PREPARING AND HANDLING CLAY FOR Build the factory near the clay—it is better for the farmers to haul the tile a long distance than for the maker of tile to haul the clay. With the factory located, and the capital small and the demand for tile likely to be limited, purchase a horse power tile mill, erect a round-crowned kiln 17 feet in diameter or a 12x15 ft. crowned kiln to feet high, erect sheds and pur chase trucks. The capacity with five men is a kiln a week—it must not be less. System is necessary to success, hence sys tematize the work as follows : Monday, empty and fill the kiln and fire in the evening. Tuesday, clean the sheds and make tile, continuing through Wednesday and Thursday. Friday, haul clay with two carts, strip off the top soil and mix the spadings of clay well in the pit. The temperer remains in the pit, levels each load, and adds to each spading the necessary amount of water. The clay-temperer should not use a hose or let the water run on the clay. The man who tempers the clay should have good judgment and quick discernment. The in terested eye of the owner must supply the missing link here as well as elsewhere. On Saturday haul the wood or coal and make every provision for an early start on Monday.
After a few successful years, if accumulated capital and the demand for tile justify in enlarging the works, purchase a larger machine, put in steam-power, erect another kiln of the size above given. A kiln that can be emptied and filled in a day is the best. More kilns rather than larger ones should be the rule.
After the works have been enlarged it is preferable to em ploy a different method of getting in the clay. Construct an iron (T-rail) track, use side dumping-cars and a wire rope. With these appliances a man and a mule can haul clay sufficient to keep the machine running. Divide the pit into two parts, each part holding a kiln of tile, fill and temper one side, and while it is being used fill and temper the other. If the clay
can be allowed to stand a day or so in the pit after being tem pered, it works better. The engineer, who is close by, has ample time to level and sprinkle the clay as it is dumped in the pit. Have near by a forty-barrel tank of water, filled with a jet pump. This tank is a valuable adjunct to the factory. At tach a hose to the tank in sprinkling the clay.
In early spring the clay comes from the bank sufficiently moist. To preserve this state of moisture cover the bank with a few loads of straw, which saves much hard spading and ob jectionable clods. It is not best to use clay direct from the bank, so pass it through the tempering pits. The handling and the action of the air improve the working of the clay. With steam power it is best to use a good crusher.
No rules will enable every tile or brickmaker to prepare the clay aright. He must learn thoroughly the nature of his clay and how to manipulate it.
Most clays are benefited by wintering, but this is expensive ; yet with some clays it is money saved to spade them and let them weather through the winter.
Strong clays which crack badly are benefited by mixing with them the dust of crushed bits of brick and tile, or by adding sand, or if these are not to be had, use saw-dust or coal-dust. The tile will be weaker where saw-dust or coal-dust is used, but strong enough probably for all practical purposes.
Those having much trouble with their clays can learn useful lessons from sewer-pipe and pottery manufacturers. A visit to Trenton, N. J., or East Liverpool, or Akron, 0., may be a pro fitable investment of time and money, in seeing how the manu facturers at those points work their clays.