HomeMy WebLinkAboutBricks and StonesBricks and Stones, or the Dynamite Horror
If anyone is really interested in the history of brick making in Brazos
County, the Cushing Library has the diary of a Methodist minister named
W.S. South, who also made bricks commercially. From memory, this diary
covers the 1860s through roughly 1890, and provides some interesting
information about how a small scale brick maker worked in a central)
Texas county. Again, from memory, South's bricks were mostly used for
such things as lining graves, building cisterns, or for making
foundation columns for wood frame houses.
If someone knows a serious student looking for a history fair project,
one interesting topic would be the quarries around Millican. There are
some good (albeit lurid) pieces of information here, and I suspect the
folks in the Millican Heritage Society could help the student with some
additional oral history, and probably also take the student to where the
quarries were located, so the student could get some photographs ...
Just a thought.
***
Roemer, Ferdinand, °Contributions to the Geology of Texas,"
American Journal of Science, series 2, vol.6, pages 21-28 (1848).
°While on a tour to the upper Brazos, I discovered in the
neighborhood of the town of Caldwell, strata of ferruginous sandstone
with numerous and well preserved tertiary shells. Crossing afterwards
the Brazos not far from this town, I had a still better opportunity to
see this formation along the steep banks of the river. It consists of
alternating strata of brown ferruginous sandstone and of dark colored
plastic clay, both teeming with fossils ...."
We have received a specimen of a mineral found near the residence of
the Hon. Millican, on the Navisoto, which so closely resembles chalk,
that it would readily be mistaken for that mineral. It makes a plain,
even mark like chalk, and is so soft that it soils the fingers. Large
beds of it are found on the Navisoto. We mentioned some weeks since
that a large bed of this mineral had been found near the sulphur spring
on that stream. We understand that thousands of tons of it can be
procured. It can be readily levigated so as to form a fine white powder
like Spanish whiting, and like that article would probably answer to
form putty or a coarse paint. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register,
20 September 1849, page 2
Brazos -The Telegraph has received a specimen of lignite from that
county. It is of a bright lustrous black, and more bituminous than
ordinary specimens. Galveston Weekly News, 27 September 1859, page 3
Bryan ... Carpenters seem to be plenty, and there are two brick machines,
which will soon turn out brick ad infinitum .... Galveston Daily News,
18 April 1867, page 2.
°The rapid growth of Bryan created a demand for bricks while the
fairly good clay in the vicinity furnished the material with which to
make them. Between the years 1870 and 1875 four kilns were put in
operation. The men owning these kilns were T.R. Dean, W.D. Morse, and
J.B. Conway." (Marshall, Elmer G., History of Brazos County, Texas,
masters thesis, University of Texas, 1937, page 102, citing an interview
with H.O. Boatright, Bryan, 1 July 1931)
We learn that the down passenger train yesterday morning ran off the
track at the quarry, near Millican. All the cars off. Two hurt. A
freight train is also off, which will delay the arrival of the up
passenger train until some time Friday evening. Galveston Daily News,
23 December 1870, page 3
°Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas," Galveston Daily
News, 23 July 1871. °Some two thousand acres are prairie and the
remainder wooded, chiefly post-oak land. Along the ravines and valleys,
elm, hackberry, persimmon, water and pin-oak and grape grow. The soil
is all good, some excellent, of the quality known as black sandy
prairie,' with post-oak openings', partly of like quality, but
more sandy. On the Rector farm about thirty acres of corn is now
maturing that will yield some forty bushels of corn per acre, without
any special cultivation. The field is on the highest summit and
thinnest soil of the tract. The charge that it is poor land is unjust
and unfounded. The whole tract is what is called rolling land, neither
level nor hilly, and no waste land on it ... There are no perennial
streams of water on the land, nor would it have been easy to secure
such, without a loss of some one of the great advantages possessed by
this central locality. Pools, which abound in this vicinity and are
easily constructed, and cisterns must supply all the water needed. A
careful examination has proven that the great wish of the Commissioners
may be accomplished, and the buildings erected of stone. Two kinds are
found, the white and gray sand stone, in many localities within three to
ten miles, and the red sand stone or ferruginous brown sand rock, within
five to fifteen miles, and both near to the railroad. Brick has been
made of pretty good quality, on the lands, within half a mile of the
College site, but I am not ready to recommend it. At about two and a
half miles southeast there is ample brick earth of the best quality
°Harvey Mitchell had begun the operation of a small planing mill in
1867, a business which rapidly expanded because of the increased demand
for his lumber. In the early seventies, W.R. King erected a sawmill
near Bryan, and carried on a brick business for several years."
(Marshall, Elmer G., History of Brazos County, Texas, masters thesis,
University of Texas, 1937, page 98, citing an interview with H.O.
Boatright, Bryan, 1 July 1932)
We have received the following P.S. from Mr. J. Lamour, from Bryan,
Texas, viz.: We have the Agricultural and Mechanical College all nicely
started with about forty-five hands at work making brick, laying
foundations and (unless blockaded by railroad) will have eighty hands at
work in less than two weeks ... Austin Daily Journal, 20 September 1873,
page ?
