URBANA ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 3 3051 00004 2246 '„ .. -..J t • •»/>■ ■ . ' State of Illinois Henry Horner, Governor Department of Registration and Education Division of the STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY M, M* Leighton, Chief INFORMATION CIRCULAR NO. ik- CLAY PRODUCTS INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS IN 1935 PRELIMINARY REPORT By W. A. Newton and Walter H. Voskuil May, I936 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://archive.org/details/clayproductsindu14newt Illinois State Geological Survey Urbana,, Illinois . Information Circular No. 14 '■ jjay 1976 CLAY PRODUCTS INDUSTRY IN ILLINOIS IN 1935 Preliminary Report By W, A, Newton. and Walter. H. Vo skull The clay products industry is one of the largest non-fuels mineral industries in Illinois, in terms of value of production. It is the purpose of this preliminary report to place in the hands'c'f the producers at an early date a summary of statistical data that has been obtained through their prompt cooperation. The figures given in this report are subject to final revi- sion, although more than 95 per cent of the producers have reported to date, The total value of clay products in Illinois continued to in- crease in 1935, "the preliminary total being $6,731,597 for this year, in comparison with $^,945^199 for the year 1934. However, the follow- ing table shows that 'this increase was in the pottery division .of' the industry and that there was actually a slight decrease in the struc- tural and refractory clay' products division. Table 1, - Value of Clay Products, 1932 to 1935 1932 ;' 1933 1934 . 1935 Structural and refractory clay products $2, 504, 610 $2,323,556 $4,493,960 $4,467,076 POtt@ry • 1,337,033 1,316, £67 1,446,239 2,264,521 Total l $4,34l,643 $4,145,033 $5,945,199 $6,731,597 This decrease was largely the result of almost a 50 per cent reduction in production value of paving blocks in 1935. There was a slight decrease also in value of refractory cement and in non-clay re- fractories, The figures given in Table 2 show an increase over the 1 Page 2 1934 totals in the following classes:' common brick, face brick, hol- low brick, hollow building tile, drain tile, fireclay products, and clay sold' (raw or prepared). The value of those, under' other clay products (except pottery) which classes" included decreased in 1935 in- cludes... terra cotta, sewer pipey-fiue- -.lining:' and:.: non-c^ay'-'reTrac^crles. Wall coping 'was the' only product included in this category which showed an increase in 1935. over 193,^... . ..-..-.■■ ; . ; Table 2. - Production of Clay Products, by Glasses/ 1'9'3'5 ' ■ -•»**■— — - ' Quantity, Value Quantity -Stocks on hand ..Dec,. 31, 1935 Common brick- (M) : : $%)$&'$ Face brick (M) ' yV, Sk-SA Hollow brick (M) 2,773.3 Hollow building tile (Tons) 1 l6,62^.g Vitrified brick or block' for paving (M) 6,^-11 for other purposes (1*1) . 977 ■Draintile (Tons). . 33,757.4 Fireclay products Refractory cement - 1.75. (■clay) (Tons) Clay sold, raw- or, ; prepared . ' , (etc.) *Other clay products (except Pottery) Pottery ■■ ; 479,113.76 .v-53,9l6.50'- • ; .r93,,ll9.63 10^,171,77 53,,2l4-5.S9 249:,.5^?.Q7 ••.. 750,254.^2 - ' ■ ; 7,322.67 . 160, .429.. 10 .. 1,720,239.5^ 2,26^,520:97 56,517.6 17,50^.6 630.1 .3^,0574 1,110.7 13,971.6 21 Terra cotta, sewer pipe, flue lining, wall coping, and non-tday re- fractories included under "Other clay products, except...Ppttery..,.".-.> Table 3 presents data/ compiled from the '-.Bureau of Census statistics 'from selected! identical plants fo.r ,th,e years 1932 to 1935. | Total'., shipments,, value'.of shipment s,-;;monthl^ ; -.aye-rages, average values per unit, , and stocks --on-hand. December 31 ! °'? "each'- year are given for common brick, face brick,., ..and. hollow. ..building tile* • -•'-• ~ i Page 3 Table 3« - Shipments of Common Brick Face Briok, and Hollow Building Tile in Illinois by Years 1932-1935 (Data from the U. S. Bureau of Census) SHIPMENTS VALUE Stocks on hand at Average per Average per Average end of Total month Total month value per year Thousands Thousands Dollars Dollars Thousand Thousands Common Brick 56,333 ^,699 ^6,906 37, 2k2 .7.93 69,771 51,011 4,251 403,213 33,651 7.92 52,993 62,269 5,139 564,164 47,01^ 9.o6 55,120 24,035 