Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/709

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTS 621 Goodhue township, where it is found a Jew feet under the sur- face, underlying a rougher clay, is brought by ears over the Line of the Great Western, and emptied into the clay pit. It is then ground and mixed with water to a proper consistency. The milk pans are made in moulds, while the majority of other arti- cles are turned on wheels and lathes and shaped by the hands and lingers of the workmen. The ware is then dried, and after- ward dipped in a solution of glazing chemically prepared, thus giving to the product a smooth, hard glaze, impervious to acids. The process is completed by the burning in the kilns. During the period of the greatest heat, rock salt is thrown onto the fire, glazing the outside of the ware. It is then ready for shipment. The ware has been widely introduced and has a reputation for sterling merit which speaks well for the honesty of its manu- facture. The North Star Stoneware Company was organized in the early nineties and continued in operation several years. It was then absorbed by the Minnesota and Red Wing Stoneware Com- panies and the machinery removed to the older plants. After lying idle for some time, the plant was purchased by Henry W. Woolner, of Peoria, who started to remodel it for a malting plant. In 1900 the plant w 7 as purchased by the Minnesota Malting Company, who completed the alterations. Red Wing Sewer Pipe Company. With the increase of the pottery business in Red Wing, the question of the disposal of the coarse clay overlying the finer potters' clay became a most important one. This coarse clay is of practically the same geo- logic formation as the potters' clay, but somewhat stained with iron rust and other foreign material, thus unfitting it for the finer ware. Originally this clay was cleared off, thrown to one side, and then shoveled back into the excavation after the finer clay was removed. This involved w T aste, expense and inconven- ience. As this problem increased, it occurred to several prudent minds that the coarser clay might be made into sewer pipe. To this end various experiments were made, and in 1890 the first sewer pipe in Red Wing being turned out by George Cook at the potteries, and placed on exhibition in the wdndow of the Pierce, Simmons & Co. Bank, with the inscription, originated in the mind of John H. Rich, one of the officials at the potteries, "Red Wing Sewer Pipe, Why Not?" From this piece of pipe, three feet long, the present large industry has grown. In October, 1891, the Red Wing Sewer Pipe Company was incorporated, with E. H. Blodgett, president; F. W. Hoyt, secre- tary; Frederick Busch, treasurer; C. E. Sheldon, superintendent. Mr. Sheldon was the moving spirit in this organization of the company and became manager of the new concern. The factory