Bryan ... A substance resembling coal has been discovered in digging a
well on Col. Loughbridge's place, near town. It burns, but not so
freely as ordinary coal. Galveston Daily News, 20 April 1880, page 1
H.H.D. [Hardaway Hunt Dinwiddie], °Undulations in Clay Deposits,"
Science, 3 (61): 404 (4 April 1884). °A ditch about two feet deep,
and running nearly east and west, on the grounds of this college,
presents a profile as if the clay (which is of unknown depth) had been
shaped into undulations, with crests from eight to fifteen feet apart,
and then covered uniformably by the sandy soil, which over the crests is
about two or three inches deep, and in the troughs about two feet at
most. The strike' of the crests is nearly north and south. This
peculiar formation has been observed over a large area of country in
this vicinity. A surface peculiarity is the occurrence, at intervals of
one or two hundred yards on the prairies, of low mounds a foot or two
high, usually covered with dewberry briers. West of this place, in
Milam and Williamson counties, the nearly level prairies are mammillary,
with slight elevations eight or ten feet apart, present the appearance
of old tobacco or potato hills on a gigantic scale. These appearances,
visible from the cars, excite the curiosity of all who observe them; and
a plausible theory of their cause might not only gratify this, but lead
to some very important discoveries in dynamical geology. For these
reasons I desire to present this problem to your geological readers;
and, if it has already been solved, my apology for ignorance of the
solution must be that I am not a geologist. H.H.D. Agricultural and
Mechanical College of Texas, College Station.
Otto Braatz has on his place in the suburbs of Bryan several acres of a
gritty earth of Venetian red color, that is thought to be the genuine
article for making a superior quality of mineral paint. The find
promises to be a rich one. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 9 January 1890, page
5
Bryan, Tex., Aug. 13 - Mr. Kennedy, assistant state geologist, who
has been for some time working in Brazos County, reports that his labors
are about completed. He says that among other things, he notices
unusual amounts of fossil remains. These were found near the line
dividing Grimes and Brazos Counties. He also reports large deposits of
lime and sandstone. Dallas Morning News, 15 August 1892, page 6
Dumble, Edwin T., Fourth Annual Report of the Geological Survey of
Texas, 1892. Contains information about Brazos County, including
quarries, clay, lignite, wells, etc. Cushing Library /Texas &
Borderlands 557 / T355a (also available on the Internet): Pages 55-56:
The building stones are almost altogether confined to the hard gray
sandstones of the Wellborn beds. Small deposits of a coarse, soft,
brown colored sandstone occur on the McMillan and Williams headright,
about four miles west of Bryan, but these deposits are of comparatively
little value. Isolated patches of gray sandstone occur on the James
Hope league, and on the Sam Davidson league much larger deposits occur.
These have been quarried in the neighborhood of Wellborn and Minter
Springs for building purposes. In the Rock Prairie region, on the
Stephenson and Robertson leagues, as well as on the N. Clampett
headright, deposits of aclose-grained, firm sandstone occur, which can
be obtained in blocks of large size and admit of fine dressing. A
quarry on the N. Clampett headright supplied the foundation stones for
some of the Agricultural and Mechanical College buildings a number of
years ago. Coarse gray calcareous sandstones of the Navasota beds occur
in great quantities in the neighborhood of Barker's prairie. They
belong to the same grade as those in the region around Navasota, in
Grimes County, and are very little used. The clays of the county are
generally of little value. Brick earths occur at many places, but
except at Bryan, no brick making is carried on. Three small yards are
in operation in the town of Bryan, and so far as can be ascertained
their whole output does not exceed 500,000 to 750,000 bricks annually.
Peter Winter's yard -This is the most extensive yard in the city.
The bricks are made on a New Quaker horse-powered machine having a daily
capacity of 10,000. The bricks are dried under cover and burned
altogether by wood. This yard employs thirteen hands and represents a
capital of $3000. The total output for the season of 1892 was 600,000.
No bricks are repressed. B.H. Knowles' yard -This is a small yard,
employing only a few men. The bricks are hand made and dried on yard.
The capital invested does not exceed $1000. Lawrence Conway's yard
- This is the smallest yard in the district, and is not worked
regularly. The bricks are hand made, and are dried on the yard, and the
total output of 1892 was one kiln of about 100,000. The bricks made in
these yards are dark brown in color and of only a medium hardness. They
may be classed as a fair grade of No. 2 brick. The other clays found in
the county are of no economic value.
°The Finest in the Land," Dallas Morning News, 22 November 1892,
page 6. °Mr. Koppe has in this tract of land 6000 acres ...On these
premises are 72 renter houses, well built and comfortable; built of
native woods, sawed on the plantation, with brick chimneys made of brick
burned also on the place ... Two artesian wells supply the barns and stock
with water, while the third well is being sunk now and is down about 750
feet and is the largest well in the bottom. Surface wells supply water
for the tenants."
The grading for the railroad to Dunlap's quarry, three miles from
Millican, is progressing rapidly and will be completed this week. The
output of rock will be seventy-five cars a day. Expert quarrymen who
saw the rock deem it the hardest sand rock in the State. It is a blue
rock, as fine and hard as marble and would take on a very fine polish.
(weekly) Bryan Eagle, 26 September 1895, page 6
°H. & T.C. Railroad," Dallas Morning News, 22 March 1896, page 10.
°Last year a spur from the Houston and Texas Central was built from
Millican, two miles southwest to a noted quarry of hard blue sandstone,
which is now being largely used in the jetty works at Galveston. This
stone is all shipped from Millican, and the opening up of the quarry is
a matter of considerable importance to the town."