7,007 335,775 69,6^2 9.9^ 63,223 Face Brick 32,439 2,703 464,393 33,700 I*k 31 46, 663 22,325 1,902 305,163 25,^32 13.31 26,263 24,657 2,055 409,542 34,123 16.61 23,221 36,923 3,077 596,243 49,637 12.35 24,411 Hollow Bui ld ing Tile 30,930 2,572 104,922 3,7^4 3.39 ^1-5,222 16,535 1,332 65,615 5,462 3.96 39,519 31,530 2,632 163,312 • 13,609 5.17 34,766 21,973- 1,332 131,370 10,943 5\93 23,757 In the year 1933 each item listed under common brick and face brick decreased in comparison to the corresponding figure for 1932. The greatest comparable decrease took place in face brick. Likewise, with the exception of stocks, each figure for these two types of brick increased in both 1934 & n(3 - 1935, "the 1935 totals in each case being greater than those of 1932. Not since 1932 has the total value of face brick shipments been greater than those of common brick, and it is yet lagging considerably. A comparison of the data on hollow building tile with that of common and face brick gives quite a different picture. The trend in shipments and value of shipments in all three commodities is similar for the first three years, being downward in 193 2 and upward in 1933, but in 1935 "the tile trend falls again while the brick trend rises very markedly. This may be in part due to a natural decrease in de- mand for tile in 1935 or Jco the steady increase in value per unit placed on hollow building tile each year since 1932. The average value for both kinds of brick fluctuated with demand during these years. Page k It is important to note that stocks in both common and face brick increased in* 1935 for the first time. This suggests that heavy inventories have been reduced to a more normal level* Stocks of hol- low building tile on hand necessarily continued to decrease in 1935 • The stocks of tile on hand at the end of the year were still grea.ter. than the total shipped during 1935 • However, the stocks have shrunk 37 per cent from the 1932 total. ... The important part that the stocks on hand play in the eco- nomic picture is not the actual number or quantity but the relation of the quantity of stocks to ' the demand. The producer can determine the size of the stocks he should carry on hand to meet emergencies only through past experience.. Probably the most pertinent data available to judge future demands are shipments of the past year, with an analy- sis of the probable increase or decrease in demand 'for the coming months. Table k- shows the relation of stocks oh hand at the - end of each year to the demand for -that current year in terms of month's supplies on hand, December 31. Table k, - Supply of Stocks on Hand at End of Xear, in" Terms of Months, 1932-1935' Year Common Brick Face Brick Hollow Building Tile (Months)" (Months), (Months) 1932 [■ iW •-. ,' 17.3 17.6 1933 ■ 13.9 . . 1^.1 2g.6 1934- . 10.6 . . ll f 3 - ■ 13.2 1935 9.0 7.9 15.7 The actual quantity of stocks on hand as seen in Table 3 was increased for both common and face brick in 1935. However, the rela- tion of these stocks to Current demand has continued to decrease through 1935 an d will continue to do so until this portion of the in- dustry is stabilized. The stocks of hollow building tile on hand at the end of each year as seen in Table k has in no way .-coincided -with demand and at the present time is no doubt much larger than that neces- sary to meet adequately the current requirements. The clay products industry is more or less -dependent upon the extent of building activity* A brief study of construction as revealed by building permit data in Illinois and in the .country as a whole for the past few years may give some indications of future trends. The first pronounced measure of building recovery was in 1935 as shown in Table 5 below • This &k- per cent increase over the 193U- total building permits issued in the lb Illinois cities and St. Louis, Missouri, is gratifying not only in that it marks a definite upturn for the severely deflated construction industries but in that the value of ' Page 5 building permits of this .group of cities is., 1^.3 per cent above the average for 311 cities throughout the United States, as compiled by the U. S,; Department of Labor, shown in Table 6. Table 5". - Value of Building Permits in l6 Illinois Cities and St, Louis, Llissouri (a) 1933 193^ lurora Bloomington Chicago Cicero ;.. . Decatur ■ E. ' St, Louis ' ' El gin Evanston Freeport feline Dak Park Peoria 3,uincy Rockford Rock Island 3pringfield 3t, Louis, Missouri Total $ 104-. 