6o NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



made from local deposits at Binghamton, Horseheads, Ithaca and 

 a few other localities. 



Utilization of shale 



Though lacking the natural plasticity of clays, shale serves equally 

 well for manufacturing most of the common wares. Its employ- 

 ment has been introduced quite recently, but it has given such satis- 

 factory results that an enlarged development may be expected in 

 the future. There are immense deposits of this material in New 

 York State. 



The principal shale-bearing formations belong to the Devonic 

 and include the Hamilton, Portage and Chemung groups. The 

 Salina, Clinton and Medina groups of the Upper Siluric likewise 

 inclose extensive beds, while of the Lower Siluric may be men- 

 tioned the Hudson River shale which in age ranges from the middle 

 Trenton to the Lorraine. 



The Devonic shales outcrop over the central and southern parts 

 of the State, between the Hudson river and Lake Erie. They are 

 somewhat silicious and alternate with thinly bedded sandstones. 

 Among the localities where they are worked are Angola and Jewett- 

 ville, Erie co. ; Jamestown, Chautauqua co. ; Alfred Center, 

 Allegany co. ; and Corning, Steuben co. The products in- 

 clude common and pressed brick, fire brick, terra cotta, roofing 

 tile, drain tile and hollow building blocks. 



Production of clay materials 



The returns received from the manufacturers of clay materials 

 for the year 1905 show that the output was by far the largest ever 

 made in New York State. The aggregate value of the production 

 amounted to $14,280,016. There were 250 plants engaged in the 

 industry, distributed over 45 counties. 



Compared with the production in 1904 which was valued at 

 $11,504,704, the increase for the year was $2,775,312 or nearly 25 

 per cent. The large gain may be ascribed rather to the more active 

 operations carried on by the companies than to additions to the 

 number of plants, as there were only five more reporting a produc- 

 tion than in the preceding year. 



Of the various materials produced, common building brick ac- 

 counted for more than one half of the total value. The product 

 was valued at $9,751,753, as compared with $7,234,876 in 1904. 

 Front brick and fancy building brick aggregated $302,844, as com- 

 pared with $238,246; vitrified paving brick $180,004, against 