License for a new saloon to be opened at the Millican rock quarry was
secured here yesterday. Bryan Daily Eagle, 8 April 1896, page 4
°Another Tragedy; A Man Killed and a Woman Shot," Bryan Daily
Eagle, 9 April 1896, page 1
°Harrowing Details of the Millican Murder and Suicide," Bryan Daily
Eagle, 10 April 1896, page 1. °The family of old Mr. Brooks was
originally from Iowa."
A Dynamite Horror -Millican, Brazos Co., Tex., April 9 - A
horrible crime was enacted at the depot this morning as the north-bound
passenger hove up at 2 o'clock. It beggars description. Arthur
Worrall, a young man, engineer at the Green and Oliver quarry, and Miss
Mollie Brooks, the only daughter of old man Brooks, the powder man at
the quarry, came to town just before the time for the train and
purchased tickets for Bryan, where they expected to be married. Just as
the young lady reached the car platform, she was shot from the opposite
side of the car, the ball taking effect in the right breast, killing her
instantly. Mr. Worrall had assisted her on the train and was on the top
step when the fatal shot was fired. The young lady fell back in his
arms and exclaimed: °Oh, my God, Arthur, papa has killed me."
Worrall stepped on the platform and while laying the dead girl down was
shot once in the throat, inflicting a dangerous wound. The girl never
spoke after the first exclamation and was evidently dead when she
reached the platform. Parties from the quarry say that the old man was
very angry when he left with a 44 Colt's Winchester, swearing he would
do that which he did. After the shooting he returned to the quarry,
told some of the residents of his bloody work, then went to the powder
magazine, got twenty dynamite cartridges, went 150 yards south of the
store and within fifty yards of his residence, where seven of his
motherless children were asleep, laid down on the dynamite and touched
off the fuse that sent his soul to meet that of his only girl, whom he
in a moment of madness had robbed of life. Only a few pieces of him
were left. Both feet, his head, arms and small piece of his spinal
column were picked up 200 yards from the place of the explosion. His
hat and both pants pockets were found 150 yards away. The ground for at
least 200 yards was literally covered with pieces of his flesh and
bones. He was about 50 years old, came originally from Iowa and has
followed blasting for years. Arthur Worrall lived at Quarry Station,
near Brenham, where he has parents. At present, Worrall is at Mr. J.
Holliday's and resting well. The dead girl was picked up by friends
and carried to the resident of Dr. J.F. Eaves, from which place she will
be buried this evening. Brooks leaves a family of seven boys, the
youngest 6 years old. Dallas Morning News, 10 April 1896, page 5
Bryan, Brazos Co., Tex., April 9 -The terrible killing of Miss
Mollie Brooks at Millican by her father and his subsequent suicide has
been the topic here to-day. The harrowing details are almost without
parallel. The young lady and her lover, Arthur Worrall, were eloping to
Bryan when overtaken at the Millican depot by her father just as they
were boarding the train, when the shooting took place. Dallas Morning
News, 10 April 1896, page 5
Navasota, Tex., April 9 -Worrall came here for medical attention.
He is only slightly hurt. The ball went in one side of his neck and
came out the other. He walked from the depot to a hotel. Dallas
Morning News, 10 April 1896, page 5
°He Dealt in Death," Los Angeles Times, 10 April 1896, page 1.
°Houston, Tex., April 9 - At Millican, a few minutes after 2
o'clock this morning, John Brooks shot and killed his daughter,
Mollie Brooks, seriously wounded her sweetheart, A.C. Worrels, and then
committed suicide ... After the shooting, Brooks, who has been employed
at the rock quarry of Green & Olive, went to the quarry to borrow a
pistol, but could not get one ...."
°Blew Himself Into Small Bits," Washington Post, 10 April 1896,
page 8. °After the shooting Brooks went to the rock quarry, near
Millican, and sat down on a box of dynamite and blew himself to
atoms."
And now people are wondering why the old man Brooks didn't crawl into
the quarry magazine and blow the whole thing up. His crime was that of
a madman, anyhow. Bryan Daily Eagle, 11 April 1896, page 4
Millican, Brazos Co., Tex., April 11 ... [Miss Mollie Brooks] was young
looking and neatly dressed, was 22 years old, and her only crime, for
which she lost her life, was a desire to wed the man she wrote that day:
°Come to-day or never." To the residence to which she was carried
all day thronged the people of the quarry to take a last look at the
young and beautiful girl. She was shrouded for burial by ladies here
and from the quarry -shrouded as a bride, only white material being
used. White flowers were placed on her coffin and her bridal wreath on
her head. As the funeral march formed, people with bowed-down heads
fell in the march and a large concourse of citizens attended the
interment at the Wheat cemetery, south of town, where under the
impressive words of a man of God she was laid to final rest by the side
of her unnatural father, who had robbed the altar to fill the tomb. A
visit to the quarry, two and a half miles south of town, has its telling
effect depicted on the face of every one when you hear them say so
unnatural was the crime that they can not believe John Brooks intended
to kill his daughter. A look at the little orphan children creates the
wonder that the father would not want to live to provide for them, for
all who knew him say he was a loving father and worked hard to provide
well for them, which he always did. He had repeatedly told Mollie if
she ever attempted to marry Worrall he would kill her, and once burned
up all of her clothing and watch to keep her from eloping. John Brooks
was about 50 years of age, with a very determined gray eye, light sandy
hair, slightly tinged with gray, very tall, and as straight as an
Indian, and from his good nature by his friends was familiarly called
°the Arkansaw Traveler." His wife died several years ago and
left him with eight children, who are left without support. They are
all intelligent looking boys, varying in age from 6 to 21 years. The
oldest young man, 20 years of age, is not able to support himself,
having been paralyzed. Arthur Worrall is a young man of good
appearance, 23 years of age. His cool, calm relation of the terrible
tragedy was only equaled by the picture of sadness on his face as the
church bells tolled the funeral march to the grave. Dante described the
horrors of hell by linking them to earthly things, but if he could have
been at the depot that night he would have changed his manuscript.
