PAPERS ON GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY 371 



Streator to the effect that the Streator companies pro- 

 duce 3,000,000 square feet of rolled plate glass annually, 

 and that they furnish 80% of the skylight glass for the 

 loop district in Chicago. 



The location in proximity to the coal, the excellent glass 

 sand near by, and the location of the city on excellent 

 lines of transportation to Chicago are reasons for locat- 

 ing successfully the glass manufacturing plants in Strea- 

 tor. 



5. Clay Products — Brick and Tile. 



Plants for the manufacture of clay products, ranging 

 from common drain tile to paving brick, pressed brick 

 and fire brick, are found in numerous places in LaSalle 

 County, Streator and Oglesby being the centers for more 

 of these plants than other cities, though LaSalle has 

 three plants. The plants in Streator are the largest in 

 the region, have their own coal shafts on their premises, 

 and make a variety of products, such as paving brick, 

 fire brick or tile, as conditions warrant, each plant tend- 

 ing to specialize in one of the products. The favorable 

 location with regard to a fuel supply, with access to an 

 excellent fire clay, and the excellent transportation fa- 

 cilities to Chicago are the factors most largely respon- 

 sible for the development of the brick and tile manu- 

 facturing industries of the region. 



In 1920, LaSalle County was credited by the Illinois 

 Mineral Operators' Directory, with having 67 different 

 producers of mineral products. Cook County alone of the 

 other counties of the state equalled this number. Of 

 these 67 producers, 21 are located within a radius of five 

 miles of the city of LaSalle. It is doubtful if a similar 

 area anywhere in the state can equal the area near La- 

 Salle in variety of products and the value of the minerals 

 produced. . 