966 192; 570 3,6*3, 960 5°, 165 157, 605 212j 74-2 105, 953 4-0 2 ; 600 102 ; 732 102, 635 122, 94-0 1,391, 320 73, 95^ 117, 720 136, 4-26 535, 929 10,106, 632 |lo,l56, 9^9 I 232, 23S' 7,727 lb2 577 265 169 74-1 99 . 170 ■ '131 910 R3 227 '322 •^26 4-, 993 §17,4-61 232 04-6 • 351 335 64-0 4-93 94-6 700 337 653 350 937 314- 300 392 18k ^53 1935 (Preliminary) ^G& $' 2^0,270 579,022 12,936,4-09 193,24-0 533,102 369,121 217,94-5 94-7,750 230,135 ,; 335,393 626,200 1,791,3^2 31,716 34-7,065 332,906 4-5b,%3 11 ,355,867 $32,144,4-33 (a) Data from Commercial, and Financial Chronicle".- Table 6. - Comparison of Building Activity in 311 U. S. Cities, I93WL935 Class of . onstruction ^ T ew 'residen- tial Jew* non- residential additions, al- terations, repairs ■ ■ ill construc- tion Number of Buildings 1935 ■ ' 193^- change Estimated Cost 1915 P.C. 1934- change 53,053 ' 21,773 +1^3.7 291,227,231 107, i46, 264- +171.3 79,^39 .6'+,54-6 +23,1 316,730,227 215,4-62,356 +4-7,0 317,626 264-, 24-1 +20.2 223,54-6,659 163,565,639 +35.6 ^50,123 350,560 +23.4- 336,504-,H7 4-91,054-, 309 +70.3 Data from U. S. Department of Labor, Page 6 Most important In Table. 6 is the significant increase in new residential construction. This class of construction: acts as a 'busi- ness barometer and is important because of its greater relative volume in normal times, and in that it is a measure of public purchasing power and a reflection of the confidence of private capital. It must be remembered, however, that although building ac- tivity in 1935 was substantially greater than in the previous year, the total value for 193^ as given in Table 5 was actually less than in 1933. This was particularly "due. to the decline. of almost 50 per cent In' value of permits issued in St, Louis, most of the cities showing somewhat of an increase. The building industry usually contracts more than others. of the durable or capital goods classification and its advance after the worst effects of a depression is usually tardy. The striking improve- ment now recorded is highly important for this reason. The building industry in Illinois began its decline in 1926 and reached the lowest level of activity in 1933-. l n 193^ many cities showed an increase and in 1935 a H cities recorded in Table 5> with one exception, evidenced improvement, . • , , Table 7. ~ Value of Building Permits of Six Groups of Illinois Cities from 1920 to 1935 ■(In millions of dollars) Year Chicago, Oak Park, Evans ton, Cicero St, Louis and East St. Louis Rock Island and Mo line Rock ford and Freeport Elgin and Aurora Spring- field, Decatur, BI00&- ington, Peoria 1920 79^. 19.6 1921 135.6 243.7 18. 1922 27.9 1923 1924 35L3 44.3 316.9 ■•■ ij-3.1 1.925 3^2,9 60.1 1926 336.9 44,3 1927 37^.0 W..7 192g 333.3 45.5 1929 216.2 29.3 1910 34.6 13.3 1§31 43,5 17.7 1932 4.?; 4.6 1933 I934 4,3 10.3 3.3 5.3 1935 14.7 12 , 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.6 3.4 2.3 4.4 4.3 4.9 li 3,2 6.2 4.7 4,4 7.2 ^.7 5.7 3.7 9.3 3.1 11.2 10.1 15.3 17.9 16.4 14.0 13.2 H.9 2.1 3.5 2.2 1:1 1.2 .9 1.3 •3 .9 .3 1.5 - .3 .2 .2 2.3 .5 .3 .5 2,1 .7 .6 .5 3.4 t . • . Page 7 . Table 7 presents building permit data for six' groups of Illinois cities, in millions of dollars, for the years 1§20 to 1935'. These figures suggest that the building industry in this State is definitely on the up- turn after having experienced its lowest level in the year 193 2 °^ ^ e industrial depression. Also pictured by this table are the great strides construction must take before it can be said that normal building and industrial conditions are restored. This fact is further substantiated when the 1935 total value of per- mits issued in these cities, $32,1^, 4-3$, is compared to the total of $^15, 526, 4^3 in 192g. While it is improbable that the activity of building in the period 1926-19225 will occur in the future, the level of building activity in 1935 is probably" much below normal require- ments. Governmental activities may have aided to sortie degree the improvement in building in the United- States since 1933* However, such activities could not have made for such an enormous decline in