Strange is the story; sad is the event, which may be equaled but never
exceeded. Dallas Morning News, 13 April 1896, page 6
Bryan, Tex., April 21 -The four youngest boys of old man Brooks, who
blew himself up with dynamite at Millican, were taken to an orphan home
at Waco to-day by Joe B. Reed of this place. They were well clothed and
supplied with money by the quarry people. The two older boys, who are
grown, are earning their own living at the quarry. Dallas Morning News,
22 April 1896, page 7
Twenty-five or thirty Mexicans came up from Millican Saturday. They had
been employed at the quarry. Bryan Daily Eagle, 26 May 1896, page 4
Work at the Millican rock quarry has been resumed, but where there have
been heretofore about 200 laborers employed, at present there are not
more than 100. This decrease in help is caused by repairs in the
jetties at Galveston, but when they are completed, the usual force at
the quarries will be put on. Bryan Daily Eagle, 8 October 1896, page 4
Millican, Brazos Co., Tex., Oct. 20 -The rock quarry, after having
laid idle so long, resumed work yesterday morning under the management
of Mr. George Davis Cronan. Mr. Cronan has been in the employment of
the Galveston construction company for some years at Boliver, but is now
removed to this place to fill Major W.W. Burk's place, who a few days
ago removed to Austin to take charge of his new home at Hyde Park. Mr.
Cronan is now having loaded about fifteen cars each day for the jetties
and is expecting to increase his work soon at least twenty cars a day.
Galveston Daily News, 22 October 1896, page 8
At Wellborn, we found the people in hopeful expectancy regarding the
outcome of a plan to work the lignite deposits there. Mr. F.L. Martin,
of Houston, an experienced mining expert, has already began the work of
sinking of a shaft about one mile below Wellborn and two hundred and
fifty yards from the railroad in Mr. P.N. Causey's pasture. Shafts
will be sunk in different places to ascertain the probable area and
depth of the deposits, which are believed to extend from around Wellborn
to the river, being a continuation of the stratas now being worked at
Clay Station in Burleson County. While in no sense unduly elated over
their possible good fortune, the people of Wellborn are hopeful of the
venture and realizing the great value the proximity of coal miles would
be not only to their town, but to the whole county, they assert that
they stand ready to do all in their power to promote the enterprise.
The same lignite deposits, similar to the Calvert coal now used on the
H. & T.C., are said to abound in the vicinity of Millican also where the
matter of utilizing it has also been considered of late. Bryan Daily
Eagle, 14 February 1897, page 4
Mr. J.H. Royder was up from Wellborn yesterday and stated to the
reporter that Mr. F.L. Martin, who has been prospecting for coal near
Wellborn, has found copper in apparent abundance about ten miles from
Wellborn on the Navasota River near Mitchell's bridge, and is now
devoting his time to further investigations in that neighborhood. The
specimens he has secured show a very large percent of copper ore, and
the impression prevails that he has made a lucky find. Bryan Daily
Eagle, 24 February 1897, page 4
On account of the high tide and great surplus of rock now on hand, the
rock quarry at Millican has been at a standstill, but it is thought it
will resume work now in a few days. Messrs. Olive and Phillips are in
Houston for the purpose of securing a rock crusher, which they hope to
have in operation in a short time. Messrs. Green & Olive have
contracted for 1000 cars of crushed rock. Bryan Daily Eagle, 27
February 1897, page 4
Mack Dunlap, Will Dunlap, J.P. White, Thad Williams and S.C. Williams
were up from Millican yesterday. Mr. S.C. Williams is with Mr. F.L.
Martin, who is prospecting for copper ore on the Navasota River, and
says the latter is thoroughly satisfied with the specimens he has
secured, and is now engaged in determining the extent of the deposits.
