The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-16
ChinaWare and KaOIin.

To the Editor: In last Sundays News
and Observer there appeared an article
by Mr.. Christopher Wren, of Plymouth.
Pa, on our native china clays or kaolins
and as certain impressions likely to be
conveyed by Mr.. Wrens letter are more
or less erroneous, l beg leave to add a
little to his subject. 1t is a pity that
Mr.. Wren did not when here appeal for
information to some one of the depart
ment's force with some technical knowl-
edge on the subject for his information,
as it would have probably materially
changed his ideas on the condition of ar
fairs within the State on the question of
china clayS.
To begin with, Mr.. Wren pre-supposes,
firstly, a total lack of knowledge among
the women of the State of the art Of
china painting, and, secondly, ignorance
of the properties of our clays and of
their adaptability for the manufacture
of chinaware by the people of the State
generally.
Now. regarding the first point. 1t may
not be amiss to state that there are
probably at least half dozen womens
colleges in North Carolina where the art
of painting on china is taught, and here
in Raleigh we have, besides, lady artist
who gives instruction in her private
studio, besides doing very artistic decor
alive work on china herself.
On the second point it may be remarked
that the State Geological Survey in 1897
published a book of a hundred and fifty
pages on our native clays and their
uses together with analyses and other
points on their values as chinaware ma
terial. This is very comprehensive in its
scope and a copy has been sent Mr..
Wren
In 1898 the State made a fine display of
kaolins at the Worlds Fair at Chicago
and the officials in charge of our exhibit
even succeeded in getting such practical
experts as the Japanese Commissioners
interested in the subject. This Japanese
interest would probably have crystal
lied into something practical had not
the breaking out of the Chinese war soon
afterwards stopped any further move
ment in the matter. In 1900 a very full
collection of samples of all the native
deposits of value that were obtainable
was shown at the Paris Exposition and
shown, too, in a practical form. Each
specimen was exhibited in the crude
state as we'll as washed and baked so
that the practical expert in ceramics
could see at a glance what were the
comparative qualities of each. In the
same year the department sent samples
to an official of the Imperial German
Potteries for examination and testing as
to quality and now in 1902 we are show
ing our clays at the Charleston EXPOSE
ton.
To give some idea as to how our clays
are regarded in the trade | will mention
the statement made me by a kaoln pro-
Queer in North Carolina last year that
he shipped his clay to forty or more pot
teries all over the country So it will
be seen that our resources in this line
are not entirely unknown either among
ourselves or abroad. Interested parties,
in or out OF the State, can secure all in
formation on the subject at present avail
able by addressing either the Agrieultu-
raj Department at Raleigh or the Geo.
logical Survey at Chapel Hill
The question OF establishing potteries
here within the State is entirely another
matter and is decidedly worthy of con-
sideration by the practical business ele-
ment. For that suggestion Mr.. Wren is
to be thanked Possibly, when the
knowledge that we have the raw material
here in great abundance and of the re-
quisite quality for fine product becomes
more widely diffused, a Southern Tren-
ton may grow up in our midst in the
manufacture of ceramic goods, just as
High Point bids fair to become a South
ern Grand Rapids in furniture.
H. H. BRIMLEY.
Curator, State Museum.