been made at Dundee and abandoned on account of the calcareous nature of the clay. Good brick were said to have been made in London township from clay obtained from the Saline valley. No statistics relating to the gradual development of the clay industry in the county are available. In 1896 the total value of the clay products was $15,720 and for 1897, $12.410. During the season of 1898 there were manufactured in the county, 2,112,100 brick, valued at $10,535 and tile valued at $12,470, making a total of $23,005. For 1899 there were burned 1,625,000 brick and 1,165,000 tile, having an approximate total value of $23,000. The position of the eight factories now in operation is shown on Plate XV. In 1896, at the time of the first inspection of the county for this report, two others were operating, one at Dundee and the other at Erie. Notwithstanding the inexhaustible supplies of clay within the county, owing to its method of formation and accumulation, it is so charged with pebbles, many of them calcareous, as to be worthless for brick and tile. Upon burning, the fragments of carbonate are converted into lime, which will eventually slake and ruin the article containing them. Mechanically also they injure the soft brick and tile as they are forced through the die. This difficulty is in part obviated by running the clay first through a "crusher," which reduces the pebbles to coarse sand. From the till clays of various texture and purity could be obtained by a process of washing, but the time is not at hand when this would be profitable for ordinary use. Nature has, however, done considerable of this and deposited a washed product along the river valleys from which a good grade of brick and tile may be manufactured. Such clays usually contain sufficient sand to prevent warping and shrinkage in the process of burning. The sites of former lakes frequently contain clay of a very homogeneous character, which was washed in from the surrounding region. Such beds are generally only from one to three feet thick and in many cases underlie layers of muck and marl. This action took place upon a much larger scale in the case of the great glacial lakes described in Chapter VI, so that in the eastern, and particularly the southeastern corner of the county the superficial clays are to a greater or less extent utilizable. Whatever the color of the clay it burns in all cases to a cherry red, owing to the conversion of the iron compounds into the red oxide (FeO3). The old method of moulding brick by hand has been discarded, but a near approach to it is still found in the "soft mud process," used at Monroe. The clay is brought into a soft, pasty condition by the use of water and kneading machinery, and then forced into sets of moulds, similar to those formerly used in the hand process. These moulds are emptied and resanded by hand, the bricks being spread in the yard to dry, where they are liable to be injured by the weather. Such brick are open grained and porous, but do not show the cracks about the edges and corners which so frequently occur in brick forced through a die. In the "stiff mud process," which is the one very generally employed, the clay is moistened sufficiently to become plastic but is at all times stiff enough to hold its shape. There being less water to be gotten rid of the drying takes place under long sheds. The stiff clay is forced by means of an auger or plunger intermittently from the machine through the openings in a steel plate. These openings are of suitable size and shape to give the clay its desired form and it is then cut into proper lengths, during a period of halt, by a frame carrying tightly stretched wires. Bricks made by this process are more compact, have a smoother surface and are stronger, but quite generally show cracks along the edges and other imperfections, due to the action of the die and the im prisoned air. Most of the kilns used in burning the brick and the tile are of the "up-draft" pattern but there are a few "down-draft" kilns in operation. In this type of kiln the heated air is admitted at the top and is compelled to pass downward before it can escape, thus giving a much more even burning to the brick and tile. The following data relating to the factories were collected in September, 1899: Milan Brick and Tile Manufactory, owned by the Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Milan, H. S. Knight, Manager. Located alongside of the Wabash railroad, N. E. 4, S. W. 4. Sec. 2, Milan township, within one-fifth mile of the Ann Arbor road. The clay for tile is of a bluish variety obtained from the Macon Creek in N. W. 4. Sec. 14. place of Warren Lewis; from 6 to 10 inches of muck have to be removed. Six feet of clay may be worked before it becomes stony. The brick clay is obtained from the Saline, Sec. 1. Milan, place of O. W. Leonard, and is of a yellow color and sandy. Stiff mud process; Brewer machine, with a capacity of 20,000 brick and 8,000 tile daily. One double up-draft kiln. The engine used is 25 horse power and about 20 hands are employed. During the season of 1898 the company manufactured 100.000 brick and 120,000 tile; in 1899 about 280,000 brick and 125,000 tile. The markets are mostly local, but shipments are made along the railroads as far as Toledo and Detroit. Meyers Bros., Azalia. Ann Arbor railroad. Clay is obtained from bed of the North Branch of the Macon and is a mixture of blue and yellow as worked. From four to six