250 FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—15TH ANNUAL REPORT 
will be necessary to produce first-class materials from any of the local 
clays and this will, of course, add to the cost of manufacture. It is 
very probable, however, that the increased cost of transportation from 
producers outside of the State will exceed the cost of careful and pains¬ 
taking manufacture of local products, thus giving the local manufac¬ 
turer a margin in his favor. The absence of cold weather and the 
abundance of pine wood (at present) for cheap fuel, are additional 
factors favoring local manufacture. 
Extensive draininge programs are now under way in some parts 
of the State, and many others are being planned. This will enable 
many of the now swampy areas to be drained, thus opening them up 
to agricultural and horticultural pursuits. Drain tile will be needed for 
much of this work, and this likewise can be produced locally, affording 
an opportunity for an industry of considerable magnitude in this line. 
The stoneware, terra-cotta, and higher grades of clay products, 
can also be utilized as the demand increases. 
It is to be noted, however, that the establishment of some plants, 
particularly those for the production of special types of structural 
material, as roofing tile, etc., requires the investment of a large amount 
of capital. Capable manufacturers, therefore, will hesitate to risk their 
money in such enterprises until assured of a large and steady demand 
for such wares. 
RESERVES 
As may be seen from Chapter VIII, the clay resources and re¬ 
serves of the State are varied. Some sections, as for example the re¬ 
gion in the latitude of the Everglades, and southward, have practically 
no clays. Other sections have clays, but none that are of practical value 
in the manufacture of clay products. Still others have clays that, with 
very careful treatment, may be used for products of fair grade. Then, 
some sections have an almost unlimited supply of excellent clay. For 
example, Escambia and northern Santa Rosa counties have vast clay 
reserves suitable for structural materials of excellent grade. The St. 
Johns River valley, from Jacksonville to Lake George, is underlain by 
extensive deposits of flood-plain clays, very desirable for common 
structural materials. 