Bryan Daily Eagle, 4 March 1897, page 4
A report from Millican says Messrs. Olive & Green, contractors of
quarry No.i, have received and are putting in their new crusher, and
will be shipping crushed rock to Galveston in a few days. Bryan Daily
Eagle, 12 March 1897, page 4
Bryan, Brazos Co., Tex., March 16 -Sam Brooks, 25 years old, son of
the man who killed his daughter and then blew himself up with dynamite
last year at Millican, was to-day adjudged insane at a hearing before
Judge Harmon. Dallas Morning News, 17 March 1897, page 5
Sam Brooks, adjudged insane some time ago, and confined since in the
county jail, was released this week. His condition had improved
constantly and he was released upon the advice of Dr. Weatherford,
county physician. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 13 May 1897, page 6
Millican, Brazos Co., Tex.... The quarry has again resumed work
getting out rock for the Galveston jetties. Galveston Daily News, 28
May 1897, page 3
One of the rock quarries at Millican has been shut down and the
machinery loaded on flat cars for shipment. Bryan Daily Eagle, 1 August
1897, page 4
Millican ... The Green & Olive rock quarry is still in operation. Bryan
Daily Eagle, 5 September 1897, page 4
Mr. A.W. Royder of Wellborn, says the parties prospecting for coal near
that place have passed through two stratas, and are now working in
another vein which they hope will prove profitable. Their work is
retarded, however, by the abundance of water in the shaft and the
problem is now how to get rid of it. Bryan Daily Eagle, 17 December
1897, page 4
Bryan, Tex., July 12 -Messrs. Ward and Gordon of Fort Worth have
been prospecting for coal at Wellborn the past week, and their
researches have been sufficiently successful to warrant sending for
machinery to continue experiments. The presence of coal in paying
quantities in that locality seems to be well established. Dallas
Morning News, 13 July 1898, page 7
Bryan, Tex., Aug. 18 -The work of sinking the shaft for coal at
Wellborn is progressing nicely under the direction of Mr. R.H. Ward, who
has ample machinery on the ground to determine whether there is
bituminous coal or good lignite deposits in paying quantities in that
vicinity. The shaft is down to a depth of a hundred feet or more, a
diamond drill being used, which sinks twenty or twenty-five feet per
day. The work will probably be prosecuted to a depth of a thousand or
twelve hundred feet. Nothing is yet known as to what the outcome of the
investigation will be. Galveston Daily News, 19 August 1898, page 8
Bryan, Tex., Oct. 4 -The coal prospectors at Wellborn have moved
their drill down four miles south of that town. Galveston Daily News, 5
October 1898, page 3
"On the Road," Bryan Daily Eagle, 27 October 1898, page 2. Crushed
rock from the quarry near Millican "has been much used on the
fortifications at Galveston."
The Navasota Examiner states that work has been resumed at the Dunlap
quarry between Millican and White's Switch, and that a force of
seventy-five or one hundred men will be employed. (weekly) Bryan Eagle,
5 April 1899, page 6
Millican, Brazos Co., Tex., May 11 -Yesterday evening at the rock
quarry two and a half miles south of town, Gus Crawford, a boy about 16
years old, while attempting to board the switch engine, fell under it
and had one of his feet badly crushed. Galveston Daily News, 12 May
1899, page 3
Mr. Fritz Plagens, who resides two miles north of Kurten, which is ten
miles from Bryan, came to the city yesterday with samples of lignite
which he had discovered on his 320 acre tract of land. Mr. Plagens
found the lignite in the banks of Sandy Creek. The vein is exposed for a
distance of 100 yards, is from ten to fifteen feet under the surface and
one to two feet thick. It extends back from the bank of the creek under
Mr. Plagen's field. He says it burns well and parties who saw it here
yesterday pronounce it equal to or better than the lignite which is
mined in different parts of Central Texas. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 20
September 1900, page 6
Bryan, Tex., Sept.21 -Fritz Plagues [Plagens], a farmer residing
near Kurten, in this county, thinks he has discovered good lignite in
paying quantities on his 320 acres of land ten miles from Bryan and two
miles north of Kurten. He discovered the vein in the bank of Sandy
Creek, where it is exposed for 100 yards ten to fifteen feet under the
surface and from one to two feet thick. He brought samples to town, and
says it burns well. Dallas Morning News, 22 September 1900, page 8
Twenty-four Mexicans from Laredo and San Antonio passed through the
city yesterday en route to Millican to work at the quarries. Bryan
Daily Eagle, 20 September 1901, page 3
Mr. Geo. Dunlap of Millican was in Bryan Monday and in conversation
with a Pilot reporter said that he was making an effort to have the I. &
G.N. railroad put a depot at the rock quarry near Millican. He pointed
out how it would be a help to Bryan to have a depot there and said that
he was prepared to state positively that Bryan would get a large part of
the cotton and a big trade from that section if they could get a depot.
He also says the laborers at the quarry would come to Bryan to trade,
and to give an idea of the amount of money that will be paid out there
for labor in the next two years, he stated they had a contract to
furnish 125,000 tons of rock for the rebuilding of the forts at
Galveston, which would make about 6,000 car loads. The labor for
blasting and loading a car costs from $5 to $10, and if that amount of
money, or even half of it, were spent in Bryan, it would be a big thing
- Brazos Pilot. Bryan Morning Eagle, 29 December 1901, page 3
[ad] Wanted -Men to work in rock quarry; good wages and steady work.
Apply I.F. Burns, Millican Quarry, Millican, Tex. Dallas Morning News,
18 March 1902, page 4
Mr. W.H. Dean showed the Eagle reporter a brick burned from clay that
he got right here in Bryan, which seems to be everything that is wanted
for the purpose - in fact, a very superior clay for brick. Mr. Deans
says there is an unlimited quantity of this clay right here, and that it
is a veritable gold mine for profitable exploiting, if a company can be
organized to go into it. Mr. Dean is a good judge of such things, and
if we have such a valuable clay, it is to be hoped it can be utilized.
Bryan Morning Eagle, 30 March 1902, page 3
L.A. Gueringer, engineer for the I. & G.N. railroad company, has
surveyed a route for a spur from the main line of the road near Fountain
to a very fine gravel pit about eight miles from Bryan. The company
will use the gravel for ballasting the new road. Right-of-way for the
spur to the gravel pit was condemned by proceedings in the county court
today. Bryan Morning Eagle, 18 April 1902, page 3
[ad] Wanted -Twenty good men to work in rock quarry; steady work and
good wages. Apply to S.C. Leonard, Millican, Tex. San Antonio Daily
Express, 20 May 1902, page 9
°Rejected All Bids" [for the seawall], Galveston Daily News, 19
August 1902, page 10. °However, he could get plenty of good hard
sandstone at Muldoon, Millican and Clay Station quarries."
