234 THE CLAYS OF ARKANSAS. 
ALLUVIAL (MAYS ALONG ARKANSAS RIVER. 
The clays of the great flood plain of Arkansas River are confined 
to the river bottoms proper. They are for the most part extremely 
variable in character and thickness and hold out but little promise 
of being useful as clays. 
CLAY INDUSTRY/ 1 
POTTERY. 
In the SE. J SE. | sec. 12, T. 6 N., R. 21 W., a deposit of light- 
bluish, red-streaked clay overlies the black shales to a depth of 3 to 
5 feet. This same clay covers the greater part of the section. Some 
years ago it was worked as a pottery clay, and was manufactured 
into a strong, dark-red earthenware. When glazed the material 
used for the purpose was broken glass and soda, which gave the ware 
a peculiar greenish color. This clay may be suitable for sewer pipes 
or any ware requiring a strong plastic clay capable of burning to the 
verge of vitrification and taking a salt glaze. 
In the E. } SE. J sec. 11, T. 6 N., R. 21 W., soft blue argillaceous 
shales appear to underlie 3 feet of broken red shales and sandstones. 
COMMON BRICKS. 
In the NE. i NE. | sec. 1, T. 6 N., R. 21 W., bricks have been made 
from a light-yellowish sandy clay. This clay is about 2 feet thick 
and overlies a red clay. The red clay forms the surface soil in the 
northern part of the same section and also in part of the NW. I NW. J 
sec. 6, T. 6 N., R. 20 W. No bricks have been made in this yard 
since 1886. From the broken pieces of brick lying on the yard they 
appear to burn to a salmon color when soft, and when burned hard 
are gray and spotted with iron. 
On lot 2 of the NW. \ SW. \ sec. 6, T. 6 N., R. 20 W., bricks were 
made some years ago by Messrs. Perry & Kimball and afterward by 
Mr. R. Smiley. A yellowish clay containing small white calcareous 
concretions was used for the manufacture of these bricks. This clay 
is unsuited for hand molding, and the bricks were made on a Iiotch- 
kiss machine. Owing to the stiffness of the clay and the tendency 
of the green bricks to crack when exposed to the sun, there was con- 
siderable difficulty in drying them until drying sheds were built- 
Under cover the bricks dried very slowly, but without much loss 
through breakage. In burning these bricks the firing was kept up 
for twelve to fourteen days. The shrinkage or settling in the kiln is 
said to have been considerable, but no reliable information could be 
obtained on the subject. The eye bricks showed a slight tendency 
a The notes on the clay industries of Yell County were made by Mr. William Kennedy. 
