On a Fire Stone, 391 



during every fortnight, of seven months of each year. 

 Each kiln consumes, at one burning, about sixty cords 

 of wood. So that no heat of the kind can be more in- 

 tense. I see not the smallest defect in the stone. From 

 their present appearance, I cannot anticipate any rea- 

 sonable period, when their duration will end. 



I have tried stone procured on Morris's Hill, near 

 the upper ferry ; but they are very inferior to those ob- 

 tained out of the Belmont quarry. 



I have used soap stone, which spawl (scale) with the 

 force of fire in my kilns. The Belmont stone, not hav- 

 ing flinty veins, never spawls. I therefore prefer the 

 latter, decidedly, to the former ; which although fit 

 for more moderate heat ; will not resist the severe 

 force of the flame and fire of my kilns. Independent 

 of this circumstance, the original price, and expense of 

 workmanship of the Belmont stone, bear a proportion 

 to those of soap stone, in a degree very moderate in- 

 deed. At least half the price, both of stone and work- 

 manship. Judgment and experience are required in the 

 selection. Flinty veins, and very hard stones, are to be 

 avoided. But great plenty of the proper kinds are to 

 be found in the quarry. 



I have been a brick- maker forty six years ; and m 

 very extensive business, during thirty five years of that 

 period. Persons desirous of viewing the stone, will 

 gain more knowledge of its qualities by viewing my 

 kilns, than from the most elaborate description on pa- 

 per. My kilns are situated in Chesnut street, on Sixth 

 and Seventh streets from Schuylkill. 



George Krebs* 

 May 6fh, 1814, 



