108 Report of the State Geologist. 



The clay at Yerkes' tilery, in Eomulus, is a slate blue, asso- 

 ciated with vegetable matter and shell deposits. 



The eight-inch layer of gray, fossil clay, described as occurring 

 in the Upper Helderberg limestone, is in too small amount for 

 practical uses . It was tried with poor success at the Waterloo 

 tilery ; it burns to a light color. 



Much clay exists in local sheets and patches, in the uplands, of 

 which I have not been able to take account. In Covert, near the 

 lake, are stated to be thick deposits of yellow clay. The choco- 

 late clay of the delta-terraces has been mentioned ; some of that 

 kind was once used for making brick at Willard, but it is not 

 found in sufficient quantity, and their present supply of bricks is 

 made elsewhere. In Tyre there are scattered deposits of clay; 

 bricks were formerly made at Tyre City, but the clay is said to 

 be too sandy, not sufficiently stiff, and not abundant. 



Four establishments produce drain tile, two brick (one idle), 

 and one combines the two manufactures. The tile is of excellent 

 quality. The brick is serviceable rather than ornamental. 



A. Whartenby, of W aterloo, makes Agricultural Tile. — 

 The first manufacture of this article in New York was com- 

 menced by Benj. F. Whartenby, at Waterloo, in 1839-40, using 

 Scotch tiles as models. They were at first made on a. wheel, and 

 with his son's assistance in mixing and preparing clay, he was 

 able to make 300 or 400 in a day. This manufacture was begun 

 at the instigation of Messrs. John- Johnston and John Delafield, 

 who subsequently (1 84-^-9) imported an English tile machine for 

 Mr. W.'s use, by which 2,000-3,000 could be made in a day. 

 The figures are given from memory by the son, A. Whartenby, 

 who now runs the establishment. This machine was worked by 

 hand; it was used 10 or 15 years, and is now preserved in the 

 Agricultural Museum at Albany. Previous to its purchase the 

 tiles were made by rolling clay into a sheet and wrapping it 

 around a wooden pin. 



The work is done at present with an Abr. Latourette's ma- 

 chine, run by horse power, capable of turning out 2,500-3,000 

 in a day, according to sizes. The kiln holds 10,000-12,000. The 

 men are on reduced time, so that 10 days are required to fill 

 the kiln. Burning takes three days and nights; cooling two 

 days ; removal one day. The average product is 50,000-75,000 



