Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-05-01


Of the snuff mills. Mr..
Ewart drew the courts attention to
covered bridge over Red Clay Creek, |
which was found to need new roof |
and some repairs to its wall. In Wow |
from this point was the paper mill of
Marshall Brothers in which Mr.. Ewart |
was one time interested.
On continuing the drive, the party
passed the birthplace of the late Joshua
IT, Heald. Soon evidence Of kaolin
mining came into view, in the long
piles of sand, removed from the kaolin
deposits, and in the apparatuses used
for hosting the material to the sur
face. And these scenes brought about
conversation concerning the rise in
price in the land and the returns from
such mining. One case was recalled
Of a nine. acre tract which WAS sold for
50, 600; deposits we're found and the
purchaser sold one-third Of the place
for S11, 600 and later, the remainder, for
$22, 600, Another farm rose from
SIG, 600 to sl09,000. The kaolin runs in
veins and is often found in pure state.
The shafts are usually 20 feet in
diameter, and in favored spots mine 20
tons to each foot Of depth, which ut 80
cents ton means return of SIC.
Sometimes tie deToSit is found within
three feet of the top; sometimes, the
boring must be deep before il is found.
Kaolin is used largely in pottery.
The Levy Courtmon admired the
beauties of Hockessin Valley, and re-
marked the quaintness of the old
Hicksite Friends Meeting House on
the hill. In the yard of the meeting
house is series of stones for the CON
penience of the women members who
rode horseback to meeting in the years
| gone by. Commissioner Chandler re.
called that he had played town ball in
that neighborhood when a boy.
The party reached the residence of
| Commissioner Ewart, which is beauti-
fully located, and overlooks the town
OF Hockessin, about 1890 o'clock. A
cordial greeting was extended by Mrs.
Ewart, who shortly afterwards an
nounced dinner. The drive over the
hills and along the valleys had not re-
duced the apretites Of the visitors, who
did full Justice to the substantial meal.
They had time also to inspect the we'll
appointed house, which numbers among
other things successful gas plant.
The visitors still had some work ahead
of them and so babe farewell to the
hostess. Going to Hockessin, they in.
spected the bridge on the Lancaster
turnpike near the schoolhouse, and
then the bridge on the road which
passes the schoolhouse. The first bridge
is county charge and is in good con
dition. The second bridge is hundred
charge and the road commissioners wish
the county to take hold it. Roat
Commissioners Joseph higgins, Abran
Dennison and John Taylor, and Ken
nard Chandler, +. P. Goldey, Wesle,
Finn, Thomas Walker and Alexande
Guthrie discussed the subject with tn
Levy Courtmen. The citizens held tina
the bridge should be made larger t.
| accommodate the larger flow of waite
} which freshets bring to it. Mill Creel
! hundred raises about $1,000 in roa,
i taxes and much of the repair work j
needed because of the use Of the road
by the heavy clay teams. The court will
, further considered the subject of takin
: up the bridge later.
t A drive of several miles found tn
9 party at the Pike Creek bridge nea
z Peach's clay yard. That the bridg
t needs attention was evident. its centr
n has been strengthened temporarily
four posts, but its girders are rottin
and one abutment should be repaired
i
9 feet. 1t was estimated that an iro
t structure there would cost about S42i
i After brief visit to the clay pit:
n the Levy Courtmen continued the
: journey and inspected tho iron bride
Q on Pike Creek for which Joseph Eas
O burn recently collected hill Of 81
l. for stone, sand and transportation
|, There looked to be a good deal Of stoI
t in the abutments and wing walls.
y appeared to the commissioners that
70 little work could secure such n changer
1t of the channel from the side to a lir
n drawn through the centre of the brid,
>, as to preserve the abutment to gre
st extent. Mr.. Ewart may have this dol
10 later in the season.
h From Pike Creek, the party start,
10 homeward. Mr.. Ewart drove home
m his own carriage, and the remainii
re Levy Courtmen continued in the tw
in horse hack, arriving in Wilmington
r little before 6 o'clock. Some day,
{. inspection is to be made Of the bridg
is and causeways in the lower part of 4
= | county