Geography of Ohio 173 



Rank of state. In 1908, Ohio supplied one-fifth of the entire 

 output of this country's clay products; while slightly over 42 

 per cent of the pottery manufactured in the United States came 

 from Ohio. This rank is due, primarily, to the fact that the state 

 has in it the requisite raw material, otherwise the manufacturing 

 of clay products would not have started in the state. Since these 

 manufactories have been e-stablished, and since the state does 

 not contain some varieties of clay required, considerable raw 

 material is imported, part of it coming from Europe. It should 

 be remembered, however, that the clay industry was developed, 

 primarily, because the state has the required raw material, and 

 its home markets needed the clay products. 



As time went on, specialized products were turned out for which 

 raw material, not provided by the state, was imported; but the 

 business owes its thorough establishment in Ohio to the great 

 variety and abundance of clays present. 



COAL 



We have many references, made by early explorers and settlers, 

 to coal being found within the limits of Ohio. In those days, the 

 coal was not particularly appreciated because in most areas agri- 

 culture necessitated the removal of the forests, and people accord- 

 ingly burned wood, not only in the houses, but in their manufac- 

 tories, for a long time. In 1810 coal was mined near Talmadge 

 in Summit County, and by 1818 it was shipped by river boats from 

 Akron to Cleveland, When the Ohio Canal commenced to operate, 

 mines were opened near Massillon, making shipments to Cleve- 

 land. 



The Hocking Vallej' coal field was used locally for domestic 

 purposes, but the demand did not increase till about 1831, when 

 the salt boiling industry required brisker mining; by the following 

 year, the branch of the Ohio Canal to Nelsonville, made it possible 

 to ship coal readily, and more extensive mining began. 



By 1833, coal was being mined systematically along the Ohio 

 even below Wheeling. Two years later a steam towboat, owned 

 by the Pomeroy Coal Company-, began delivering coal to Cincin- 

 nati. Very shortly numerous boats appeared on the river deliver- 

 ing coal even as far as New Orleans. At Mineral Ridge, not far 

 from Brier Hill, coal mining commenced in 1835. 



