The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-05-16
OUR CLAY INDUSTRIES.
Expert Publishes Report on
the Clay Soils of this State
and Gives Some Inter
esting Information.


Maryland has been prepared by
the Maryland Geological Survey
and is now ready for issue. Helm
ric Ries, the leading expert on
clays in the United States, wrote
the report as the result of eighteen
months of work in the field, the
laboratory and the office, in co.
operation with biologists of the
State Survey. In 800 large oc-
tavo pages it gives a comprehen-
sive sketch of the general clay
industry in all it's scientific and
industrial aspects, and furnishes
a full account of the industry in
Maryland and the developments
which are possible here. The
general text will thus be of the
highest value to Maryland's prac-
tical clay workers, and its de.
tailed survey of the States re-
sources with full description of
all its products, will furnish just
the data that outside manufac.
turers and investors need.
Maryland possesses an abun-
dance of valuable clays and shales
which are little known. The
present publication aims to bring
them to public attention in form
which will attract the immediate
notice of all who are interested
i'll the industries depending upon
them. We already rank eleventh
among the clay States and sew
enth among the producers of pot
terry. The total value of Mary
lands annual output of clay in
bricks, terra Gotta, pottery and
porcelain is 81, I'll. 800.
The first half of the new report
is systematic review of inform
alton concerning clay. of a sort
not easily to be obtained else.
where. 1t will answer many
questions commonly asked by in
veStorS and those already owning
properties. 1t outlines fully the
geological history of clay torma-
tons and explains their present
positions and qualities with ref
4 erence to their origin. The i'm
puitles in common clays are noted
in great detail and their effects
lpou clay are fully discussed
Moisture in clay and the shrink
age due to it; the Elasticity of
clay, its causes, and the methods
of measuring it; the behavior of
clay under strong heat; its tensile
strength and the measurement of
it, and the classification of clayS,
, are some of the topics here treated
in as popular a way as possible.
General directions are given
for prospecting for clay in several
regions of Maryland. Methods
of working deposits are outlined
and also methods for testing the
physical and chemical qualities of
! the product. The distribution of
! clayS over the entire country is
considered in a well ordered man
mer and analysis otSmany of them
are furnished, for comparison by
local producers with their own
products. The methods and ma
chinery for working the deposits
and grinding the product on a
large scale, and the processes
through which it becomes brick,
terra Gotta, enameled ware, or
fine pottery, are all fully explained
in the text and illustrated by
photographs and drawings. The
discussion of brick -molding and
burning is especially cOmprehen-
sive.
The section which treats of
Maryland clays commences with
a general description of the geol-
ogy of the deposits. This is am
plifed by geological maps show
ing the several great clay regions,
the Cecil area, the Mount Savage
area, the deposits bordering the
upper western shore of the CheSa-
peake, the Potomac deposits, eX-
tending up to Baltimore, and the
formations in Southern Maryland.
Every formation of any note is
carefully set down and complete
description of its clay is given,
even to a summary of its physical
properties and its chemical com
position when these could be OBJ
tanned. The residual clayS of
Washington, Frederick, Carroll,
Montgomery, Hartford, Howard
and Baltimore counties are all
fully treated in the same way.
Tables showing the resistance to
heat effects exhibited by some of
the States clays, their physical
tests and their chemical compost
ton, together with a directory of
Maryland clayworkers, close the
volume, which also includes
complete photography of the
works containing references to
the clays of Maryland.
Don't Start Wrong.
Don't start the summer with a
L.