The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-28
READY FOR
 THE BRICK MAKERS
Local Committee is Perfecting
 Arrangements for Meeting
BIG ATTENDANCE EXPECTED
John w. slbIey Gives an Interesting Account of the Origin and Scope of the National Brick Manu-
 facturers' Association. ]

The local committee IS now petAeSlAhS . arrangements for the annual meeting or the National Brick Manufacturers asso- citation, which will be held in Birmingham next week The attendance promises to be very large.
 The local advancement committee will he assisted in the entertainment of the visitors by the entertainment committee of the Commercial club, of which s. w. Lee is the chairman.
 In speaking of the national organiza- ton John W. Sibley of Birmingham, the treasurer, said:
 Like many great men and many grand movements the National Brick Manufac- turers' association was born in Ohio. It's splendid career as an organization began September 9, 1sS6, at Cincinnati. Its past endeavor has been and present aim Is to promote the interests of those engaged Tn the manufacture of brick and other clay products by action on all questions per- taining to that noble industry, and to establish and maintain more intimate and friendly relations between the great body of clay-workers in the United States. The association is evidently edu- cational in character, having for its chief purpose the advancement of the clay working art which is giving to the coun- try it's best and most durable building material
 First Suggestion.
 "As Is usually the case in national pro- jects, the man stands out prominently as ahn a National Association of Brick Manufac- turers. To D. V. Burlington of Chicago is credited the first suggestion which has led to the now great and prosperous or ganizatlon.
 'In the Clay Worker of March. 1886. MT. Burlington had a letter, In which he said: I am convinced that a national association of brick manufacturers would be productive of great good to the trade. An interchange of views, giving to our neighbors the results of our experiments, and the general discussion of ways and means of the guild, would mutually help and reform
 This suggestion was acted upon, and through correspondence, T. A. Randall
  tendance of brick men at the Grand hotel in Cincinnati on the date named. The meeting was called to order by J. M. Blair, and a temporary organization was formed by the election of w. A. Eudaiy as temporary chairman and MT. Randall as secretary The committee on perma- nent organization consisted of D. V. Burlington, chairman; J. J. w. Billingsley. R. B. Morrison of oakdale. Ga, J. c. Adams, Indianapolis. and B. w. Blair of New Richmond, O.
 At First Meeting.
 Nineteen states were represented at the first meeting by thirty-five delegates. out of total membership of sixty-eight. The association has grown steadily from year to year until there are now over four hundred names on the membership roster, including representative manufac- turers from forty-two states and territo- ries. As a result, In part at least, of the work of the association, the brick-making business has grown from a primitive roadside industry to one in which are invested millions of dollars and to which IS given the pest thought or Inany Ol the brightest minds of the country.
 "One of the most important events in the history of the association was the establishment of a scholarship in the School of C1ay-Workers, at the Ohio State university, in 1897. Each year since the association has paid q substantial sum to the trustees of the university to assist in establishing the department of ceramics in that institution. In connec- ton with this movement may be men toned the successful efforts of the asso- citation in determining a standard test for paving brick matter of much im- portance to all cities and towns.
 'The National Brick Manufacturers as- sociation has a standing committee known as the committee on technical investiga- tion, to which are referred important questions of this character. The commit tee is composed of the following gentle men: Professor E. Orton. Jr., secretary. Columbus, O.; c. A. Bloomfield, Meteuhen, N. J.; w. P. Richardson, Columbus, O.; Anthony 1ttner, St. Louis, Mo-; D. V. Burlington, Chicago, H."