The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1922-10-04
Gap MAY HAVE MODERN
BRICK PLANT, If TESTS
PROVE SHALE IS HERE
SO BUSINESS Men Pledge
Support in Effort to
Establish Modern Brick
Plant Here

Il At meeting in the town hall on
sisst Friday night more than GO men
Iledged themselves to support move.
SS,ent to build modern brick plant
IN Rig Stone Gap. r. Tate Irvine,
isIayor Hershey, J. II. Catron and
many others made talks in which the
Possibilities of the proposed plant
%ere clearly outlined. A special
f6mmittee composed of II. b. Me
e6eckin, j. H. Catron, w. w. Taylor.
10. n. Rostic and w. +. Baker were
appointed by the chair to make n
thorough investigation of the va
slfious phases of the project and re-
E6ort to the organization. This COM
fhittee will have the brick shalc test
I'd. and will investigate the quantity
mi quality of the shale which is said
3 be in and around the Gap in great
SAundance. II the findings of the
.sepmmttee are what they are expect
stM 10 be the organization will then
Ssthrow all OF its energy towards in
teresting outside capital in the plant.
99 Shale Is Here
sA During the evening it was brought
Sour clearly that the Gap is an ideal
Ikeation for such plant. a few
:Frars ago samples Of the shnle were
f@nt 10 Reading, Pa. to be tested
Stnt The sample bricks were dcclar-
PA TO be Of the highest quality, and
sRscmbed the famous Washington
Blessed brick. Cherry red in color
lsAd possessing all the qualities that
kiek masons demand. Men who
sstew the building game said the pos
Stiiits were unlimited Reports in
sAcate that the shale is here in guam
sAly and quality, easily accessible, and
iSith the natural distribution advan-
SfAges made possible by two railroads
flhd net work of splendid county
lpads leading to Lee and Scott coun-
ssties the location would be ideal.
II Today building has come to n
EfEaud-still in this county because Of
EShcessiye freight rates. In the Gap
t5eni vicinity there is an immediate
sSSmand FOR more than three million
;sSetleS for building purposes alone.
a ~ shale found here is said to be
SAcellent for hollow tile and many
5!alter uses. The establishment of
:}pgni here, it was pointed out, would
{sali IN building boom such AS the
1&l4Nn has never experienced. With
fSlgight rates amounting to almost as
Sl&ipch as the cost OF the brick home
are holding back. The brick
SssNHld be delivered anywhere in the
.sssSsHn'y by truck and would result in
~ saving of thousands OF dollars
'Shi year to home builders in freight
alone.
ma Rose Talk,
fsgs" ). Rose gave clear cut ex-
,s,i s4na'lon OF the project. He praised
H ss natural facilities, expressed his
AGs''' ! that the shalc was here in
seefe than one grade, and that it was
81 siSsl ef'or to any in Virginia. lie also
Ssfi lie Was confident that the bust
81 81 men would get solidly behind
sf movement and push it through to
s:s hnish. He explained that the
Se oil the old sun-dried brick was
ls,ssH brick made of shale with
~ mixture, he said, and baked in
S3le'h ovens with gas or powdered
IIsss' was the best and cheapest brick
|sb He spoke of the great imme-
is'e demand for bricks in the coun-
s win coal within three or fur
gT and with the finest water sup
tx FIX :" 'he county ready to tap at
g1.. notice, he believed the
's f','shInent of such IA plant here
~ III a great measure solve the
S!sss s''he problem of Wise county.
'' drive has been started to get
~ n'e'nbers for the organization.
sss "'S number more than sixty had
s9s secured before the meeting ad-
a.ed- A membership fee OF 50
S ~ charged. The funds so OBJ
As SVu VIII be spent in exploiting the
t used plant. Tests of the shalc
y De made and other details con
as&S BE- with the building of such "a
a#G as soon as it is definitely