Village of Kaolin visited, description of Southern Porcelain

[FOR THE COURIER.]

The Village or Kaolin.

The writer recently paid a visit to this growing little village, and was greatly surprised to see the wonderful results which have been accomplished there, within a short period, by the combined agency of capital and enterprise. Kaolin, as your readers are probably aware, is the site selected by the Southern Porcelain Manufacturing Company for the development of one of the moat important resources of our State. There are several different varieties of clay here, the supply of which is almost inexhaustible, and from which is manufactured every description of crockery ware. The various processes through which it passes in the Factory, from the first deposit of the raw material into the reservoirs, thence into vessels for sifting and glazing, and through the fiery ordeal of two vast and intensely heated furnaces, for hardening and purifying, placing in the moulds, of which there are all conceivable shapes, sizes and patterns, and the final perfecting and finishing, by means of machinery and dexterous manipulation, are exceedingly interesting to the novice in such matters.

To describe them each in detail, would require more technical knowledge and experience than I can lay claim to at present. Our party were indebted to the very kind attentions of Mr. Charles C. Perry, the courteous gentleman in charge of the warehouse department, for a delightful day spent in examination of the Factory and its chaste specimens of work. The present proprietors of this fine establishment are Messrs. Clark, Hol­man, Farrow and Turpin, all staunch businessmen, of ample means and untiring energy. Two of these gentlemen are connected in the owner­ship of a large warehouse in Augusta, Georgia, which is the principal market for the Factory. They make extensive shipments of their clay to the North, and supply many of the largest facto­ries there with it. Mr. Clark is the active Di­rector at the Factory. There are some forty or fifty persons employed, most of whom have had long experience in the business elsewhere.

Kaolin is situated within a mile and a half of the Bath Paper Mills, on the South Carolina Rail Road, four miles from Hamburg, and twelve miles from Aiken. The location is healthy, and in many respects well adapted for its purposes. Ad­jacent to the Factory are the dwellings of the ope­ratives, neat one story cottages, well arranged, and presenting an aspect of comfort and content­ment. A new and very neat Episcopal Church, of Gothic form, has been erected through the ef­forts of the Company and some of the residents of the village, capable of accommodating 150 to 200 persons. Rev. Mr. Downing is at present officiating as pastor.

Both white and black labor are enlisted in the Factory, and the alacrity and cheerfulness with which they all go about their respective tasks, indicates that the two classes can, with good management, be employed together, with advantage. Especially were we all delighted with the per­formances of the negros, who appeared determin­ed effectually to drive away dull care with their inimitable drolleries in the shape of songs, witticisms and gymnastics, which served to lighten their day’s labor and inspire them with fresh zeal in the execution of their tasks.

I am unwilling, Messrs. Editors, to intrude upon your kindness any farther, but my recollec­tions of a day at Kaolin are so pleasant and gratifying, that I cannot forbear advising those of your readers who may visit Aiken or Augusta this summer, not to lose the opportunity of such a rich and rare treat, as an inspection of this beautiful Factory, the only one of its kind in the State.                               H.