Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-04-25
PLANT in OPERATION
DALLAS BRICK AND TILE FAC
TORY BUILDING FIRST KILN.
With Excellent Material and Well
Equipped Plant, Large Output
Will Follow.

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Will Follow.
From quiet level-lying piece Of
rural meadowland, haunted by larks
and grazed by modest eyed cows. to
the hustle and hustle Of brick manu-
featuring plant is the quick transition
that has added another pay roll to the
county seat of Polk County this Spring.
The scene of action Is located mile
and a half east of this city where the
Dallas Brick & Tile Company has se-
lected site and has commenced the
preliminary work of supplying the de-
has bought 10 acres Of land between
the river road to Monmouth and the
Salem, Falls City & Western Railway,
and is easily accessible to both. Man
ager G. M Partridge, who selected the
ground, did so only after a very care
full test of all of the available locations
in this part of the valley, and he says
that the clay is of the most excellent
quality. He has had long experience
in the making of tile and brick in the
East as well as in the West. Before
coming here, he was in the business
near Medford and he has been taken
considerable pains to familiarize
himself with the quality Of. the diff
erent clay soils of this section.
Preparatory Operations.
Good progress has already been
made, but 1t will be sometime yet be-
fore the factory is in full operation.
Nine men are employed at present,
and more will be added as the plant
is enlarged. The greater part OF the
work so far has been in the nature Of
a beginning. and there Is more of that
required than would be thought by
those unacquainted with the business.
The first necessity was drying yard,
which was obtained by removing the
sod from about an acre of ground,
that was made as level and smooth as
a floor, and upon which the brick are
laid to dry as fast as they are taken
from the press molds. 1t ID large
enough to hold million and a half of
brick at one time.
The next operation requiring at
tention was the opening of the clay
pits which was easily done, as it was
necessary to remove only small por-
ton of the surface sod and dirt soil
before coming to the surface Of the
brick making material.
Grinding and Pressing.
Following that came the installa-
ton of the steel grinder and press,
which Is mounted on wheels and can
be moved at pleasure along a track at
one side Of the drying ground. At
present the clay is carried from the
pits to the grinder in wheelbarrows,
out later quicker methods will be used.
rhe barrows are run up an incline and
Jumped onto a platform from where
he clay is shoveled by hand into the
hopper of the grinder Numbers of
inc knives work ii into smooth
lasty mass that is forced down into
he molds by pressure, thereby maxi
ng pressed" brick. which Is an inn
Drovement over the old style hand
made article. The power is furnished
~ two horses attached to sweep, and
It every revolution of the sweep three
nolds, each containing six brick, are
aiken out and conveyed to the drying
where they are stacked in
iers. BY the addition of water
through a pipe at the top, the COM
istency of the clay is regulated to
uit the requirements
VIII Increase Capacity.
1t is planned to replace the horses
ater with either steam or electricity,
nd by the first of August a new and
modern pressed brick and tile machine
4 large capacity will be received,
Which will greatly increase the output
I will also. enable the plant to turn
ut face" brick. which are superior
nd much higher in price than the
ommon brick now being made. The
Of tile of various sizes
nd shapes will then be commenced.
he demand for them is already very
reat, and the company has a large
lumber of orders on file.
Last Thursday the workmen turned
ut 10000 common brick. and after
short time II is expected that the
utput will amount to $4,000 a day.
,urlng the summer. Manager Part
ldge says they will produce not less
han a million and half. in addition
thousands of tiles.
Kiln Building Started.
Kiln-building was started Monday.
.fter being placed on the drying
round the brick are allowed to lay
nree or four days. according TO the
'eather. after which they are built
ITO Hflns of about 500, ,OO0 each. after
'lu.h they are fired and kept burning
ot' eight days and eight nights. and
re then allowed four days in which
D cool on. 1t is hoped 10 take on
he first kiln by June 1. For each
600 brick 1t requires a half cord Of
'ood. or $50 cords to a kiln. As II is
he intention OF Manager Partridge to
urn a million and a half of brick be-
're the summer Is over, It viii be seen
nat not less than ESQ cords Of wood
IN be used for brick alone.
For the purpose Of supplying the
'ater required at the factory a gaso-
ne pumping station has been estab-
shed on the banks OF the LAcreole
yer, which furnishes an ample guam
~.
The plant is conveniently located on
he Salem. Falls City q Western Rail-
BAD track. and grading has been m
he'd for a spur track which viii hold
lrs while they are being unl0aded
ith wood OF loaded with brick and
le.
To Improve Road.