by the fire, he was suddenly startled to
find one chunk of clay was different. For
there it was at last, the white glow of
fireclay, like white gold, in the hot coals.
He had struck it lucky !

Not only did he discover fireclay of
the finest quality, if not the best on this
continent, but he also found immense
seams of many varieties of colour and
texture. No time was wasted—men soon
went to work swinging picks on those
seams.

To most people, clay merely meant one
thing—cursed mud, the sticky stuff that
gummed up the wagon wheels and boots.
Yet it was a fact that back in 1908 clay
products took second place in the United
States to those of agriculture only.

It is no vain saying that some men are
made of finer clay than others, for there
is clay and clay. While some are just
mud, yet there are grades, qualities and
colours which give them high values.

Clay products are booming today, for
housewives have changed their ideas since
1908, and have gone modern. They
clamour for pale green tiled bathrooms,
with built-in green bath tubs.

Brides say they cannot keep house
without a cabinet kitchen, with its porce-
lain fittings and coloured tiles. Think of
the brick buildings and thousands of miles
of drain pipes, too, then you will begin to
grasp the importance that clay plays in
the building up of our province.

Yet within 40 miles of this city, de-
posits were found from which all of these
articles could be made.

Now on Sounp FINANCIAL BAsIs

But those were days when dreams
jelled. This newly discovered clay came
through the severe test of 3200 degrees
Fahrenheit with flying colours. A com-
pany was formed, and works were
erected. The village which sprung up
around it was known as Clayburn, on the
fertile plains of Matsqui.

Son of a Royal Engineer, the discov-
erer learned the rudiments of surveying
from his father. So single-handed, as an
amateur, he accomplished an amazing
undertaking when he brushed and sur-
veyed a road from the railway up to the
mine, at an elevation of 500 feet.

It was a real mine too—drilled with
augers and shot down like any rock mine.
Its peculiar formation of 20 feet of clay,
capped with 5 feet of rock, composed of
granite, quartz and others, was cemented
into a solid mass. Tunnels were drifted
on the level, cross-cutting every dipping
seam, of which one proved to be a coal
seam of 18 inches thick with a parting
of fire clay 6 inches thick—the most
combustible and the least combustible of
minerals lying side by side, with coal im-
bedded in clay, and clay also overlapping
it—proving that fireclay both antedates
and follows the coal period.

This nucleus of a great new indy
in British Columbia began with 9 kifn:
Since then, the company has reorganized
with the plant now at Kilgard. Today
it is the finest and best equipped plant
its kind in Canada. Clayburn firebricks
are a password in post-war construction,
References? Yes, a wave of the hand toe
our skyline. For where would you see
finer brick work than in the beautify]
Marine Building and the new Hote
Vancouver ? 1

To-day, our oldest native son, J. ¢
Maclure, still a geologist at heart, takes
pride in another sample of clay—a super.
fine white china clay which he found ;
the northern part of this province. “As
fine as talcum powder, and as soft a5
silk,” he said* Its discovery would be an —
interesting story, if you could persuade —
him to stop his daily golf game in Stan.
ley Park long enough to tell it.

*Tested by the Dominion Government —

Ceramics Engineer, Department of Mines, |
Ottawa, it is classed as equal to the het |
china clays so far found in North America,
and superior to any others found in Canada,
Its development, now under way, will be
watched with interest.

LADY (at C.I.D.): “Excuse me, Detec
tive, I reported yesterday that my ring
was stolen. Well, it was all a misunder
standing. This morning I found it in my
writing desk.”

Detective: “You're too late, madam.
We've already arrested the thief.” ;

PAUL RAAKE

NOTHING TOO BIG “i

NOTHING TOO SMALL

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PASSENGER SERVICE TO ALL PARTS
ON THE LAKE

Freight and Hauling Trips Arranged
RELIABLE INFORMATION: Phone 26

HARRISON HOT SPRINGS, BRITISH COLUMBIA

BOAT
SERVICE LTD.

IT PAYS
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IN THE
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WILD DUCK INN

HENRY MATTSON, Manager

FULLY LICENSED

NEWLY DECORATED AND REMODELLED
COFFEE BAR AND PRIVATE DINING
ROOM IN CONNECTION

GOOD, COMFORTABLE ROOMS

*

PITT RIVER BRIDGE B.C.

Page Sixty-two

PACIFIC CO-OPERATIVE

UNION

Growers, Packers, Shippers of
High Class Berries, Rhubarb and
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x

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