Box 7, Folder 7: Correspondence 1846-1847

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2 often express surprise that our brick houses are all painted of the same color! This color, (or rather the absence of redness) had been ascertained to the owing to the almost entire absence of iron in the composition of the clay; iron being the coloring matter of red brick.

By inquiry at the different yards it is ascertained that the number of brick made during the past season is about 8,788,000 which have been delivered in the city at prices varying from $3.50 to $5.00 per thousand; the average price being about $4.00. It appears then that about $35,000 worth of brick have been manufactured at this place in 1847. The business gives constant employment to about 125 men and 24 teams. About 200,000 pressed brick have been exported, during the year to Chicago, Sheboggern, and other ports on Lake Michigan; and as they become better known, and as cheaper modes of making them all introduced, there is no doubt but that the exportation of brick from Milwaukee will, at no distant day become a very considerable item of trade. The modern improvements in brick =

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3 making by machinery have not yet been introduced here. When this is done they can be afforded at a much cheaper rate and still allow an equal amount of profit to the manufacturer.

The clay from which these brick are made is very pure and fine. An admixture of one part of sand to two of clay is necessary to prepare it for the purpose of brick=making. Its geological character and position is peculiarly interesting; it being of lacistine origin and subsequent to the great drift or boulder period. It is found in very thin regular, uniform layer; thus indicating a deposit from still water. A period of quiet must have succeeded the great convulsions (whatever they may have been) that scattered the boulders of primitive, trappose and other rocks, with fragments of native copper +c. from the north over the whole country, as far south as the Ohio river. During this first period of quiet, the water of the Great Lakes must have stood at a much greater elevation than at present; ; or what amounts to the same thing the land may have been at a lower level. The

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To the editors of the Sentinal & Gazette-

As much attention has been directed during the past season to the subject of our beautiful, cream colored Milwaukee Brick it is [I have thought] probable that your readers would be interested in some statistical and other information on the subject. By inquiry at the several yards it is found [illegible] the number made during the past season amounts to 8,788,000 which have been delivered in the city at prices varying from $3.50 to $5.00 per thousand; the average price being about $4.00- It appears then that about $35000 worth of brick have been manufactured in Milwaukee during the year 1847.

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The brick making business gives employment to about 125 men and 24 teams. About 200,000 brick have been exported to Chicago and other ports on Lake Michigan; and as they become better known and as cheaper modes of brick making are introduced there is no doubt but that the exportation of brick form Milwaukee will become a very considerable item of trade. The modern improvements in Brick making by machinery have not yet been introduced here. When this is done they can be afforded at a much cheaper rate, and still allow of an equal amount of profit to the manufacturer. Its effect upon the improvement of the place would be very great.

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The clay from which these bricks are made is very pure and requires an admixture of about one part of sand to two parts of clay to prepare it for the purpose of brick making. It is found in every thin regular layers, indicating that it was deposited in still water. To those who are familiar with the now popular + important science of geology these clay beds possess a very peculiar interest, as indicating a period of quiet succeeding the confrultaions that scattered the boulders of primitive [???] rocks (with fragments of native copper +c.) from the north over the country as far south as the Ohio river. During this period of quiet the waters of our lakes must have stood at an elevation far above their present levels, and the action of their waves upon the shores has produced the deposits which now afford the material for brick making. Deposits of a similar character must still be in the process of formations in the depths of Lake Michigan as any one may satisfy himself by a little observation; and as this is a subject of much interest to geologists at the present time I will enter more fully upon it here. Should you wish to pursue the subject still more in detail you are referred to an article in Silliman's Journal Vol 3 page 90, where

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John Madbury Esq There appears to be due on your ??? base $50. on Mar 31. and $200. on Sept 30, to which I wish you would give your immediate attention.

Dec 3. 1847 Byron Kilborne Pr.

Young mens associates??? Dec 29. 1847

Increase A Lapham Esq Milwaukee