FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO (PART 6) *************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by LeaAnn Rich leaann1@bellsouth.net January 14, 1999 *************************************************************************** HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO An Encyclopedia of the State By HENRY HOWE LL. D. Published by the State of Ohio C.J. Krehbiel & Co., Printers and Binders Cincinnati, Ohio copyright 1888 by Henry Howe 1904 TILE DRAINAGE IN OHIO Drainage is all important to the welfare of an agricultural region, alike vital to the fertility of its soil and the health of its inhabitants. A large tract of the Northwestern Ohio long ago known as "the Black Swamp Region", covering the area of several counties, has been reclaimed by a system of open ditches and converted into an area of surprising fertility; of this we give details elsewhere. We here present an article from FRANK HENRY HOWE upon the Tile Drainage of the State. The magnitude of this industry and its value to the commonwealth is such that by so doing we think we do a public service and enhance the value of this work. Although drain tile was made by hand in Rome, and in France some two centuries since, Ohio was one of the first States in the Union to develop to any extent this valuable industry. About the year 1810 drain tile was made at Netherby, in Northumberland, England. It was called horseshoe tile, being shaped like a horseshoe, instead of cylindrical, and was laid with the opening at the bottom. This was then considered the new plus ultra of drain tile, and for thirty years there was no improvement on this pattern. At a very early date Mr. Johnston, in New York State, did much to call the attention of the farmers to the value of tile draining, by his published writings, and experiments on his own farm. He is frequently called "The Father of Tile Drainage in America". Some time previous to Mr. Johnston’s efforts Dr. N.S. Townshend, then a youth in his teens, who had seen during his boyhood days spent in England the benefits derived from drainage, succeeded in introducing it in Lorain County. In 1832 horseshoe tile were made by hand at Avon, Lorain county, Ohio. In 1843 a machine for the manufacture of pipe tile was invented by John Read and exhibited by him at the county fair of Derbyshire, England. About 1857, Mr. Canfield, who made the best horseshoe tile in Connecticut, removed to Milford Center, Union county, Ohio, and there manufactured horseshoe tile until his decease about 1869. A Mr. Miner also operated a small tile factory at Columbus. The only tile machines made at this date were those manufactured by A. La Tourette, of Waterloo, New York, and Mattice & Penfield, of Willoughby, Ohio, who also manufactured tile. These men did not meet with any great success financially, but they were the pioneers in educating the people. At the close of the rebellion W.S. Postle, of Prairie, and S.J. Woolley, of Brown township, Franklin county, Ohio, were the first to establish tile factories, which have been run successfully ever since, and are now large establishments. Since their establishment many others have been started in different parts of the state until at the present time there are over five hundred factories in successful operation in Ohio. The first improvement over the horseshoe pattern was made by adding a bottom piece, called the sole tile, to the opening in the horseshoe. These improved tile were extensively used until superseded by the cylindrical pattern, which is the only kind of drain tile now manufactured. Improvements in machinery, kilns and manipulation have brought these to a high degree of perfection and at a very low cost. The output of these five hundred factories per annum is six and a half million rods, worth at the present low prices about two million dollars. In 1880 J.J. Billingsley, of Indianapolis, commenced the publication of the "Drainage Journal", and distributed a large amount of literature on drainage, which has had a very great influence in extending the use of tile, educating the people on this important subject of drainage. It is somewhat singular that with the material developments which have taken place within the last half century that the remarkable value of drainage from an economical as well as sanitary standpoint has not sooner attracted the attention of the people. Its first disciples met with opposition and ridicule, but they soon turned the laugh on their tormentors, as its value was so apparent in the results that the unbelievers hastened to benefit by the example. Nevertheless, although the developments of drainage within the past decade have been remarkable, it is but in its infancy as yet. Mr. J.M. Harrison, of Scio, Ohio, in an able article on the "Past, Present and Future of Tile Drainage in Ohio" read before the Ohio Tile and Drainage Association, and published in the "Drainage Journal", says, "No accurate estimate of the number of tile used in Ohio has ever been made. We estimate that between two hundred and fifty and three hundred millions of tile have been used. This seems like a vast sum, yet it is only large enough to drain a little over three hundred thousand acres of land, or about one-eightieth of the entire State. It would seem then that tile drainage was only in its infancy, for these figures show that all the drainage that has been done would only be equal to about one county, leaving the other eighty-seven counties to be drained. We must bear in mind, however, that a considerable portion of our State is naturally underdrained. Then the woodland and other portions