PREFACE. 



Clay is one of the most abundant materials found in 

 the earth's crust, and occurring as it does in every 

 country, in almost every geological formation from 

 nearly the oldest to the younges t, and frequently in 

 positions easy of access, it is not to be wondered at 

 that these, conditions,, aided by the peculiar properties 

 which it possesses, have caused this material to be- 

 come one of the most useful and valuable products ot 

 the earth. 



The value of clay is still more readily understood 

 when the statistics of Hs production are known. Thu;3 

 in 1897, the total value of clay products made in the 

 United States alone was $60,911,641.00, distributed 

 as follows : 



Common brick, ? 26,353,904 



Pressed brick.' 3,931,336 



Vitrified paving brick 3,082,037 



Ornamental brick 685,048 



Fire brick 4,094,704 



Drain tile 2,623,305 



Sewer pipe 4,C69,534 



Terra cotta 1,701,422 



Fire proofing 1,979,259 



Tile other than drain 1,026,398 



Miscellaneous 1,413,835 



Pottery 9,450,859 



Up to the present time the rank of Alabama as a 

 clay producing state has not been very high, owing 

 largely to the lack of information concerning its clay 

 resources, and in the following report an endeavor has 

 been made to furnish as much information as possible 

 concerning the characters of many of the Alabama 



clays. 



Heinrich Ries. 

 March 1, 1900. 