°It May Be Granite" [for the seawall], Galveston Daily News, 9
December 1902, page 5 "We went over to Millican and examined the quarry,
and some of the members of the party went over to Muldoon ..."
A party of Galveston county officials, including Judge Fisher, two
commissioners and the sea wall contractor, Mr. O'Rourke, visited
Dunlap rock quarry, near Millican the past week on an investigating
trip. Bryan Morning Eagle, 9 December 1902, page 5
Millican, Tex., Jan. 17 -The action of the Commissioners' Court of
Galveston County was read with a good deal of interest by the citizens
of Millican as it appeared in The News this morning. The quarry here
has furnished a great many tons of as fine sandstone as there is in the
world for improvements on Galveston Island. Most of the riprap which
was used to build the jetties was gotten out of the Millican quarry.
One of the owners of the quarry told your correspondent this morning
that there are about 128 acres of this sandstone which weighs 125 to 160
pounds to the cubic foot. The face of the rock is from eight to twenty
feet. Continuing he said he had made a contract with Mr. Lauderdale to
operate part of this quarry, and he was fully satisfied he had enough
rock to fill up the bay at Galveston. Galveston Daily News, 18 January
1903, page 2
Mr. J.D. Phillips, superintendent of Isaac Hefferon's new rock quarry
at Roan's Prairie, Grimes County, was in the city yesterday in search
of men to work in the quarry. Mr. Phillips says he is working seventy
five men at present and shipping ten to twelve carloads of rock per day
to Houston, Galveston and other points. He says by Feb. 1, he will be
getting out twenty carloads per day. Mr. Phillips has recently moved
his outfit from Millican, Brazos County, where he was in charge of the
quarry for two years. He has not yet moved his family to Roan's
Prairie. He says the quarry there is a magnificent one situated one
mile from the Madisonville branch of the I.& G.N. and reached by a spur.
Bryan Daily Eagle, 24 January 1904, page 3
Seawall Approach ... One car of rock was shipped in from Millican, but
it was not up to the requirements specified and it was refused...
Galveston Daily News, 12 January 1905, page 10
The Eagle learns from Mr. A.W. Royder, who was a visitor from Wellborn
yesterday, that Dr. Wallis, a lignite mine operator of Rockdale, has
been prospecting at Wellborn for lignite, and has found a nine foot
strata two and a half miles from Wellborn, with which he is very
favorably impressed. We also learn that he has secured options on land
in that vicinity and that other investigations are going on that may
lead to development. Mr. Royder states that another party, Mr. Ramsey
of Mineral Wells, has purchased eleven or twelve hundred acres of land
below Wellborn, and has unloaded a quantity of lumber a mile and half
below the town, where he proposes to build a house, clear the land and
market the wood supply, and later prospect both for oil and lignite. He
will probably establish a settlement there in the development of plans
which have been outlined. A gentleman from Missouri is interested with
Mr. Ramsey in the enterprise and has been on the ground. (weekly) Bryan
Eagle, 24 October 1907, page 7
Mr. H.G. Crossen of the Crossen Badge Co. of Springfield, Mo., has been
in Bryan for the past three days in conference with Mr. Jno. C. Vick in
regard to a location for his company in Texas in the Clay manufacturing
business. Mr. Crossen has spent the past four months in Texas looking
into this business and has visited all the larger plants of Texas and
says that notwithstanding the hard times the Texas plants are running to
their full capacity and turning down orders and that the price of brick
has advanced as much as $1.00 per 1000 in the past twelve months. He
has looked into the clay beds here and considers the prospect for
material and locations the best that he had seen in Texas and expressed
himself as well pleased. Mr. Crossen believes this Bryan material will
make excellent drain tile, sewer pipe, roofing, etc., and has arranged
for a complete test. There will in a short be a great demand for farm
drain the in Texas especially in the river bottoms and coast country,
and Mr. Crossen said his company realized that in a short time drain
time would do for Texas what it has done for Illinois, Iowa and the
other Northern states. Clay products with modern methods are gradually
replacing wood owing to the high price of timber and their uses will
continue to grow as the price of lumber advances. Mr. Crossen and Mr.
Vick have not entered into any definite contract yet pending the tests
for tiling. There is but little question but that Mr. Vick would have
gotten this plant started this past season with local capital were it
not for the money stringency, for there is no question but what this is
one of the best and safest manufacturing propositions ever offered local
capital. The Eagle learns Mr. Crossen represents ample capital. Bryan
Morning Eagle, 2 April 1908, page 2
A mineral lease was filed for record yesterday in the county clerk's
office yesterday covering land near Bryan belonging to Mr. Walter Higgs
and designed to control the development of the lignite in that locality.
Stratas of lignite said to run from 7 to 15 feet thick have been
disclosed by prospecting, Mr. Moseley having been at work on the project
for some time, and experts from other points regard the results
favorably. If the field warrants the outlay a vast industry, such has
contributed much to Rockdale, will be development there. The lease has
a ten year tenure and provides that work must begin on or before January
1. The Eagle has previously mentioned prospecting which has been going
on in the vicinity of Wellborn, and believes it is but a question of
time until the lignite fields of Brazos County will be productive.
Bryan Morning Eagle, 8 April 1908, page 2
°Texas Clay Deposits of Considerable Value," Dallas Morning News,
22 November 1908, p.23. "Brazos County does not afford any deposits
of great economic value. The clays are chiefly brick clays, and are
widely distributed. Along the northeastern border much better clays are
to be looked for, as it is this formation which appears to carry the
stoneware clays in other counties."
