away a
what is now Pamplin City.
The rest is soon told. The land wa
purchased for a small sum, building
| erected. the latest machinery installed
and soon the kilns were smoking.
! CARLOADS OF PIPES.
The factory is there to-day, only niue
! more extensive than when 1t first we