which it is safe to assume will never be drained reduce the above figures to about one-half. If we assume that one-fortieth of the drainage is done and that we have been thirty years in doing it, the figures would indicate that we would be twelve hundred years in completing the work in Ohio. The fact is, however, that nearly all the draining in the State has been done since 1880. The "Drainage Journal" estimates that there was as much draining in 1882 as had been done in all the years prior to 1880. The most reasonable conclusion is that there will be plenty of work for a few tile factories in every county in the State for the next fifty years. Much of the draining is so poorly done that it will be necessary to do it over again in the future. It is evident from a study of the agricultural reports of this State that tile drainage has been in progress in a few counties for quite a number of years, and we also find in a great many counties tile drainage has only been very recently introduced, and that there are a few counties that have no tile factories at all." While it is generally supposed that only wet and swampy lands are benefited by drainage it has been clearly demonstrated that the productiveness of almost all land is so increased as to more than pay within a few seasons for the cost. Land with a gravelly subsoil has more or less natural drainage and is not benefited to the same extent as land with a clayey subsoil. The remarkable fertility of the soil of England, "the garden spot of the world," is largely due to the extensive system of drainage there in use. Ditching is a primitive method of draining, which in its results falls far short of the efficiency of tile, and in itself prevents its extended use by preventing the cultivation of a considerable part of the land intended to be benefited; therefore all reference to drainage in this article relates to the use of tiles. Upon the invitation of its proprietor we visited the tile factory of S.J. Woolley near Hilliards, to learn something of the methods of manufacture. The material used is a slate-colored fire-clay, of which abundant quantities are found throughout the State of Ohio adapted to the manufacture of drain tile, although differing somewhat in quality. When taken from the bank it contains more or less moisture according to the location of the bank and the humidity of the season. The clay used at Mr. Wooley’s factory when taken from the bank has about the consistency of putty and requires neither drying out nor moisture, excepting in very dry seasons, when it is sometimes necessary to make it sufficiently pliable for working. The clay is taken from the bank to the factory near by, and fed into the hoppers of the large tile machines, which are run by steam power. From the hopper it passes into a large iron cylinder in which revolve a series of blades which cut and knead the clay, forcing it out at the base in the shape of a continuous clay cylinder, varying in diameter according to the size of the die then in use in the machine. These dies range in size from three to eighteen inches. The cylinder of clay as it is forced from the machine comes out horizontally, and is cut off with a wire in lengths of from twelve to fifteen inches. One of Mr. Woolley’s tile machines, however, forces out the clay cylinder perpendicularly; this is a recent improvement and prevents the collapsing of the soft clay tile as sometimes occurs with large sizes by reason of their own weight. After the tile come from the machine they are placed on a tram car and run into long wooden buildings; here they are placed on a series of slatted shelves, which are so arranged as to allow a free circulation of air, as from one to two weeks drying out is necessary, depending upon the weather, before they can be burned in the kilns. The smaller or three-inch tile are placed horizontally, but the larger sizes all stand on end. When the tile have dried out sufficiently they are conveyed by tram car to the kiln preparatory to burning or, more properly, firing. These kilns are huge bee-hive-like structures, built of fire-brick and similar to those used in pottery establishments. Projecting from the base at regular intervals are four stubs, as they are called, these stubs consist of a fire-place; grate and ash-pit, and are the furnaces from which the heat passes into the kiln. About five feet from the base of the kiln is an opening large enough for the easy entrance of a man, through which access is had to the interior of the kiln. The tram car loaded with the unbaked tile is run up to this entrance and the tile passed in for packing. The floor of the interior is made of fire-brick and constructed like a grate, so that the flame, heat and smoke pass upward through the kiln. The tile are packed closely together, standing on end and nested; that is, the small tile are placed within those of larger diameter. Layer after layer of tile are placed on top of each other until the kiln is filled, when the entrance is built up with brick and plaster and the fires started. The fires, which are fed with either wood or coal, are kept low and allowed to smoke and smolder until such moisture as remains in the tile after the atmospheric drying has been driven out; when this has been accomplished they are freely plied with fuel, and when a white heat has been reached, usually in about forty-eight hours, and discernible by means of small apertures in the sides of the kiln, the firing is complete and the fires are allowed to burn out. The smoke, flame and heat pass up through the kiln, come into direct contact with the tile, and are then conducted by means