14 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



CLAY 



BY ROBERT W. JONES 



The year 191 5 opened with building activities at a somewhat 

 lower level compared with the corresponding period of the pre- 

 ceding year. This was the condition of affairs, particularly, in and 

 near the city of New York. The smaller cities and villages of the 

 State showed, in most cases, a decided improvement although not 

 enough to bring the average materially above that for 1914. It was 

 not until late summer that any decided upturn was noticed and 

 then the monthly average was carried much higher than the cor- 

 responding months of 1914. Due to the greatly increased con- 

 struction along certain industrial lines, there was a greater demand 

 for electrical ceramic ware. 



The following table gives the value of the output of clay materials 

 in the State for the last three years: 



Production of clay materials 



a Included under miscellaneous. 



One hundred sixty-five individuals or corporations reported a 

 production of clay materials, as compared with 190 during 1914. 

 This does not necessarily involve a like falling off in active yards 

 and plants. During the past season there were, in the Hudson 

 River district, several combinations of the larger yards under 

 closer management. Labor troubles also caused a few yards to 



