Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-05-09
u. S. Mine CHIEFS
,LAUD GA. CLAN
AND BAUXITE
Experts, After Visit
Here, Tells Of Great
Opportunities

clay to supply the industries Of the
world for generations to cone, and
that there are immense bauXjte de
posts that could profltably be de-
-Veloped, is the statement of DR.. r.
7. Stull, chief ceramist of the Bu
rcau Of Mines, and director of its
station at Columbus, Ohio.
Or. Stull has just completed a
trip of inspection and a careful per
sonal examination of mineral de-
posits in Georgia and Alabama, in
Guiding those of Sumter county. He
was accompanied by W. NJ. Weigel,
director of the recently establish
ed southeastern experiment station
of the Bureau Of Mines, at TuSca-
loosa, Ala.
DR.. Stull is considered the lead
ing authority in America ON ceram-
ic problems, and his enthusiastic en-
dorsement of the opportunities in this
section will mean much toward the
development of the territory. DR..
Stull and Mr. Weigc were in Amer
icus on their tour and spent a few
hours visiting the bauXite mines of
the Republic Mining company, near
Andersonville, taking samples Of the
bauXite and white clay. They have
now returned to their stations DR.,
StuIl says:
Enough for Generations.
''There is enough white clay in
Georgia to supply the industries of
the world for generations to come.
If the time ever comes and it in
evitably will-when the United
States must depend upon its own
clays, Georgia could and should sup
ply eighty per cent Of that demand.
These great deposits make Georgia
the natural field, but the producers
must not rely upon natural rcsOurc-
es alone, but must study the prob
lens of the industry and meet the
1uiremcnts of the manufacturers.
hcrwisc their business might go
to THE vast unexplored areas of the
west.
THE Industries know little about
Georgia clays, although they are
distinguished from those of other
states by wide variations which lend
themselves to a multiplicity of uses.
There is>no question that these clays
can be advantageously used in the
pottery trade. However, the potter
must learn how to use them. At the
present time he knows little or Moth
ing of Georgia CLAWS He now uses
imported clays and he must be
taught by whatever campaign of
education may be necessary that the
Georgia clays can be selected and
refined to meet his requirements.
more than so per cent Of the
white clays used in American indus
tries are imported. The potter has
learned to rely upon them and is not
anxious to make any change. One
reason that he clings to them is that
the English producer takes the ut
most pains to assure uniform quail
ty. The American producer must
learn that lesson before he will be
in a position to compete with the for
eign producer. English clays will
not always be available. If the pres
cnt demand continues the price will
90 up as a matter Of course and the
user will begin to look for another
source. Herein lies the great oppor-
tunitX for Georgia claws as the clay
deposits of North Carolina and
Pennsylvania (Which are most SINH
lar to the English cIaysl are limited
in extent
Many Uses Open.
George claws could we'll be until
lied to a much greater extent in the
paper and oil-cloth trade. Clays
which are now mined and shipped
raw, woaId if washed and put in
shape be used in the manufacture of
rubber, oilcloth, Oaper. paints, etc.
This, perhaps, affords the greatest
opportunity for expansion. A great
tonnage could be made available for
use by a simple washing process to
remove the fine grit
"There are large fields Of bauXite
which could be profitably developed.
Many of the so-calied bauXite clays
could be made to produce high-grade
bauxite by an Inexpensive washing
process. 1t is Characteristic of many
of these deposits that they lie almost
Son top of the ground and could be-
mined very cheaply.
"There is a a much larger area OF
second grade bauXite clays which by
simple refining processes could pro
duce high-erade bauXites. These
claws will be drawn upon to supply
high-grade refractory products. For
instance there is an increasing de-
uand for the electric furnace in the
afndustries and highly aluminous
clays will be called upon in the man
ufacture of material for these fur
naces for fire brick and for similar
purposes. Then again an increasing
number of cities are putting in fl
tration plants to soften and purify
their water supplies and are using
alums in large quantities. In graph
ite crucibles used for steel melting
fifteen to forty percent of refrac-
tory bond clays are used. A very
large proportion Of this could ad-
vantagecusly be replaced by the
highly refractory Georgia clays. /
'There is an unlimited supply Of
sand, admirably adapted for build
ing, for abrasive purposes, etc. ,For,
example in Taylor county the sand
appears to be sufficiently pure to be
suitable, after washing and sizing
for the manufactue of window-glass,
plate-glass. bottle-glass, etc.