The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-04

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name. These quarries may be thus classified :
LIST THE QUINCY GRANITE QuARRIEs.
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F Field Tbs. dtssns. isd.reI Fields worried
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Beails, Cas-, Ezra Beal, worked.
Bass. Josiah Bass. Moses Nightingale, worked
It's fair calculation to set the number of labo-
rers employed In these stone workshops at five
hundred, but many of them are engaged in getting
the granite out OF the hills in rough state only All
is not hewn here, and it is therefore difficult to tell to
how many persons the mines give employment. Ia
king the business, in all its ramfcations into cons-
deratoh-he vessels for transportation, the carts,
and drivers, and hewers, think that at least ten
thousand men, every year, obtain their bread and
great pillars Of the Courthouse in Boston were sent
to that city sin the rough, and worked" and iuted
there for use. One Of those pillars it came from
its quarry, weighed eighty tons. This was probably
boulders Of the granite, weighing seven and eight
thousand tons, have been split OFT from the main
lodges, and afterwards broken up into thousand
different pieces, and sent to all parts of the world.
One cannot with accuracy easily ascertain the
quantity of stone that has been quarred in this town
in any year. 1t has been estimated at rs OOO and
up to 100, 900 TONS Next year we shall be likely to
know precisely the amount because the Legislature
the commonwealth to be taken. Till this, however
we must base our calculations on the best data we
have in our possession. One quarry turned out ten
thousand tons in 1874, and there is one the Railroad
more extensive In Its operations than that We have
arranged the mines according to the extent Of their
business, In our classification and you thus have
pretty clear idea Of the whole.
These quarries are sometimes worked by their
owners, and sometimes hired by others by the year.
No. 3, or the Wigwam Quarry, is now worked by
association Of strikes" After their effort to find
employmentat higher wages than they had been re-
ceiving, they hired the Wigwam Mine at an annual
rent of $500, appointed an agent and now seem to
be very active IN their operations. Out of this quarry
came all the stone used in the construction of the
New York Exchange. twas then worked by Will
lard, the architect and all the stone was hewn before
it was shipped to your city. When Willard first I'M
dertook the contract, he was constrained to employ
Italian artists to cut the columns and curve the win
dow stills, &c. They, having monopoly Of the art,
became extortlonae In their prices but Willard set
few New Hampshire boys quietly to watch the TIA
lians in their labors These cute Yankees shortly ac-
quired the skill of carving, and the Italians as ma
tural consequence had soon to "walk the path" Now
Americans are almost exclusively employed in the
work in the lodges. have heard that the Exchange
Company yet one $4,000 for the granite obtained here
they have, however, given security, probably
through the Baring's, for the payment of the debt
The prices paid tor the stone are very unequal and
depend, Like every thing else, upon circumstances
It averages however, about ten cents cart load in
IN the rough, and fourteen cents when hewn. These
are the prices paid to the owners of the lodges for the
stone itself To these are to be added the cost
of blasting, splitting, hewing and cartng. All large
blocks ofthe granite such as are used for pillars
held at high value, and $1,000 has been paid for
single shaft II is difficult to get them out and more
difficult to safely transport them One concern had
the contract to supply the Custom House in Boston
with thrty-six large pillars, as large, or larger than
those on the New York Exchange. They will cost
the government, understand, ST. 100 each, or $75,-
6OO in the aggregate These columns are to extend
around the building, and beautifully capped they pre-
sent very fine appearance. Those who furnished
have cost over $500 piece-they more than doubled
their money, at all events.
The great trouble in increasing the stone business
in this town, has been the want of suitable means of
transportation to market. There is a bay, river,
and a canal and SO far they go, they answer the
purpose. All the pillars and blocks tor New York,
have gone from here by water in briggs, schooners,
and soops. There IS now to be railroad to run
through this place from Boston to Plymouth. This
road is In process of construction and will be finish
ed in August, September, or October After its com
pletion may expect great increase in the bust
ness, and the granite of Quincy will then go all over
the world much more than ever before Ships SAILING
from Boston in ballast, will then take granite instead
ofpavng stone and gravel for the reason that granite
will any where sell for building purposes. This will
make the ballast trips profitable, or, at any rate they
Will not be losing affair as they now This new
outlet will rid the quarres of vast deal of stone,
called chips, which is thrown or given way at the
present day. This will also throw a large income
into the treasury of the railroad company.
1t svery curious to see the result of the national
wealth Of a town upon the riches of Individuals
Lowell has given an instance of this in her immense
water power. Quincy exhibits another in her big
broad belts OF granite. Fifty years ago, its value was
scarcely known or appreciated. Sixty years ago,
wealthymerchant Of Boston purchased farm here for
country seat. Adjoining the land first bought was
pasture Of about twenty acres, which the original
owner OF the farm wished to sell to the merchant
The latter refused to buy until he was importuned to
the point of patience, when he paid fifty dollar bill
for the twenty acres. 1t was however, looked upon
as valueless. Since then, one of the most valuable
and beautiful veins OF granite has been found upon it,
and $4,000 refused for what only cost $50 sixty
years ago. could relate half dozen instances like
this but will suffice One thousand dollars have
been paid for an acre of the stone, and eve that is
now low price.
This is view of the Granite Hills in brief II is
a little too brief, but may send a few more parcu-
lars and facts in another letter