Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-04-21

Cas'leion Slate Company is pronoun-
ced, by compelen, Judges, equal TO
the Wales Slate, AID must event
ually supply its place in our markets.
But to The Marbles OF this State pub
lie attention has been for a longer
period directed than to the Mineral
resources she may possess, and each
year is adding To their value AMI i'm
poriance. AT no former period have
her Marbles occupied so high place
10 the estimation OF the public, as at
the present time. This is partially
owing to the increasing favor with
which all American productions are
being received, but mainly to the
fact that, in the early history of her
Marble interest, she was offering sur
face productions TO compete with
blocks furnished by the quarries OF
Europe that have been worked to a
great depth. Ii is now proved that
for beauty of color and variety OF
styles as well as finish, we are able
to compete successfully with foreign
Marbles. The Marbles Of Vermont
are now worked TO the extent OF
nearly three millions per annum, aud
yet the demand exceeds the supply.
Among the varieties furnished are
the White, Black, Blue Veined,
Fawn colored and Vcrd Antique -
OF the White, there are several vari-
cites and qualities, most of which
are coarse IN texture, and consequent
" used but little, except for building
and sephulchral purposes. In the
past few years beds of limited ex-
tent of the finest White ST tuary
Marble have been opened, furnishing
an article preferred by many sculp-
tors even to the Italian. The Black
in richness of color and fineness oil
texture, equals any Marble of the
kind at present worked. The blue
veired resembles an Italian stone
that has long been used for ornament
al purposes, aud is being extensively
used IN its stead. The Fawn-color.
ed has lines of brilliant black, and i:
one of the most beautiful of AMER.
can Marbles. The Verd Antique i,
a recent discovery. and being KIM
of Marble but little known in thi.
country, deserves a more extended
description. This Marble is of {
brilliant green color, embracing eve
~ variety of shade. from blacklist
green Ia very hight, with white inter
mingled IN masses, cubes, aud veini
giving 10 many portions of the sion,
a breccia,ed appearance. As al
Ornamental Marble, II Is unequslle,
by any former discovery in TINS coun
try. Ia style il is almost a perfec
fac sImile of The Italian verd Antiuu,
from which it derives lis name ans
has been pronounced by numerou
scientific men who have examined i
to be the same in character and com.
position.
Prof c. U. Shepard, in hi
Geological Report of Connecticut
says of the Verd Antique Marble
This precious Marble was original
| ly obtained as is supposed fron
Thessalonica in Macedonia, or a
some MAINTAIN, from Lacedemonluu
in the Morea. AT present, however
it is only 10 be met with in smh
fragments and scattered block:
among the ruins of Roman and E,rus
can cities, aud so scarce has il be
come that its price in Paris is th'rl
dollars the cubic foot. It's Us
therefore is very limited, and confin
ed only TO the more costly articles G
furniture"
The Qlsrries Of this recently di,
covered Marble are located in Roa
bury, on the borders OF the Vernon
Genital Railroad, and within ie'
rods of lis track. From a siateme,
recently published by the America
Verd Antique Marble Company.
whom these quarries belong,-w
learn that the Company have near
completed "a large Mill with amp
machinery, including powerful Ell
CINE. which Will be Set at work III
earliest possible day, preparing f
market the large quantity of bloch
quarrled the past season."
Judging from the specimens a
ready exhibited, their favorable con
parlson with the foreign article, Il
gcther with that peculiar style an
color, which has always recommen'
ed The Verd Antique Marble Cor or
amenlal purposes, and the great
reduced price at which it can now |
afforded, we see no reason wi
this Marble interest may not becon
The mos, important aud valuable
, the Stale. We understand The Con
pany nave already orders tor sever
thousand dollars worth of the sio'
to be delivered the coming season :
, This interest deserves the aitentio
not only of the capitalist, bu, of a
who are interested IN the resources
Vermont, showing, as II does, ih'
beneath the slopes of her green hill
lie buried productions as rare an
beautiful as the sunniesl cline CT
, boast.
The prejudices formerly existing
: a great extent against American pr
! auctions simply because America
have always TO greater or less e
tent retarded The Development ofo
{ resources but to the credit of
| A 4