Dr. R.H. Harrison has recently had a well bored on a place he bought
from the Derden estate, two miles northeast of the city, and while
sinking the well a fine vein of lignite was found. The driller of the
well stated the vein was fifteen feet or more in depth. He struck the
coal at 60 feet and remained in it until the well was completed at 77
feet. A fin flow of water was found right in the coal and it is said to
be fine water. Dr. Harrison showed a sample of the coal to Mr.
Swancoat, who is a good judge of coal, being a large owner in the
lignite mines near Rockdale, and he pronounced it a first-class quality
of soft coal. Dr. Harrison will have another well sunk at some distance
as a test to ascertain if the coal extends over much territory. If it
should prove to be a field in paying quantities, steps no doubt will be
taken to mine it for fuel. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 20 January 1910, page
1
The general manager of one of the largest brickmaking plants in the
state has been in Bryan today investigating and prospecting with a view
to moving his plant to this city. The chief consideration upon which
the undertaking hinges is the presence of brickmaking clay beds in
sufficient quantities. The investigations made this morning were highly
satisfactory, and Secretary Hewitt was out with the gentleman this
afternoon for the purpose of further research and inquiry. Bryan
greatly needs a plant of this kind, and it is to be hoped the gentleman
will find conditions such as to justify him in moving his plant here.
Bryan Daily Eagle, 9 December 1912, page 5
The preliminary test of the clay deposit has been pronounced
satisfactory by the brick works, and the company has now asked the
Commercial Club to forward about thirty sacks, which goes forward today.
This territory was tested under the supervision of the company's
expert, and a fifteen year deposit found, estimating 100,000 brick per
day. It takes a man to each thousand brick after the first 50,000 per
day, which calls for about sixty men. The company has signified its
intention to come to Bryan if the final test proves as satisfactory as
is expected. It will cost Bryan the land for location to secure this
industry, and the secretary has secured an option at a very reasonable
figure, the owner being anxious to secure the industry for this city.
Bryan Daily Eagle, 3 January 1913, page 1
Commercial Club secretary L.M. Hewitt received a letter this morning
from the brick manufacturing company that has been figuring for some
time on removing its plant to this city. It seems that the question of
their coming here depends largely on the test of the clay that was
shipped to them by the Commercial Club some time ago, and which is now
in progress. The letter states the clay came from the mixing and
moulding machinery in fine shape, and that it also stood the dry test
well. The brick are now being burned and are showing up splendidly.
They will be ready to come from the kiln in seven or eight days. From
the tone of the letter Mr. Hewitt is much encouraged and believes the
prospects are now much brighter for securing this most valuable industry
for Bryan. Bryan Daily Eagle, 5 February 1913, page 2
Millican ... Mr. Sampson has reopened the old rock quarry owned by Mrs.
Dunlap and is shipping carload after carload of rock. Bryan Weekly
Eagle, 26 Feb. 1914, page 5
A visit was made to the Millican rock quarry yesterday by County Judge
J.T. Maloney, Commissioner W.B. Easters and W.J. Coulter and M.F. Dansby
of the good roads advisory committee, to inspect the rock with a view to
using same in the construction of the good roads in this county. The
other members of the commissioners' court were supposed to have taken
the trip, but in some manner the schedule and plans were confused and
they did not go. Nothing definite has been decided, as the trip was
merely prospective. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 11 November 1915, page 8.
In conversation yesterday afternoon with Mr. Bates of the firm of
Hayden & Bates, good roads contractors, it was announced by this
gentleman that the progress of the road building in Brazos County was
well under way and that he was well pleased with the progress of same.
He further stated that with the continued fair weather that gravel
hauling would start in a very short time. The first roads that are to
be started are the Benchley, Dillishaw Tap and Madisonville. There has
been considerable grading done on these three roads and part of the
bridges are ready for the gravel. Mr. Bates stated that their large
steam shovel had arrived and had been placed at the Yuma gravel pit,
which is located 15 miles south of the city. These contractors also
have their own engine with which to handle this large machine and it is
used to load the cars with gravel to be brought to the city and then
carried out to the roads on wagons. He expects to handle from 50 to 75
cars of gravel each day when they get things to moving freely. Bryan
Daily Eagle, 31 May 1916, page 1
The high grade gravel for ballasting the Bryan and College Interurban
on Dallas Street began arriving this morning. The material is coming
from a pit at Wellborn and is of a very high grade. It is estimated
that 3000 cubic feet will be used in this work, and when the job is
completed the car track will be on a good solid foundation. Bryan
Weekly Eagle, 13 July 1916, page 8.
Jack Zanetti brought to The Eagle office this morning a sample of
lignite taken from the farm of Fritz Plagens in the Kurten neighborhood.
A sample was also sent R.L. Morrison of the highway department at the
college, who piloted Engineer Darling of the bureau of mines over this
section a few days ago. The lignite plainly shows its wood origin and
Mr. Zanetti says there are evidences that it is to be found in large
quantities the full length of Big Sandy Creek. This particular piece
was taken from a depth of about 800 feet and from a strata about eight
feet in thickness. He also brought to town a piece of rock that has the
appearance of iron ore and says the outcroppings of sulphur along the
creek are extensive and frequently employed by Mr. Plagens in destroying
boll weevils, ticks, mosquitoes, and the like. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 22
August 1918, page 2.
A.D. Jackson, executive assistant of Texas Experiment Station, was here
for a few hours today, en route from Royce City to College Station. Mr.
