The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-08

brick used were of American make, though they made the work cost 2 3-4 cents more per square yard. Abrasion tests had shown that while Canadian bricks lost TIT per cent in the trial, American lost only Ills per cent. A larger foreign market for firebriek is being created. MassilIon, O.. having re- gently shipped a carload to Sinzig. Ger many, to be used in building furs mace. The exports of firebFick last year were valued at sss2,0 ,0Oo, and build ing brick to the value of siss.ooo went abroad.
 Every State in the Union. led by New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania, in the order named, produce common brick in various degrees of excellence. New York put out over a billion and a half. according to the last yearly report; H. linois and Pennsylvania over a billion each; Rhole Island, Nevada and South Dakota come at the end of the list. At one time all that was asked of a brick was that 1t have a reasonably good shape and color. Now it is generally specified that 1t be vitrified and non- absorbent, and while 1t narrows the kind of clay to be used, 1t brings about better and more durable article. Where good clay cannot be found, lime and sand have been used as substitutes in briek-making. This branch of the industry is only seven years old. yet there are Ii6 plants now in operation, involving a capital of s10.oo0.0eo. hay ing a capacity of 700. 900 ,000 bricks per year, and requiring the output of thir- tyAsix limekilns. The proportions used are s4 per cent sand, and 6 per cent caustic lime.
 Where the Egyptian, Assyrian or Babylonian of 1000 and 5000 years ago only asked that his brick be of clay and straw, hard baked in the sunshine, nations of today have set a standard size American manufacturing and trade associations set a standard of 2 1-2 by 1-2 inches. Englanfs is much larger. while the South American countries use more imposing article 12 3-4 by 1-4 by l2. 1-2 inches. Where the Mesopotamian of 10000 years ago was content to leave the brick in its original mud color, the builder of today so skilfuIly fires his that he has greens, browns, yellows. greys and reds. A St. Paul firm develops sixty-five shades in the brick made from its shale beds that lie a mile and a half along the Mississippi River.
 Our ornamental work, however, is not beyond that of the Byzantine art ists of the Middle Ages, and the man. ufacturer who sets his name in the brick is following in the steps of men WnO DullQeO LnOuSAuuS OL ycSrB DcLONS Christ and wrought into their brick Marlin Sin, Builder of the Templeof Ishtar," or 'NebuchadnesZar, King of Babylon Where half-naked men in captivity moulded the brick by hand centuries ago, machinery brings the clay from the hills; conveyor belts take it to pulverizing machines, to the screens, to the drying pans. and to the mixing rooms; wire cutters divide it into the proper size; pressing and re- pressing machines give 1t form and soIidity. and cars take 1t to the drying rooms and kilns. And these. when laid in great buildings, will spell of nations art and science to other gen. erations, as ruins Of Babylon. of Rome, or Roman England and of Egypt spell of A race of brick makers, masons and builders long ago.
 Copyright, 1908, by Frederic J. Haskin.)