The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-04-21

and four central counties, B0ttineau,
McHenry, Rolette, and Pierce, are
richly supplied with yellow modi-
fled drift OR Pierre clay. which gen.
cellent sub soil, capable Of supplying
for a long time many of the ele-
ments needed in the soil for agri-
cultural purposes. These clays are
suitable of course for only common
brick and tile and not everywhere
for this purpose. What little devel-
opment the clay industry has had in
this state has been confined so far
almost entirely to the production of
brick and tile.
The investigations which have
been carried on in the School of
Mines at the University have proved
that there are a great variety Of ex-
ceptionally high grade clays, Dean
f. j. Babcock says,-especially in
the western and southwestern part
of the state. Among these are the
fire clays and potter's clays. The
fire clays can withstand extremely
high temperatures and are there
fore, excellent clays for the mann
facture of fire brick, furnace lin.
ings, ovens, gas works, metal works,
steel furnaces, etc. These clays COM
pare very favorably with many Of
the best known and widely used fire
clays of the country Another type
| of important clay in the. state is
suitable for stoneware such as jugs,
jars, sewer pipe, etc. Other clays
! found especially in the southwestern
| part of the state are so pure and
fine and plastic that the most beau
tiful and delicate pottery can be
made from them. Some of these in
their natural state are very similar
in composition and purity to the
artificially prepared mixtures used
in the great potteTies.
Remembering that millions of years
were required to build up the rock
formations from which these CLAWS
are derived, it is startling to realize
that eras more were required to lay
down the clay deposits Of North
Dakota. Clay is made by the break
ing doWn of rock substance by chem
ical action and by. outside agencies
such as rain, frost, and sun.
When the rock cliffs have been
cracked and crumbled off by the at.
tacks OF sun, and wind, and even
roots, water begins anew to dissolve
out and change the character of the
debris. Some parts of the rock re.
sist such action, their quartz fol
other portions soften down into 8
mass which eventually becomes clay
Then another cycle of change be.
gins, that Of natures method Of
washing, purifying, transporting
sorting, and depositing the clay
This is done by the action o.
, streams, lakes, inland seas, etc. II
, many cases the finest clay materia
transported long distances from the
parent rock and finally deposited
slowly, in still water, have built ul
great beds of clays Of various kinds
Some of the extensive deposits Of
fine clay in North Dakota were pro
duced and transported from the foo
hills of the Rocky Mountains prob
ably and laid down in a remarkable
state of purity in the western par
of the state.
In connection with her vast ella,
resources, North Dakota has an ad
vantage which few other states ant
probably few other countries pos
sess. Clay beds cannot be develop
ed without cheap power. Cheap pow
er cannot be developed without chea1
coal. Pittsburgh, the steel centr1
of America, is not located in north
ern Minnesota near the iron mines
but in Pennsylvania, near the coal
The Ohio Valley, the pottery cente
of America, has comparatively littl.
high grade clay but it does have Goa
nearby, and so the raw materials ar
imported from great distances to TIL
source of power. In North Dakot
coal and clay lie practically side b.
side. And for good measure trans
continental railways pass within
almost stones throw of both. 80.
Some day the possibilities Of Mort
Dakota clay will be more fully zeal
lied land utilized. The coal VII
give the cheap power and electritit
necessary to run our factories, an
the clay will supply a. variety q
superior raw materials for many i'm
rortant manufacturing industrie
Then North Dakota, known no
chiefly for its agricultural resoul
ces, will win new fame as one 2
the great industrial states Of th
Union.
VERA KELsE.