THE MINING AND QUARRY INDUSTRY IQI2 21 



In the nine counties within New York State are included about 

 125 yards with a capacity of one and one-quarter billion brick in 

 the six or seven months that constitute the average season. So 

 large an output is seldom warranted by the market requirements, 

 however, and the average outturn may be placed at about one 

 billion. The maximum number reported in any recent year was 

 1,230,000,000 in 1906. 



The principal market for the product, of course, is New York 

 and its environs, though some are shipped to the New England 

 towns. Practically the whole output goes by water, on barges 

 which hold upward of 200,000 each and which are made up into 

 a fleet towed by one or more tug boats. In the lower stretch of 

 the river, the shipments from the yards continue throughout the 

 year, whereas the more remote ones have to concentrate their 

 shipments during the months of open water. Formerly the product 

 was handled by several commission agents operating independently 

 and in competition, but in 191 1, a general selling agency was estab- 

 lished under the title of the Greater New York Brick Company, 

 which now disposes of the output of all but a few yards. The 

 total costs of shipment, storage in New York and commission for 

 sales may be placed at about $1.25 a thousand. 



The season of 1912 may be considered a fairly prosperous one 

 with respect to the number of brick marketed and prices, comparing 

 favorably in the latter particular with the preceding year or two. 

 The output was larger than in 191 1, but fell considerably below that 

 of 1910 when under the effects of a period of overextended activity, 

 the production far exceeded the market requirements. The surplus 

 of that year amounted to fully 350,000,000 which were carried over 

 into 191 1, and which justified a policy of curtailment on the part 

 of manufacturers so as to maintain a closer balance with the market. 

 By thus restricting the outturn, manufacturers were able to maintain 

 prices during 191 1 and even to receive somewhat higher returns 

 than the average for the previous year. The opening of the 1912 

 brickmaking season ranged from the middle to the latter part of 

 May and was delayed about two weeks beyond the average date 

 on account of wet weather. There were about 100,000,000 old brick 

 on hand at that time. Prices started at around $6.50 a thousand, 

 New York basis, or say $5.25 at the yard. They gradually advanced 

 with the progress of the season and reached $7.25 in December. 

 The open weather in the early winter enabled manufacturers to 

 continue shipments much longer than usual, so that the stock in 

 New York was unusually heavy at the first of the year. 