of flues down to the base and into a smoke stack some thirty or forty feet high and built a few feet apart from the kiln. This arrangement allows of a more perfect combustion of fuel and more equal distribution of heat. After the fires have died out several days elapse before the kiln is opened, that the contents may cool gradually, as a sudden cooling would crack the tile. When taken from the kiln the tile are a bright red in color, with a metallic ring when struck, and almost as durable as time itself, inasmuch as there has been no product of man which has stood the test of time as fire-baked clay. The farm of Mr. Woolley, on which his factory is situated, is a fine example of the efficacy of tile drainage. Originally a wooded swamp, upon a large part of which water stood the whole year round, it is now one of the most productive farms in Franklin County. When Mr. Woolley first purchased this farm his friends doubted his sanity, others pitied his folly, but now none doubt his wisdom, and the tile factory, originally built for his own private uses, supplies the country for miles around and has converted what was formerly looked upon as waste land into about the most fertile in the county. "He who makes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before is a benefactor to his race." How much more must one be "who makes two blades of grass to grow where none grew before." That drainage is a benefit to low marshy lands is evident to the commonest understanding, but that it should be of any great value to land already surface dry is not very comprehensive to a very large proportion of our population. The soil is the medium for the growth of plants, but does not in itself furnish all of the elements which develop their growth. Carbonic acid and ammonia, which are diffused in small quantities through the atmosphere, are brought down to the soil by rain. Upon undrained land these plant foods pass off with the surface water; on drained and pourous soils they are absorbed. Drain the land and give these elements free access to the plants. When rain falls on elevated land it packs the surface of the soil, finds its way to its lowest level and, unless it can penetrate through the soil, runs off in streams and rivulets; the sun comes out, dries, then bakes and hardens the surface of the soil which the water has not penetrated because it could find no outlet beneath it. To a certain degree we overcome this with the plow and harrow; but, in raising a crop on this land, the roots of the plants only penetrate to about the depth the plow has furrowed and only draw sustenance from that part of the soil. Let us drain this land. Now the rain falls, percolates through the soil and finds an outlet through the drain, the soil becomes porous like sponge and like a sponge holds a large part of the moisture, the sun shines again and, when the surface moisture has been absorbed, a fresh supply is drawn from the porous soil by capillary attraction, so that, instead of baking the surface, the soil is kept moist, is lifted by the capillary forces set into action by the sun and becomes mellow and easily worked. Less water has flowed from this land during the rain since it was drained than before; a larger part of it remains in the soil, which has now become a reservoir from which to draw as the plants require. That this is the effect of draining has been proven in every case where drainage has been tried. In a valuable article on the "Philosophy of Tile Drainage" read by Mr. W. J. Chamberlin before the Ohio Tile Convention held at Columbus. Feb. 8, 1881, he thus summarizes the benefits of tile drainage: 1. Tile drainage deepens the soil, and gives the roots more feeding ground. 2. It helps pulverize the ground and thus to unlock its fertility so that the minute roots may drink it in. 3. It prevents surface wash and consequent and often great waste of fertility. 4. It dispenses with open ditches, which are not so good and are a great hindrance in cultivating and harvesting crops. 5. It lengthens the season of tillage and matures the crop before frost. It largely prevents winter-killing of wheat and the heaving of clover and other roots by frost. 6. It saves labor by making tillage and pulverization easier. 7. It supplies air to the roots and promotes the absorption of vapor and of fertilizing matters from the air and the rains and the snows. 8. It prevents the chilling effects from the thawing of ice and the evaporation of water, and this and other ways warms the soil. Water warms rapidly when heat is applied from beneath, but very slowly when it is applied from above. Hence it is impossible for the sun from above to warm a saturated soil. (It has been ascertained by experiment in England that soil tile-drained is ten degrees warmer seven inches below the surface than the same kind of soil without drains.) 9. Drainage improves the quality as well as the quantity of crops. Especially is this true of apples and of root crops like potatoes. 10. It is a great help in the harvest of corn, and especially of root crops in a wet fall. Without the tile drainage, indeed, it is almost impossible on clayey soil. 11. It improves the health of crops and even prevents potato rot, which may occur on undrained soil. 12. It greatly improves the health of man and beast in many localities. 13. It greatly increases the crops, other things being equal. 14. But it should not be forgotten that tile-drainage is not needed on lands that have a gravel or porous sub-soil, and that even on soils that do need it drainage is only the basis for good farming, and will not pay unless followed by good farming."