The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-09-25
~ u. F1re-Brjck Industry

There was time in the history of
the northwest when wheat and logs
we're regarded the only products of the
soil worthy of mention as articles of
commerce. But times have changed
and are now even more rapidly chang
ing. The saw logs have largely been
converted into lumber which in turn
has been used to build cities, railroads,
and commodious homes that dot our
immense prairies, until the latter now
have the appearance of an old, lang
settled country. The lumbermen of
years ago did not dream of the wealth
of iron ore which lay underneath the
stumpage they left as a wilderness
of slashings that, in their opinion, were
not worth enough to pay its tax. Since
the discovery of iron ore some of those
slashings are now worth millions of
dollars to their owners. In fact, all
mineral rights in those districts are
reserved when titles to the lands
change hands.
This is only one instance of the
changed conditions. We might refer
to the many others but will only call
attention to an industry which is
rapidly developing in the Ignite re-
gions of North Dakota-the manu-
facture of fire and pressed brick from
the deposits of clay which lie direct
ly underneath the Ignite. Heretofore
fire bricks came from east and south,
and on account of the transportation
charges, were very expensive to con.
sumers in all portions of the north
west. There is a growing demand for
fire bricks and tile wherever coal is
consumed in furnaces, boilers, stoves,
ranges, etc. This is specially true
In sections at the head of the Great
Lakes where iron ore will soon be re-
duced in immense quantities to meet
the demands for structural iron which
is now taking the place of wood in
buildings of all kinds.
1t is said, on good authority. that
the quality of North Dakota fire bricks
is equal to the best obtainable in
the west. The supply of clay for
their manufacture is almost unlimited.
This in addition to the fact that Ignite
deposits of enormous proportions are
found with the clay. will make it pos
sible to burn the fire bricks at loest
minimum of expense. 1t has also been
demonstrated that the clay in ques-
ton will make hollow ware of superior
equality. This is in demand where
corrosive acids are manufactured or
handled.
The Dickinson Pressed Brick Works
are now prepared to meet demands of
such trade in large or small quaint
files. Pressed bricks of various colors
and combinations of colors are decid-
edly in fashion just now in the cities
where they are used for outside fin
ish on the most expensive buildings.
They are handsome. durable. water
proof. and require no paint Such
qualities recommend them to all who
are interested in building material.
The demand must increase from year
to year, for, as the country grows older
and richer. the best building material
is in demand. regardless of cost With
these and other equally important facts
in mind, capital is now seeking invest
ment in North Dakota. in these fire
and pressed brick plants. There are
immense factories at Wilton. besides
the one at Hebron. All are doing
splendid business
Nature has indeed been generous
with her gifts to these North Dakota
prairies. There are beautiful crops of
wheat growing over the Ignite de-
posts which had underneath them vast
beds of fire brick clay. Many of
these lands will be given over. wholly.