The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-09
A ROOF TILE PLANT
/ TO BIZ ESTABLISHED AT LIBERTY
CITY AT COST OF $4,000.
WORK TO START AT ONCE.
WILL BE BRANCH OF LUDOWICI
ROOFING TILE co. OF CHICAGO.

President II. Il. skeeIe of Company
in savannah and VIII Remain
Here This Winter-FactOry to BE
Completed by April Twill Have
Capacity of 10000 Tiles Day.
Clay Similar to That Used for
Bricks Will he Material - One
Thousand Acres Have Been secur-
ed-Headquarters TO BE Establish
ed in Savannah as Soon as Factory
Begins Operations.
A roofing tile plant, a branch of the
Ludowici Roofing Tile Company, with
headquarters at Chicago, is to be es-
tablished at Liberty City within the
next few months. The plant, that is
the thousand acres of clay lands, from
which the material for the tiles will
be secured, the buildings, and the ma
chinery, will represent an outlay of
$4,000.
Work on the buildings will be begun
within the. next day or so. Mr.. H. B.
Skeele of Chicago. president of the
company, is now in Savannah, while
Mr.. J. r. Case, who will be manager
of the new plant, is in Liberty City
getting things in shape to begin build
ing. 1t is expected that the actual
manufacture of tile will be begun about
April l. When the factory begins OPP
erations headquarters for it will be es-
tablished in this city.
The output of the proposed plant Mr..
Skeele estimates at 10000 tiles a day.
Employment will be given from the
very first to between fifty and hun
dred hands, most of whom, it is antici-
pated, will be negroes. The working
force will be increased. however. from
time to time as the business grows.
Advantages of the Location.
Mr.. Skeele claims this to be no ex-
pertinent on his part. He was in this
city and vicinity some months ago. and
at that time Investigated the quality
Of the clay, prevailing climatic cordi-
tions, and all other matters that per-
tain to or might affect the business.
The clay that will be used is of the
same kind that ordinary brick has been
made from. In fact the factory will be
erected on the place formerly used for
making brick. and which was bought
of n. MCQUEEN.
AS to the climate, Mr.. Skeele thinks
it most advantageous. One of the
drawbacks at the Chicago factory of
the company he says, is the fact that
the buildings in which the work is
done must be heated to keep the clay
from freezing in winter, and thus be-
coming hard to work. At Liberty City
he thinks there will be no necessity
for heating the buildings at any sea-
son of the year. Another advantage
| of factory in the proposed location
is that labor in the South is cheaper
than it is in the North.
The advantages of tile roofing are so
manifold, MIR. Skeele says, that 1t
needs only to be introduced to be ap-
preciated. 1t would have been much
more popular than it is, he stated fur
| Their. but for the fact that until short
time ago it was too expensive for the
average builder. Now, however. it is
| so much cheaper that no such objec-
| ton can be urged against it.
| As showing the lessened price, Mr..
| Skeele stated that whereas a square
| of tile roofing formerly sold for $12
to SIC, the same quality can now be
bought for Sc, and even this price may
| be reduced after the new plant begins
| operation.
| Mr.. Skeele will be joined in SaVan-
nah shortly -Ay his family, and they
will remain here this winter, until the
factory is completed and ready for
operation. Later Mr.. Skeele will re-
! turn to Chicago or to New York, but
expects to be a frequent visitor to this
| city and vicinity.