CLAY,  FULLER'S  EARTH,  ETC. 
CLAY  INDUSTRIES  OF  THE  INDEPENDENCE  QUADRANGLE, 
KANSAS. 
By  F.  C.  Schrader  and  Erasmus  Haworth. 
SKETCH  OF  THE  REGION. 
Location. — The  Independence  quadrangle  lies  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  Kansas  adjacent  to  Indian  Territory  and  within  the  Kansas 
oil  and  gas  fields.  It  has  an  area  of  nearly  1,000  square  miles,, 
embracing  all  of  Montgomery  County  and  portions  of  adjacent  coun- 
ties. Its  chief  towns  are  Independence,  Coffey  ville,  Cherry  vale, 
Neodesha,  Caney,  and  Elk  City. 
Geology. — The  rocks  of  the  district  are  of  Coal  Measure  age,  and 
consist  of  limestones  alternating  with  heavier  shales  and  sandstones. 
In  general  they  dip  gently  northwestward  at  the  average  rate  of 
about  15  feet  per  mile,  and  exhibit  but  little  evidence  of  disturbance. 
They  include  7  formations  and  have  a  total  thickness  of  about  1,00C 
feet.a 
CLAY  INDUSTRIES. 
The  clay  resources  of  the  quadrangle  consist  of  numerous  beds  o\\ 
shale,  some  of  which  attain  a  thickness  of  80  feet  or  more,  and  art 
exposed  over  an  area  of  many  square  miles.  At  present  the  most  im- 
portant and  the  most  extensively  developed  beds  are  at  Fredonia 
Buxton,  Caney,  Buff  Mound,  Neodesha,  Sycamore,  Table  Moundi 
Independence,  Tyro,  Cherry  vale,  Coffey  ville,  and  northwest  of  Coffey 
ville.  The  abundance  of  natural  gas  in  all  parts  of  the  field  anc 
these  shales  render  the  region  peculiarly  favorable  for  the  develop 
ment  of  clay  industries,  Avhich  include  the  manufacture  of  brick 
roofing  tile,  and  pottery. 
Brick. — Brickmaking  is  one  of  the  most  important  industries.     Tin 
plants  now  working  produce  about  75,000,000  bricks  a  year,  and  hav< 
a  For  a  fuller  statement  on  geology  of  region,  see  pp.  446-44'J,  this  volume. 
546 