building as witnessed during the first stages of the depression. Building construction was overdone by private capital during the years of increasing prosperity and it would be impossible for public works • to tighten, the slack in the building industry drained of these private funds. ' The slack is justly being taken up by. .an -increased residential and industrial building program which will be the basis for a normal building program. F. W, Dodge figures show that in 1935 industrial building increased slightly over that of 193^ for 37 states east of the Rocky Mountains, although it lagged as compared to an almost double outlay for residential construction in 1935* Public works and utility pro- , ject contracts declined somewhat from 193^ • A few building, permits ; statistics compiled by the F. W, Dodge Corporation illustrate the im- portance of residential building for the improvement last year, as follows: Table g. - Value of Building Permits for 37 States' East of Rocky Mountains (a) Class 1935 193 1 *- ' 1933 Residential $^7 g, Mj, 100 $2^g, g^O, 100 $2^9, 262, 100 $gll, 33.8, 700 (1931) Non- residential 675,^,600 5^3,031,300 ^03,723,700 2,590,221 000 (19295 Public works 57^,5^1,300 625,0^,500 Utility 111,671,^00 126,192,000 (a) Data compiled by F. W. Dodge Corporation Page g A further refinement of residential construction data for 311 identical cities has been compiled by the U. S. Department of Labor and is shown in Table 9, In 1935 there was a greater number of dwellings and more money outlaid for the one-family than for any other kind. However, the greatest 'increase over the 193^ dwelling construc- tion total took place in the multi-family class, showing that business conditions are returning to the point where it is profitable to re- lieve the shortage in apartments. Table 9. - Number of Family-Dwelling Units Provided in 611 Cities (U. S. Department of Labor) One-family Two-family Multi-family All kinds 'No. of new buildings for which permits issued 1935 193 [ t- P.C Change lj-9,001 20,193 +1*4-2.6 2, +23 1,176 +106.5 1,523 3jja +3^-6 . 6 R2,952 21,715 +1+3M! Families provided for 1935 +9,001 +,5++ 22,970 767515 193+ 20,193 2, ISO _J,290 29, 663 P.C Change +1)42.6 +103. + +215.1 +157. 9 Total construction awards during the first two months of 1936 were 9$. 5 por cent higher than for the same two months of 1935 in 37 states east of the Rocky Mountains, according to F. W. Dodge fig- ures. Table 10, given below, compares the different classes of con- struction for this period. Table 10. - Construction Contracts Awarded in 37 States East of the Rocky Mountains, Comparing the First Two Months of the Years 1936 and 19^5 (Figures from the F, W. Dodge Corporation) January and February No. of Projects New floor soace (Sq~ ft.) 1936 Residential bld'g. 6,9^3 Non-residential 5,H" Public works and utilities 2,107 Total construction l+,llb 19,^20,000 27,^31,^00 1,057,700 +7,910,000 Valuation (Dollars) 63,615,000 153,090,700 125,137,300 3+6,3+3,000 P. c.* increase over 1935 75.7 114.1 73.2 9^.5 Page 9 Table 10 (continued) January and February No. of Projects New floor SDace (Sq, ft.) Valuation (Dollars) P.O.* increase over 1935 1935 Residential bldg. Non-residential Public works and utilities Total construction * Calculated 5, 364- 4,375 1,35^ 12,593 10,096,900 10,607,300 211,200 20,915,4-00 39,027,000 63,571,200 72,222,300 17^,321,000 The value of building permits for lb Illinois cities for the first three months in 1935 smd 193& ^ as been compiled from monthly- issues of the Illinois Journal of Commerce. The results are given in Table 11 which affords a basis of comparison for construction in Illi- nois in the year 1935 an ^- "the possible trend building may take during the remainder of the current year. Table 11.. - Value of Building Permits in 16 Cities*, by Months, I935-I936 Illinois 19 3 5 19 3 6 Value of Number Average Value of Number Average Building of Value of Building of Value of Permits Permits Permit Permits Permits Permit January 9^,963 mm 151 623.3 1, %): 309,14-3 gift, 525 97S-; 53s 203 If 3,9^5.9 1 P^O h The l6 cities: Aurora, Bloomington, Champaign, Danville, Decatur, East St. Louis, Elgin, Freeport, Joliet, Moline, Peoria, Quincy, Rockford, Rock Island, Springfield, and Waukegan. "WASCHER/S" LIBRARY BINDERS 507 S. Goodwin Urbana, I1L