The Mankato fire brick and drain tile works are turning out material of a splendid degree of perfection and find sales easy. (The Saint Daily Paul Globe, Friday Morning, June 6, 1879, Volume VII, Number 158, Page 2)
Mankato is quite a brick making centre, its capacity in the line of building brick being estimated at 200,000,000 annually. Mr. Alberger has lately added to this business the manufacture of drain tile. He burned one kiln, his first, last week, and although an accident occurred which interfered with his entire success, he turned out a half-kiln of well-burned and first class tile. He will burn another kiln this week and then proceed to improve his works, and purchase new machinery for extensive manufacture next season. (The Saint Daily Paul Globe, Tuesday Morning, July 31, 1883, Volume VI, Number 212, Page 2)
Mankato Clay Works. Among the most interesting and valuable discoveries of the latent wealth of Mankato has been that of "fire clay," in what has been for years considered a worthless bank of chalk white material. Early last spring Mr. S. F. Alberger, a gentleman from New York who has large experience in the manufacture of fire brick, came to Mankato, and after prospecting for some little time, came upon this mine of hidden wealth and at once began experimenting. So satisfactory were his tests that a company has been formed, with the above caption, who, in addition to the manufacture of fire brick will continue the manufacture of drain tile, so successfully accomplished last year by Mr. Alberger, and also no doubt manufacture well tubing, sewer and culvert pipe and hollow brick. The works at present occupy a building near the Sioux City depot, formerly used as a wheat warehouse, which has been converted into use as a fire brick factory and furnished with all the necessary machinery and steam for power and heating. The present capacity of the works is about 500 brick per day, which in summer will be increased to 10,000. The indestructibility of this clay may be shown from the fact that subjected to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit a degree of heat so intense that the human eye could not look at the substance, it sustained its form and substance and refused to melt. This industry thus established becomes of all the more importance from the fact that no fire clay of any degree of value not works for the manufacture of fire brick exists anywhere nearer than St. Louis and Chicago. Permanent works are to be erected this summer by the company nearer their clay supply, and an extensive business will thus be inaugurated. (The Saint Daily Paul Globe, Wednesday Morning, March 5, 1884, Volume VII, Number 65, Page 1)
The Mankato Fire Brick and Tile company and the Mankato Pipe company make a good (fair) exhibit of work from their factories. (The Saint Daily Paul Globe, Thursday Morning, September 3, 1885, Volume VII, Number 246, Page 5)
The Mankato Tile, Fire Brick and Clay company, composed of Samuel F. Alberger, John H. Ray and John C. Noe, with a capital of $50,000, has filed articles of incorporation. (The Saint Daily Paul Globe, Thursday Morning, February 25, 1886, Volume VIII, Number 56, Page 2)