REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I916 



251 



CLAY 



BY ROBERT W. JONES 



The building trade industry for 191 6 was affected by a variety 

 of conditions. In general, construction was carried on at a higher 

 rate than in the preceding year, although held back to a consider- 

 able extent by labor and transportation difficulties, both in regard to 

 construction and production. A certain portion of this increase 

 in construction is the result of a sudden demand due to war con- 

 ditions and may not be considered as being permanent. There is, 

 however, a heavier demand growing up for burned clay materials 

 in construction, especially where fireproof conditions are concerned. 



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

 in the State, exclusive of crude clay, for the last three years : 



Production of clay materials 



MATERIAL 



Common brick 



Front brick 



Paving brick 



Hollow brick 



Fireproofing 



Terra cotta 



Fire brick and stove lining 



Drain tile 



Sewer pipe 



Pottery 



Miscellaneous 



Total 



1914 



$4. 597 856 



105 439 



680 226 



38 119 



245 034 



892 630 



331 671 



92 938 



81 000 



2 405 676 



4 630 



475 219 



1915 



886 734 



153 572 

 382 502 



59 683 

 177 844 

 647 815 

 502 478 



91 221 



a 

 064 274 



36 250 



1916 



$6 433 266 

 64 004 

 204 209 

 b 



174 786 

 714 041 

 498 410 



63 756 

 a 

 3 344 672 

 257 868 



$10 002 373 



$11 755 012 



a Included under miscellaneous. 

 b Included under fireproofing. 



During 1916 there were 216 plants in the State which were in 

 a condition to produce clay products of various grades. Thirty- 

 four of these plants were idle and 19 reported a production of 

 pottery, for which the crude materials, except that used for red 

 ware, were imported. Five plants producing miscellaneous burned 

 products also secured their crude materials from sources outside 

 the State. 



Sales of burned clay material during the season had a value 

 of $11,755,012. Onondaga county led with a production of 

 $1,630,587, most of which is represented by sales of potter}^ Ulster 

 county occupied second place with sales amounting to $1,444,275 

 made entirely of common soft mud building brick. Erie county 



