HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      129

and Otter creek, north of Brazil, but in recent years beds have been opened
nearer to the works. The output averages 50,000 brick a day, or about
150 carloads a month, 24 kilns being operated. The average number of
employes is 100, and the monthly payroll is nearly $5,000.
    This business was established as the Brazil Fire Brick and Sewer
Pipe Company, the principal promoters being J. M., J. E. and David
McDowell of Columbus, Ohio, and W. E. Rhodes and John G. Prendi-
grast of Indianapolis, For the past ten years the plant has been owned
by W. W. Winslow of Indianapolis. P. M. Hildebrand is manager and
Walter Acheson is local superintendent.
    The Weaver Clay and Coal Company was established by D. W.
Weaver, in 1872. For many years it was popularly known as the pump
and tile factory, being the only industry of that kind and hence needing
no more distinctive title. Drain tile was one of its products from the
beginning, but in the manufacture of stone pumps this plant held a
unique position among Brazil industries. The entire pump, except handle,
bolts and suckers, was made of vitrified fire clay, and it is said that some
of these pumps have been in use about Brazil for over thirty years.
In more recent years the company gave its attention to the manufacture
of hollow building blocks. The location of the plant is about a mile
east of Brazil, and just north of the National Road.
    The Continental Clay and Mining Company was established in
1903-04, beginning manufacture in the latter year. Its large plant is
located two miles southeast of Brazil, the three-story building being con-
structed of hollow block, and the equipment being of the latest types of
clay working machinery. Its product is hollow building blocks and
kindred wares, using under clays for its raw material.
    This company was organized by G. Stevenart, William Graves, and
Charles Shannon, of Brazil, with Chicago associates. With about forty
employes and a monthly payroll of about three thousand dollars, it has
been one of the large factors in the clay-working industry of this city.
    The Brazil Clay Company was established in 1905. Their plant,
which was built new and has not yet been, completed to the capacity
which its owners have planned, is located about a mile west of the
water works. Its product is “impervious face brick,” for building pur-
poses, and the present capacity of the sixteen kilns is 50,000 brick, or
five carloads a day. Seventy-five men are employed, and the monthly
payroll is about four thousand dollars. The clay is mined through a
shaft from, a depth of 110 feet. Some of the output of this plant has
been shipped as far as New Hampshire, Denver and Canada.
    The company at its organization consisted of William M. Zeller,
president, Joseph Martin, vice president, W. J. Snyder, secretary-treas-
urer, and A. R. Zimmerman, manager. J. H. McClelland has since
become vice president, and Thomas S. Rouse, manager.
    The Sheridan Brick Works, north of Brazil, near the C. & E. I.
Railroad, were established in 1898. This is the principal plant at Brazil
for the making of ordinary building brick, the raw materials being shale
and the surface clays. The industry from the beginning has been more
than a local factory, and a large part of the brick made is shipped to the
Indianapolis market. The annual output of this plant is between 1500
and 2000 carloads, and the monthly wages paid to nearly a hundred
employes averages about $4,000.

    vol. 1—9