The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-06-24
BEST KAoLIN IN AMERICA.
A Chance for Sumter to Secure Great
Industry.

| Prof. ". A. Buckner has returned
from New York accompanied by Mr..
Colin Mclean, of East Liverpool,
I, Ohio, who is a practical pottery maker
Of many years experience and an ex-
pert Judge of kaolin and other pot
terry elays.
Mr.. Mclean spent Monday with
Prof. Ruckner at the kaolin bed In
Richland county, which Prof. Buckner
discovered last year. and made thor
ough examination of the bed and OBJ
tained specimens of the clay from
different parts of the bed.
Prof. Buckner had previously sent
samples of the clay to East Liverpool
and had thorough test made OF it by
the manufacturers of chinaware and
other grades of pottery, and these tests
substantiate the opinion expressed by
Mr.. Mclean, that this bed of kaohn
pro duces the best pottery clay yet
found in America. In addition to the
superior quality of the clay there is an
almost inexhaustible quantity in the
bed. Mr.. Mclean says there is in
sight sufficient of the clay to supply
all demands for several life-times.
This clay is the equal in quality to the
English clay that all potteries are now
forced to import at great expense, 1t
being impossible to make good ware by
using the American clay heretofore on
the market without the admixture Of
large percentage Of English clay.
Mr.. Mclean says that the East Liver
pool potteries have been using clay
from South Carolina, North Carolina.
Virginia and Florida for mixing with
English clay, but wnen the clay from
this Richland kaolin bed is put on the
market they will be able to make
better ware than they have ever
made before and at the same time en-
tirely abandon the use of English
clay.
While in New York Prof. Buckner
submitted samples Of the clay to nu-
merous experts and the unanimous
opinion expressed was of the same
tenor as that expressed by Mr.. Nc
Lean yesterday after having made a
personal inspection of the kaolin bed.
It is Mr.. McLean's and Prof.
Buckner's intention to establish pot
terry for the manufacture Of fine china
ware, and if Sumter or the business
men of the town will extend reason
able amount of encouragement the
pottery will be located in this city.
Mr.. Mclean will be in the city for
several days and will have his plans
more fully developed before he returns
to East Liverpool. It is practically
settled that a pottery will be estab-
lished in the vicinity of the kaolin
beds, either in Sumter or Richland
county, and in time there will be 9TH
ers established. The place that secures
the first pottery will naturally stand
the best chance Of getting the others.
East Liverpool, Ohio, is now a center
Of pottery making, with large num-
Der of potteries having an immense out
pat annually. This business has been
developed at East, Liverpool despite the
fact that ali of the raw material has
had to. be brought from distant points at
heavy expense. There is no reason why
Sumter cannot be made a pottery
manufacturing center, since it has the
advantage Of being in close proximity
to the largest bed of the best pottery
clay in America. Just as the telephone
manufacturing industry has been built
up in Sumter the china making indus
try can be built up, if the right men
take hold of it and push it.