Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-17
MAY OPEN PoTTERIEs.
Said to be Movement on Foot to Re
new Business in Iowa.

Sald to be Movement on Foot to Re.
new Business in Iowa.
From Tuesdays Daily.
Several years ago the old pottery on
Richmond avenue in South Ottumwa,
in that vicinity formerly known as
Richmond, was operating in full force
and until recently a pottery was con.
Quoted by A. w. Mediterranean the new
station of Rutledge, on the Milwaukee
cutoff. Neither Pottery has been op-
Grated for some time, and in fact all
over the state this same condition has
existed. There is now talk of reviv-
al in the pottery business in this state.
The Difficulty in the Past.
The announcement that new pot
terry is to be opened in Eldora is taken
in manufacturing circles as indicative
OF tendency toward the development
of one of Iowa's sources of wealth
which has hitherto been practically I'M
touched. Iowa is rich in potter's
clay. 1t is a coal producing state and
in the vicinity of the coal beds depos-
its of clay are always found. 1t is
not lack of material which has here
tofore held the pottery business of the
state in the background. The chief
obstacle in the way of establishing pot.
teries seems to have been the difficulty
of competing with the output of the
Ohio potteries, also with the galvaniz.
ed iron utensils, which have been on
the market at a price decidedly dis
couraging to the friends of the potter.
les.
1t is stated that the combination
which controls the majority of the pot.
teries of the country is also a powerful
obstacle to the starting of independent
industries along this line.
Some Iowa Potteries.
There are few potteries in Iowa which
are doing thriving business. The largest
of these is located at Fort Dodge. Rich
deposits of clay are also found in Van Blu
rem, Delaware, Muscatine, Wapello and
Henry counties, all of which are worked
to some extent.
Following is statement, rs nearly COM
plete as possible, of the potteries which
are now transacting business in the state:
Webster county: The pottery located in
Fort Dodge is doing a very prosperous
business 1t is known as the Fort Dodge
Stoneware company and its chief output
consists of jugs, jars and butter crooks.
The company sells its wares over good
portion of the state.
Van Buren, county: The Vernon pottery,
operated by r. NJ. Dickson, is one of the
| oldest in the state, having been in opera
ton over fifty years. 1t has yearly out
put of 10000 gallons.
Delaware county: The pottery at Coles
burg, owned by Frank Brock. at last re-
ports was doing a prosperous business. 1t
manufactures it's wares from fine quality
of Maquoketa shale and the raw material
is unlimited in amount
Muscatine county: More than dozen
potteries were at one time in operation
near the town OF Fairport. They were col
lectively known as the Fairport potteries,
but most of these have since closed The
decline of business is said to be due to
the lack of suitable clay near the works.
and the general Introduction of galvanized
iron ware on the market in 1896. OF the
Fairport potteries only two are left, and
these are running on Il small scale. John
Feustel and John Shellhorn own kilns.