ifi NEW YORK STATK MUSEUM 



Production of clay materials 



Details of the production of clay materials in Xew York State 

 during- the last two or three years are f^iven in the tables herewith. 

 The figures are based on reports received from practically all of the 

 manufacturers in every department. A comparison of the values 

 reported for the different products in the tables shows that the 

 industry experienced a decided setback in 1908. The year was one 

 of great depression in nearly all lines of clay manufactures, con- 

 trasting strongly with the three preceding years when there was 

 unexampled prosperity. The demand for clay building materials 

 was specially poor, due to the small amount of new construction 

 undertaken in New York and other large cities of the State. With 

 the decline in demand there was an accompanying decrease in the 

 prices received for the materials which reached a level below that 

 of any recent year. Another factor that affected adversely the 

 trade in building brick was the large stocks carried over by the 

 plants from the preceding season. This wus particularly influential 

 in the Hudson river region which supplies the New York market. 

 The final months of 1908 witnessed a gradual betterment in the 

 conditions that continued into the current year. It is generally 

 expected that the industry will soon regain a measure at least of its 

 former prosperity. 



The aggregate value of the clay manufactures of all kinds in 

 1908 was $8,918,863. Compared with the total for the preceding 

 3^ear, which was $12,688,868, there was a falling off of $3,770,005, 

 or about 30 per cent, in the reported value. Of the 61 counties in 

 the State 44 were represented in 1908 as having an output of this 

 class of mineral materials. The number of individual plants in 

 operation was 240 as compared with 242 in 1907 and 265 in 1906. 



Among the different materials, building brick had the largest 

 aggregate decrease. The total value reported by the manufacturers 

 of these materials was $5,200,951 against $7,424,294 in 1907, show- 

 ing a decline of $2,223,343. Of the aggregate, common brick ac- 

 counted for $5,064,194 as compared with $7,201,525, and front and 

 fancy pressed brick for $136,757 as compared with $222,769 for the 

 preceding year. The production of vitrified paving brick was valued 

 at $211,289 against $184,306, showing an increase for the year. 

 Fire brick and stove lining amounted to a value of $545,951 against 

 $624,033. The manufactures of drain tile amounted to $273,134 

 against $162,167; and of sewer pipe to $133,716 against $463,500. 

 The production of terra cotta was valued at $709,360 as compared 



