The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-08-28
FrecStOmc Quarries.

Portland Quarrles, whence is procured
the stone extensively used in building and
commonly called Freestone, are situated
on the east bank of the Connecticut river,
nearly opposite the city of Middletown.
They are three in number; the upper or
" Middlesex Quarry y the middle or
6 Brainard Quarry" and the lower or
Hall Quarry" These are very large
excavations in the earth, from rs, to 100
feet deep, and the largest Gin surface
covering about l-2 acre. 1900 men are
employed in digging out and preparing the
stone for the market They are mostly
Irish, though Scotch, English and Ameri-
cans may be found About 100 vessels
are employed in conveying these stones to
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and
Baltimore, 30 or 60 of which, belong to
the companies, and the others, merely
transient, being hired for the trip only.
They are mostly schooners, Of l6O tons,
and the full cargo of that amount, is calcu-
lated, when trimmed at about 100 tons.
They are kept in complete order from
truck to keel, and scarcly speck of dirt
could be seen on those we visited. 1t is
interesting to watch these immense pits,
swarming with men, the eyes confused by
the variety of iscenes, and the ear ring
inc with the sound of the hammer and the
drill. AS nearly as we were able to learn,
the process Of procuring and working up
the stone, is as follows. Holes are drilled
of the depth Of about l6 feet in the form of
tri angles, each side Of the triangle being 3
inches in length, (Which makes very large
cavities, sufficient to contain two kegs of
powdcr) and the usual process Of blasting
is gone through with. This cleaves off very
great masses of stone, which are to be again
broken into smaller. This is performed by
drilling several small holes, and driving
wedges in each of these so that the large
blocks also are cleft into pieces of almost
any size. They are then delivered into the
hands Of other workmen, who trim them,
and ship them for the markets. They are
also smoothed and polished by machinery
Accidents often happen here as the falling
Of banks &C., by which sometimes lives are
lost. AT the Middlescx Quarry there is
large box fixed on II crane, for the purpose
Of lowering oxen into the pit, where they
can be worked. A few days since, as a
yoke Of them were being drawn up, the
door by some means became unfastened,
and one of them falling out, was instantly
killed. We were not able to ascertain the
exact expenses OF these quarries, but are
informed that they far exceed $4,000 per
day. Every one who has an opportunity
should visit these stupcndcus works Of the
genius and power ofman, and after behold
ing all the various processes of the work,
should retire when the time for blasting
comes (Which is about sunset to the oppo-
site side of the river, where they can be
seen and heard in safety. First a thick
column of blue smoke arises, then a fash
sharp and swift as the lightnings glare, and
in second pcals of mimic earthquakes
burst upon the air, and call forth every
echo from the surrounding hills. We sin
ccrely regret, Mr.. Editor that we have
not been better able to do justice in
this description, they in fact, are, as
most other such things, better seen than
described. But we have dared to offer this
short article to your readers, recommend
ing them to by, all means, visit the Free
stone Quarrics at Portland Connecticut.
Middletown Conn. n.