The New York herald., 1850-06-07


long black hair dressed in black pilot cloth cost
len comforter about his neck red flannel shirt mole
skin pants, and oil canvass overas, fastened with
leather belt Verdict death by drowning.
The Granite Quarries Of Staten Island.
THE COMMON COUNCIL, ETC, TO THE
QUARRY WORKS.
On Wednesday morning last several members Of the
Common Council and heads of ents proceeded
to Staten Island in the steamer Huguenot for the pur
pose OF inspecting the extensive quarry works of
Messrs Russ Reid. The name of Russ has now be-
come matter of Broadway renown, in connection
with the description Of paving bearing his name which
is being laid by contract in that thoroughfare The
party reached Port Richmond about noon, and pro-
ceeded to view the works in question
This quarry was first opened by a company in 1sil
and was called the Richmond Granite Company but
extensive operations carried till the fall OF
the year 1885, wher ~, present owners bought the
works. The grounl ,?ied at present is ten acres
considerable port4sx Of which operations have
been commenced. The stone obtained from the quar-
ry species Of scyonite extremely close in grain
Compared with the Quincy stone, it rates thus by
weghtthe Quincy weighing 40 lbs to the cubic foot.
and the scyonte being 1s0 bs the latter being sixty
per cent harder than the former The shell of earth
above the rock species OF hard clay and varies in
thickness from two to twelve feet When this is strip
ped or removed, the pure rock is exposed which 10
forty-fve feet thick above water mark the supply
apparently being inexhaustible. The same ledse Of
rock extends beneath the river and under but
1t gets further north 1t in qualify and
becomes tougher, having a tendency to wear round,
and being difficult TO work. But one other quarry,
situated about mile from these works. of the
stone, exists II belongs to company but very little
is doing An inhabitan of New York, who has merely
seen the blocks Of stone laid down in our thorough
fares can have no adequate idea Of the amount and
variety OF labor uiste to produce them. We there
fore propose devoting space to brief sketch OF
the various operations in quarrying these paving
The stone exists in solid ledge Of rock, and must
rock is bored and powder is placed in the holes thus
formed, which is fred by fuse. This skaters
the rock and renders it practicable to work upon it,
amount of powder, and other circumstances Some
times much 500 tons Of rock blasted, the
considerable distance on Wednesday, about 400 tons
were blasted Having retired to safe distance the
sion was heard followed INV aisht os sma1 sap.o
which, rising to great height, fell In various direc
tions On inspecting the spot where the blast had
several large pieces thrown distance OF yards
One piece, weighing about twenty three tons, was
ton The rock being thus split into large pieces IL
is broken mp still smaller by drilling Of holes on
the surface Of the stone and inserting wedges Sue
cessvey increasing blows given to each Of these
wedges in rotation and, in few minutes the stone
splits. Having thus brought the stone to size COR
responding TO that required II passes into the stone
cutters hands, who shapes it with his ohisel Tho
size of the blocks varies from four eight inches In
thckness, and from ten to eighteen inches in length
In the quarry, tive upright masts or dsrricks
are planted, having arms projecting from near
Attached to the arms scales, ON which the rough
stones are placed; and as the arm moves on pivot
the stones deposited outside the quarry ready for
the stonecutters The larger Of these derricks' is
eighty feet high, and cost 81 100 in erection 1t
originally ntendsd the boston water works Along
the of the derrick and direct BY pulleys rome
passes to the ay'wheel Of steam engine by means Of
which the scale can be raised lowered at pleasure
This steam engine also the purpose pun ping
the water from the quarry and turning q circular
Jaw The engine is six horse power locomotive, and
the pump discharges every minute about 100 eailons
OF water into sewer, by means Of which II is carried
feed the boiler The engine house is rooted with
solidy packed logs Of Georgia pine that In blast
ing should stoncs fall the buildir- the would
penetrate the roof line Of rail, Is 1siJ from ,h
quarry to the waters edge distance Of nearly half
mile and as 1t ON considerable decline cars filled
pace Ia tie ships waiting for their loads BY the i'm
retus derived IRON their own weight. Besides these
there are two blacksmith's shops, and carpenters
shed, &c, Sc: Mesns. Russ Reid employ altogether
ninety men, in cutting. blasting, and labor Of various
kinds and, In addition, keep hve double teams Of
aong hoises who are ed In carrying away the
The monthly amount Of wages paid BY the firm is,
Termed that the British Consul who Ie for Enslsnd
last Monday, took with him several specimens OF the
Russ paving blocks Up to the present time. Messrs.
knts Reid have received three contracts from the
Common Council OF New York; the hrst was granted
In lSas, and extends from Chambers TO vssey the
,.'"uu IN lofv irem Nctey 10 maiuen lane, ana the
third In the present year. from Maiden lane to the
bonded warehouse. The blocks are six inches BY
Twelve and the price faid square yard Is s5 50.
In the whole contract 10000 blocks Of stone will be
used The piece opposite Stewards block laid I've
years since and from their superior character
~ per square yard. An inspection Of this beautiful
piece OF paving will show its excellent qualities
although for Eve years has stood the trying rae OF
brosdwsy yet II is stil perfectly level aud little
worn that the tool marks still be observed the
stones IL IL certainly the very beat description OF
pavement both as regards the comfort of travelling
IL. and In rrsk
cost pen haps little more the absence Of any need for
reTairs and ts lasting qualities. render 10 really the
most economical
We believe that the Common Council have voted
$4,000 for watering and paving this year 30 small
sum seems altogether inadequate to the wants Of the
city at least u snsufeient to insure satisfactory
results larger outlay at hrst would probably Lessen
The expense for many succeeding years The town Of
Liverpool, England, devotes to the same object
Of s750oo0.