174 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



molded brick are shoved forward on the table by the charger 

 they are placed on cars and either taken to drying chambers or 

 set directly in the kiln The green brick require great care in 

 handling as they are very tender. Drying must be done very 

 slowly to prevent cracking. Burning is usually done in down- 

 draft kilns. The manner of burning does not differ essentially 

 from that followed for other makes of brick. By setting directly 

 in the kiln without previous drying it takes longer to water 

 smoke. This in any case should be done very slowly and the 

 burning should not be pushed until water smoking is entirely 

 finished. It is claimed by some that one sixth to one quarter 

 more fuel is required to burn dry clay bricks than those made by 

 other processes. 



The type of kiln used varies. 



Cost of production 



This item varies considerably depending on a variety of circum- 

 stances, such as the method of manufacture employed, cost of 

 labor, locality, etc. 



Brick manufacturers are generally unwilling to give informa- 

 tion on this subject, and the figures given, therefore, can only be 

 considered approximate. 



The use of improved machinery and methods will often lower 

 the cost of production considerably, but this generally requires a 

 much greater outlay of capital than seems to be in most instances 

 available. 



By the hand power method the cost of manufacture is $3.75 to 

 $400 per 1000 delivered at the yard. On Long Island where the 

 soft mud process is almost exclusively used the cost is said to be 

 $3.00 per 1000 delivered at the yard. Hudson river manufac- 

 turers quote the cost at $5.00 per 1000 delivered in 'New York 

 city ; this figure includes $1.25 for transportation and 25 cents 

 per 1000 for commission. 



The brick yard is usually owned by the manufacturer but the 

 clay bank is worked on one of the following bases : 



1 The manufacturer owns the bank. This is by far the best 

 and most profitable arrangement. 



2 The brickmaker pays a certain rental, usually nine or 10 per 

 cent. 