Jackson addressed a farmers meeting in Royce City on the Fourth. He
stopped here to look over the Athens pottery and get information along
that line with a view to interesting some concern in testing out the
possibilities of the clay at College Station. He was recently appointed
on a committee from the Bryan Chamber of Commerce for this purpose and
while here made arrangements with the local pottery to test out some
samples of their clay. Mr. Jackson says they are interested in
establishing some enterprises there which will offer employment to
students desiring to work their way through school, and as they have an
abundance of clay which is thought to be making brick and tile, he
thinks a clay products enterprise is one of the fine openings at A. and
M. Mr. Paul Habel, manager of the Athens pottery, stated that if
samples should prove to be good clay that his company would investigate
the proposition there. -Athens Daily Review. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 12
July 1923, page 3
°Uncle Dan" Jackson, colored, known to all the people of Bryan and
College Station because of his long and faithful service as janitor at
the College for 53 years, died Sunday night at his cabin home in Bryan
on West 24th street. ... during the °days of the beginning," at the
College, helped to haul the rock by ox wagon from the quarry on the
Brazos River to put in the foundation of the first main building on the
college campus which was named for Dr. Gathright. He told of the time
when the workers needed some brick °to build up de walls wid," he
said, °and we just burned us some brick in a kiln, right dar on the
ground whar we wus, and wid dem home made bricks we built de lust two
houses at de College." Bryan Weekly Eagle, 29 January 1931, page 6.
Jack Zanetti brought to The Eagle office this morning a sample of
lignite taken from the farm of Fritz Plagens in the Kurten neighborhood.
A sample was also sent R.L. Morrison of the highway department at the
college, who piloted Engineer Darling of the bureau of mines over this
section a few days ago. The lignite plainly shows its wood origin and
Mr. Zanetti says there are evidences that it is to be found in large
quantities the full length of Big Sandy Creek. This particular piece
was taken from a depth of about 800 feet and from a strata about eight
feet in thickness. He also brought to town a piece of rock that has the
appearance of iron ore and says the outcroppings of sulphur along the
creek are extensive and frequently employed by Mr. Plagens in destroying
boll weevils, ticks, mosquitoes, and the like. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 22
August 1918, page 2, col.3.
John Konecny has on exhibition at the barber shop in the rear of the
building occupied by Groginsky's store, a most interesting exhibit,
all of which came from his farm, on Turkey Creek, on the Fin-Feather
Road, south of Bryan about three miles. Perhaps the most valuable of
the entire collection, and one of the most interesting, is the lignite,
there being some dozen or so pieces which he chipped off from a strata
and brought into Bryan, a piece or two being on exhibit at the Eagle
office. This lignite, said Mr. Konecny to an Eagle reporter, came from
stratas of the materials that is found in the banks of Turkey Creek and
the ravines which run into the creek. On his farm is one of these
lateral ravines and contains the lignite strata. Just how much lignite
is there, he has not yet any idea, having made no investigation, but he
assumes that the strata is quite thick and surface indications point to
an ample supply. He says that one could go there with a team and wagon,
and by use of just a pick, could fill a wagon in a few minutes. Mr.
Konecny has not had the lignite tested for combustible efficiency as the
A. and M. College is not in session and it would cost a great deal to
have the analysis made. However, when school opens this fall and his
son, Johnny Konecny, returns to school, Mr. Konecny plans to have some
of the samples taken to the college and let some of the classes that do
laboratory work, take this as a lesson. In this way the cost will
amount to little if anything. Included in the exhibit is a jar of earth
which Mr. Konecny declares came from a narrow strata only a few inches
wide that, almost unbelievably, runs vertically -almost straight up
and down. This earth seems to contain sulphur, and alum, both, the
latter being proven by testing the soil. The sulphur is plain to be
seen. Not long ago, a man stopped in at the barber shop and became
interested in the jar of earth and said that he was an oil well driller
from Mexia and that the jar of earth was nothing more than petroleum
sand. He said that his explanation of the peculiar vertical strata of
earth and the petroleum sand in it is that at some period in history, a
gasser blew out the hole now occupied by the sand, filling up the holes
with the sand itself, which accounts for being there so close to the
surface of the ground. Another indication that this may be getting
close to the proper solution is the fact that a rock that bears all the
earmarks of volcanic origin, was picked up in the bed of the ravine.
This rock would not have been washed more than a few hundred yards as
the ravine is not more than that in length; therefore could not have
been brought from a volcanic source at any great distance from where
found. Two other small rocks picked up in the channel of the creek seem
to have a yellowish, almost golden sparkle. The glint seems to be in
tiny specks or streaks of the rock. Taken as a whole this is a most
interesting exhibit and one that is worth any one's while to see.
While it may be that there is of no value to the finds, at the same
time, it is possible that the Chamber of Commerce or some individual
with capital become interested, and develop in this county a large
lignite field to add to our resources and our industries. There is no
telling what may happen in Brazos County or in Bryan where we have a
Republican mayor in a Democratic City. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 8 July 1926,
page 3
A gravel washing and grading plant is being built near Smetana by the
Union Paving Company, which has the contract for laying concrete on
Highway No. 6 from Bryan to College and on Highway No. 21 from Bryan to
the Little Brazos River. It is expected that this plant will be
completed within about two weeks, after which time the work of laying
the pavement from Bryan to College will be started, if weather permits.
Bryan Weekly Eagle, 4 January 1933, page 2