Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/683

 BRICK MAKING. 557 management of Nathaniel F. Potter, its President, purchased a large tract of land on both branches of the Mouscochiick and began the manufacture of brick by machinery and steam power. This Company made a canal of the creek, with locks at its mouth, and freighted the brick to Providence and other markets on large scows, propelled by steamboats and tugs. French Canadians were employed as laborers, who came to Barrington in the spring and left for their homes in the autumn. In the course of the business the Nayatt Brick Company was reincorporated as the Narragansett Brick Company, with a capital stock of $225,000. Mr. Earl C. Potter, son of N. F. Potter, was super- intendent of the works, and Hon. L. B. Smith was purchasing agent of the Company. Mr. Potter estimates that the two companies made and sold fifteen hundred millions of brick between 1S4S and 1S90. The New England Steam Brick Company was organized in 1890, and purchased a large tract of land at Barrington Centre, at first, for their ■works, and later the property of the Narragansett Brick Company. This company now owns the whole body of clay beds between Naj'att and Barrington Centre, and makes brick at both the old and new locations. The manufactories of the Company are presented in a picture on another page, giving as it does a more complete idea than words can, of the extent of this great industry. This Company reached a maximum of sixty- seven millions of brick a year in 1897, a product three times larger than any other factory of its kind in England. The quality of brick ranges from common to the best pressed brick, selling in the market from S7 to $15 a thousand. The kilns are burned by the use of coal and oil. Boston capital is employed and Boston men conduct the business with a main oflfice in Providence, R, I., and branch offices in the large cities. Mr. William G. Titcomb is President, and J. H. Collier, Treasurer. Among the directors are John Shepard, Albert A. Pope, and A. C. Titcomb of Boston. The Company pays taxes in Barrington on an assessed valua- tion of $180,000. A wonderful surprise would greet the veteran brick- maker, Matthew Watson, could he return to see the growth of an in- dustry, started by him in the early years of the iSth century, and now carried on after methods so unlike the hand processes of 1725, and in- creased to a magnitude almost incredible to the people of the modern era and ideas. Salt Works. During the Revolution salt works were established on land now owned by Mr. John Jenckes, north of Mouscochuck Creek. A pond was exca- vated on Little Island, on the shore of the Bay, which filled at spring tides, and from it the water was pumped to evaporating vats on the land south of Mr. Jenckes' house. The business was probably carried on by Capt. Matthew Allin, as the works were on his farm. How long the manufacture of salt was continued after the war is not known, but proba- bly not long, as salt could be obtained from Turk's Island much cheaper than it could be produced here.