inches of muck are first removed, below which is 1% feet of blue clay and still lower 3 to 6 feet of yellow before a bed of gravel is struck. The factory has been in operation 6 years, and employs about 14 hands. A Brewer machine is used, driven with a 35 horse-power engine, capacity 12,000 of 3 inch tile and 24,000 brick; down-draft kiln. Markets are local and shipments to various points in Monroe and Washtenaw Counties. Tile are made from 21⁄2 to 8 inch. During 1898 there were put out 225,000 brick and 220,000 tile; during 1899 from 250,000 to 275,000 brick and about 250,000 tile. Charles Jacobs, S. W. . S. W. 4. Sec. 34. Summerfield. The clay is a local deposit found just north of the factory. There are 6 to 7 inches of muck and loam, beneath which lies 2% feet of streaked blue and yellow clay, before clay carrying pebbles is reached. This plant was operated for several years by Wadsworth and Harwick. The machine used is a Brewer with a capacity daily of 15,000 3 inch tile and 15,000 brick. Markets are entirely local as there are no shipping facilities. During the season of 1899 there were manufactured here about 45,000 brick and 300,000 tile. Down draft kiln. Mrs. Katharine Stout, Ottawa Lake. Charles Jewell, foreman. A streaked yellow clay is used obtained near at hand, carrying some pebbles. Stiff mud process; Adrian machine. No. 2; steam power. One down draft kiln in repair. Only tile are made here and mostly 3, 4 and 6 inch; but ranging from 21⁄2 to 10 inches. Capacity of machine is 6,500 of 3 inch. During 1898 there were burned 200,000 tile and about 100,000 in 1899. The factory is near the Adrian-Toledo branch of the Lake Shore and shipments are made as far as Toledo. August G. Matthes, Strasburg. Adrian-Monroe branch of the Lake Shore R. R. Clay used is a blue and yellow streaked bed three feet thick, beneath which is 6 to 8 feet of blue clay (till). Clay is somewhat stony but not sufficiently so to cause serious trouble. Machine is an Adrian, No. 2, stiff mud process. Capacity daily 14,000 brick and 13,000 3 inch tile. Employs 7 to 8 hands. One up draft kiln.. Last season Mr. Matthes made 250.000 tile and 150.000 brick and in 1898 200,000 tile and 125,000 brick. Markets are entirely local. Brick sell for $4.50 to $6.00 per thousand in the yard. The following prices per thousand are secured for tile: 3 inch $9, 31⁄2 inch $12, 4 inch $14, 5 inch $17, 6 inch $25, 7 inch $35, and 8 inch $40. Robert C. Herkimer, N. E. 4. S. E. 4. Sec. 18, Exeter. Operated by Frederick Linenfelser. Clay used is of the yellow variety and obtained, from the Saline flats. Brewer 6 A" machine; capacity 25.000 brick and 12.000 3 inch tile. Engine 25 horse-power; six hands; one up draft kiln. In 1898 there were burned here 150.000 brick and 140.000 tile: in 1899 about 250,000 brick and 60.000 tile. The markets are purely local. Tile of the 3 to 4 inch size are mostly made, but range from 21⁄2 to 8 inch. The prices are about the same as those above given for the Strasburg factory. John Strong and Sons, South Rockwood, Michigan Central railroad. Clay obtained from surface near plant, bluish-yellow. The sod only is stripped off from the bed, five feet of which are usable. The pebbles present are first crushed. Adrian machine; stiff mud process for tile, soft mud process for brick. Engine 50 horsepower; daily capacity 39,000 brick and 10,000 to 12.000 3 inch tile. Two stacks for brick and two down draft kilns. 13 to 14 hands employed. During season of 1898 400,000 brick and 250,000 tile were made, but owing to overstocking none were burned in 1899. Markets are local, to points in Monroe and Wayne counties and north of Detroit. Tile from 21⁄2 inch to 8 inch are made, but the demand is chiefly for 3 and 4 inch. The prices are for 21⁄2 inch $8, 3 inch $9, 4 inch $13 and $6 for brick. Charles G. Eaton, Monroe. Pere Marquette R. R. and Adrian-Toledo branch of the Lake Shore railroad. A yellow stony clay is used from a local deposit. A crusher removes the coarser pebbles and crushes the smaller. Soft mud process for brick. The bed of clay used is 3% feet thick, from which only the surface has to be stripped. Sand has to be added to the clay. Brewer machine is used, with a 25 horse-power engine, capacity 30,000 brick daily. About 20 hands are employed. Up draft kiln for tile. Sizes range from 2% to 8 inch, with most of 3 to 4 inch. In 1898 about 640,000 brick were burned and about 80,000 tile: in 1899 about the same amount of brick and about 65,000 tile. Markets local at about the same prices as above quoted. § 9. Natural gas and oil. Covering the northwestern part of Monroe county as shown upon Plate XV there is an area over which there are strong surface indications of oil and natural combustible gas. This area covers Milan, London, Dundee, western Raisinville, nearly all of Summerfield and the northwestern corner of Ida townships. The oil impregnates the rocks and forms a scum over the water of ponds, streams and wells, giving it sometimes a very offensive odor. The gas bubbles up through the water, sometimes as a continuous stream, usually only as occasional bubbles. Still more of it escapes into the air without being noticed. Where especially abundant in wells it burns upon being ignited, giving a hot but only slightly luminous flame. It has comparatively little odor, by which it may easily be distinguished from the offensive, hydrogen sulphide gas (H, S) which is found in 2 From car