220 THE IRON ORE DISTRICT OF EAST TEXAS. 



Silica 85.40 



Alumina 10.02 



Iron 2.18 



Lime .10 



Potash Trace. 



Soda Trace. 



Water 1.95 



Total ' 99.65 



Mr. Watkins, the owner of the clay, dug some distance into the bed and 

 obtained a better sample of the clay, which he sent to Athens, Henderson 

 County, and had it worked up into a small jug, which I saw. The clay burns 

 to a light color and the jug made from it is of medium quality. This clay, 

 by washing and careful management, could be utilized with good results for 

 making flower pots, jugs, and coarse pottery of every description. 



FIRE CLAY. 

 The clay found on the E. B. Ragsdale survey, which is very similar to the 

 clay found in Henderson County, would probably make fire brick, though I 

 think the per cent of fusible substances is a little too high to make a good 

 quality. Asa general thing the clays found in Smith County contain a large 

 per cent of iron and alkalies, and these, on account of their easy fusibility, 

 render the clays unfit for withstanding the degree of heat necessary in good 

 fire brick. 



BRICK CLAYS. 

 In nearly every part of the county may be found an excellent clay for 

 making brick. This clay is found near the surface, being covered by only 

 two or three feet of soil; consequently the cost of stripping is comparatively 

 nothing. The clay is either of a red or light gray color. On burning, the 

 bricks assume a beautiful red color, due to the iron in them. Sometimes the 

 surface of the brick is glossy, with black spots. This is caused by the in- 

 cipient fusion of the contained iron. The last named bricks are more brit- 

 tle than the others. These bricks are very durable and make handsome 

 dwellings. They are manufactured extensively in Tyler and on a small scale 

 in several other towns in the county, and on account of the wide prevalence 

 of the material and the small cost attending their manufacture the bricks are 

 sold at very low figures. 



BUILDING STONES. 



The building stones of this county are of two kinds, viz.: A, sandstones; 

 B, limestones. 



