Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-08-28
new CLAY INDUSTRY
Experts Discover Large Possible
ties in Hills at Car
bon Cliff.
A BOON FOB BUILDING INTERESTS
The Manufacture of Plastic Fire
Brick is to Be Taken
Up There.

Perhaps no class of manufacturers
at this time feel surer of strong and
permanent demand for their product
than The makers of good building
brick. The rapidly increasing search
ty in the supply of timber for build
ing purposes and the consequent in
crease in prices of lumber have Gre
ated an unprecedented demand for
we'll made brick and the recent inn
provements in the methods of manu-
faeture. together with experiments
that have led to the betterment of the
quality and improvement in the ap-
pearance of building brick, are hold
ing out possibilities which few other
lines OF industry possess.
Development of a Local Plant.
At the Argillo works at Carbon
Cliff which is owned by j. F. Robin
son and Fred Y tterington, of this
city. has recently Ieen started new
machine for thl manufacture OF
plastic fire brick Vhich marks new
era in the ope atoms of the plant.
Heretofore the ID Glory has made moth
ing but dry p:essed fire brick and
Sc wer and drain tile, but operations
are now under way which it is hoped
will eventually lead to the manufac-
ture of high class building brick
and the ultimate doubling of the ca
pacity of the plant.
With the object above outlined in
| view, the management some mouths
ago secured the services of ). j Plant,
one Of the best known brick max
ers in the country, and recognized
Authority on the composition of clay.
He has developed some of the largest
brickmaking plants in the east, and
| together with his experience he brings
plans for an improved kiln for firing
building brick. which will be utilized
at Carbon Cliff. Since coming here
he has held the position of superin-
tendent of the Argillo works, and his
Experiments with the clays used there
have convinced him that they can be
used in the manufacture OF a grade
of building brick that will compete
with any in the market.
J Plastic Fire Brick.
II 1t has been demonstrated that plas
tic fire brick are superior in quality
to those made on the dry press, sc
the first change instituted has been
the installation of o machine capable
, of turning out 10000 to 10000 of thu
, former per day. The manufacture o.
flash" building brick will next be
taken up and facilities installed foI
. the making of at least an equal mum
Der. The building brick known q:
flash" will be of dark color mot
tied with spots of iron brought out ii
the burning. A sample kiln of thes,
: have already been burned and are VI
to all expectations, in fact expert
pronounce them equal to the outpu
of any of the eastern factories. 1t il
the intention of the managers to late
: take up the manufacture of Haver
straw brick, or the ordinary red arti
Gle in common use. The making o
drain and sewer tile will for the mos
part be abandoned, although the ma
chine will be kept to fill any chanct
o riders.
Some time, of course, will elaps
before the new product can be pu
upon the market. Several kilns will
have to be constructed and the bricl
for them will have to be burned. II
addition to the new 6-track dryer re
: Gently installed others will be built a
the needs of the plant require. Worl
= will be pushed with all possible speed
however, as there is a much create
, demand for building brick now thar
the factories are able to supply, anC
good prices prevail.