wells, imparting to the water the odor of "rotten eggs." bon dioxide gas which may also occur in wells and springs it is distinguished by its combustibility, since this former gas not only will not burn but will not support combustion. As pointed out in Chapter II this gas and oil are more directly associated with the St. Clair, Traverse and Dundee formations and are most abundant in Milan and London townships. This is known as surface or shale gas, can have no great volume and rarely ever any great pressure. It does not occur at definite horizons, is not associated with oil, salt water or any definite rock structure. The gas obtained from the drift deposits, in all probability, is derived from the underlying rock formations. The only practical use for this gas is for domestic purposes for which it has been but little utilized in the region. Piped into the house and used economically it would last for a number of years, when a new well could be sunk at but little expense and a new supply obtained. This should be looked upon as one of the resources of the farm and should be as carefully husbanded. The gas is not as valuable for illuminating as for heating purposes owing to its lack of luminosity. An Ohio man has discovered that if the fire brick of the grate are occasionally sprinkled with salt a more luminous flame may be secured.* There is no necessary connection between this surface gas and oil and the deeper seated deposits so eagerly sought for by means of deep borings, since both may have been separately produced. At Findlay, Ohio, however, before the wonderful discovery was made such surface indications had been known for many years. At ten different places in the county deep wells have been drilled at heavy expense with the hope that some such deposits would be discovered as those which have made northwestern Ohio famous. Six of these wells have penetrated the Trenton limestone, the productive horizon in Ohio, but without adequate returns. (For records see Chapter III § 8). From data thus obtained it is apparent now why these wells have failed and there can be no justification for further expenditure to secure oil and gas from the Trenton within the limits of Monroe county. The gas and oil fields of Ohio and western Ontario are located along the crest of the great Cincinnati anticline, an uplift in the Trenton and overlying strata. This upheaval began in Silurian times, but was arrested, and the final folding as determined by In some districts of Ohio this "low pressure drift" gas has proved to be of commercial value. The use of Welsbach burners might remedy the lack of luminosity. Foerste* took place in the late Devonian or early Carboniferous. As mapped by Orton this anticline passes northward from Findlay to the east of Toledo, passing under Lake Erie and reappearing in Ontario. In a paper read in 1887 before the Royal Society of Canada. Robert Bell says: * "There seems to be no doubt that the occurrence of petroleum in Enniskillen is connected with the Cincinnati anticlinal, but the writer, after having done a considerable amount of geological work in Western Canada at various times since 1859, and having carefully studied the question, has come to the conclusion that this anticlinal, coming up from Ohio, does not run eastward, as Logan supposed, into Lake Ontario, but that it maintains its northward course, and runs into the southern extremity of Lake Huron." "Northward of Lake Erie, an impartial study of what is actually known of the geographical structure, as well as of the distribution of the formations, indicates that its axis, after crossing the lake, continues on, as we would naturally expect it would, in the same general north-northeastward direction bearing through the counties of Essex, Bothwell and Lambton, from about Littles' Point on Lake Erie, to about Kettle Point on Lake Huron." From this quotation and the figures given in Chapter III, § 9 concerning the drop in the Trenton towards the north and west it will be apparent that Monroe county is unfortunately placed upon the western slope of this productive anticlinal. The higher portions are to the east and south and towards these directions the oil and gas have been drained. The most promising part of the county for a test well was theoretically in the southeastern corner since this is nearest the crest of the anticline. Of all the ten deep wells the one nearest this region has proven most productive. This well was begun in November, 1898, and completed December 10th. It is owned by F. C. Potter in the N. W. 1, N. W. 4, Sec. 22, Erie township. The Trenton was struck at a depth of 1,555 feet, (see Chapter III, § 8), and entered 112 feet. The original gas pressure was 25 pounds to the square inch. It has been piped to the house and is used for lighting and cooking. The well contains oil and has been several times bailed out, some ten barrels having been thus secured in August, 1899. Most of the other wells have given some temporary showing, enough to raise the hopes of the stockholders, but none of them have done as well even as the Potter well. The three Monroe and the two Dundee wells have furnished decisive tests so far as the penetration of the Trenton is concerned. According to Orton, who followed very carefully the development in Ohio, the productive part of the Trenton is usually confined to the first 15 feet. In his report of 1888, § he says *American Geologist, Vol. VII, 1891, pp. 97 to 109. |