SEBASTIAN COUNTY. 
217 
The following analyses of this clay dried at 110°-115° C. show its 
composition : 
Analyses of clay from Fort Smith. 
[Brackett & Smith, analysts.] 
Silica (Si0 2 ) 
Alumina (Al 2 O s ) 
Ferric oxide (Fe-20 3 ) 
Lime (CaO) 
Magnesia (MgO) 
Potash (KsO) 
Soda (Na s O) 
Loss on ignition (water) . 
Fine sand 
Water lost at 110°-115° C 
83.83 
9.32 
2.64 
.34 
.45 
1.27 
.85 
2.40 
101.10 
38.23 
2.21 
84.00 
8.33 
2.73 
.27 
.35 
.83 
.82 
2.81 
100.14 
37.57 
2.45 
74.79 
12.86 
4.90 
1.73 
1.49 
2.91 
99.96 
29.77 
2.76 
76.26 
11.74 
4.54 
.39 
.79 
1.28 
.98 
3.82 
99. SO 
47.79 
3.71 
76.20 
12.41 
4,36 
'.49 
.54 
1.21 
.84 
3. 75 
99.80 
11.89 
4.06 
No. 1 is the lighter colored clay from the bank opposite Ketchum 
Iron Company's shop; No. 2 is the yellow clay overlying No. 3 at 
the Ketchum Iron Company's shop; No. 3 is the lower reddish clay 
at Ketchum Iron Company's shop (underlying No. 2) ; No. 4 is the 
red sandy clay from Messrs. Pendell & Morrison's old brickyard; 
No. 5 is an ashen-gray clay from the south end of the Fort Smith 
and Dardanelle Railway. 
POTTERIES. 
Comby's 'pottery/ 1 — This potteiy was situated in the SE. \ SW. \ 
sec. 28, T. 7 N., R. 30 W. The kiln was a small one, built of stone 
cemented with clay, and was half underground — the kind of kiln 
sometimes called " groundhog." It was not adapted to salt glazing, 
and the Albany slip or black glaze was used. Sometimes a little 
salt was thrown into the kiln, but it affected only the ware at the 
front of the kiln next the fire, and that not always beneficially. 
There was nothing to protect the ware from the ashes of the fire, 
and every time a fresh supply of fuel was added or the fire touched 
the lighter ashes were sent in a shower among the hot ware, to settle 
down on the articles in the process of burning to become fixed to 
them by the glaze. The result of this is that the ware, especially 
that portion of it next the fire, presents anything but a pleasing 
appearance. With such a method of firing, a good class of pottery 
could not be made even with the best of pottery clays. The poor 
results obtained at this potftery must be attributed for the most 
part to the methods employed in burning the ware, though it is in 
part evidently due to poor raw material or to the improper treat- 
ment of the clay. 
a The notes and statistics of Comby's pottery were collected by Mr. Kennedy. The plant has gone 
out of business. 
