Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-18
DURANGO LEADS IN CLAY
FOR BRICK MANUFACTURER


plant for the Durango Pressed i3lick
company during the season OF 1903
has just returned TO Durango to see
what the outlook is for this year in
the brick business.
Mr. Gilman has just taken trip to
Grand Junction, Delta, Montrose, IL,
luride and other points into Du-anso
He states that he found Grand Juno
lion in a very flourishing condition
with considerable building going on
and in prospect. A pressed brick plani
was put In at Grand Junction a ye;p
OF two ago. but the clay which they
have at that point has not been found
satisfactory, and so far they have not
been able to make Il brick which filed
the proper requirements.
AT Delta he says they have a stiff
mud brick plant, wire cut, which makes
very good common brick but doe not
make facing brick: these brick mcei
The demand at that point for PURPOSES
other than facing. In large quantities.
their prices, he states, is $40 pei u
but the brick is not equal 90. Thai
made in Durango and. as stated. nu
facing brick are made at all.
AT Montrose he states that a pressed
brick plant was put in last yeas by
Mrs. Bulkley. but The product as yet
| has not been even and not entirely
satisfactory in character Tho price
OF these brick at Montrose is $3.50
per NJ kiln run and from that up.
according to the quality selected
Mr.. Gilman tells us in this eniire
western and southwestern part of The
| state he has found no brick or clay
which compares with the drv pressed
brick made at Durango, which .,o has
| found 10 be one of the best ciays
which he has ever used in the expert.
ence of life time in the business Tor
| the making of dry pressed brick Dur
local brick (kiln rum he says furnish
all the facing brick required and com.
pare favorably with any brick made
in the west. When it is considered
| that these brick are all sound. even.
are laid much faster. take much less
sand and lime in the mortar than
stiff mud brick or hand made brick
and as well furnish facing brick with.
ont extra cost. they are much cheaper
| than any brick of which he knows in
he state, and when used give a build.
ing which in its walls is as near per
rect as anything made The clay of
the Durango Pressed Brick company is
particularly adapted for dry pressed
brick
In the light of Mr.. Gilman's inves,t
cations the business ought 10 grow
extensively with the growth of this
section under the impetus of the new
railroad when that becomes fact and
Durango is opened up with its broad
gauge railroad TO the south.
The foregoing illustrates the posi-
bilities before manufacturing enter.
prises when conditions admit of real
trade; also in the manufacture of brick
the importance of proper clay, and
the difficulty of obtaining it.
Mr.. Gilman states that the different
plants which he visited in each of the
places mentioned represent an invest
ment of 100000 to $4,000 each, and
each of these enterprises Is meeting
the difficulties of obtaining a proper
clay, some of them apparently with
little hone of success. oven I'm IN
range this is a trouble in brick max
ing which has caused the loss of 6
great many dollars, and 1t is very for
tunate that one body of clay has beer
developed which combines all the ele
ments for a perfect brick includins
fire resisting qualities.