Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-10-06
Gbc Wtrmolrt 4benit.
BRArrnEBoRo, SATURDAY. Der. 9. 1855.
RuTLANn MAnnLE QuAnRIEs.

an opportunity Of visiting the extensive Marble
Quarries at West Rutland, three miles distant from
the Depot of the Rutland & burlington Railroad,
at Rutland. The opening Of these quarries Is
work Of comparatively recent date. When first
visited that region, ten years since, there was but
one opening, at which place the marble was quar-
ried exclusively by the aid Of powder. This pro-
cess SO shattered the blocks that the waste was
enormous. That opening has been deserted for
number Of years. rs better marble Is found else
where in the vicinity, and the mode Of quarrying
has vastly improved since 1876.
On the main road from Rutland to Castleton, and
about miles from the former village, the visitor
approaches the southern extremity Of what a few
years since, was M almost impenetrable swamp,
about mile In length from north to south, and
from fny to two hundred rods in width. Within
three or four years the principal part Of this vast
bed Of muck or peat has been reclaimed, and cul-
tivated. II now produces in great abundance corn
and other cereals, grass, potatoes and garden veg
etables. On the east side Of this Vermont prairie
rises high bluff containing inexhaustibe qnanti-
ties Of the purest white marble Between the bluff
and the meadow travelled highway and n branch
railroad have been constructed both Of which lead
directly to the quarrcs of the Rutland Marble
Company, owned by II. II. Baxter, Esq, and his
associates.
The openings Of the quarrics are made on the de-
cyity Of the hill about thirty feet above the sur
face Of the meadow. The direction Of the strata Is
north and SOUTH and the dip, towards the east, at
an angle Of about forty degrees with the hori-
zon. The marble is in layers, separated by natu-
raj seams. which vary in thickness from two to four
or five feet One layer will be pure white, the next
clouded, the next, perhaps, white. The layer at
which the workmen were engaged during our visit
was about FIVE feet in thickness, perfectly white,
the recent fractures Of which presented the appear
ance Of very finely crystalized loaf sugar.
In working this quarry an opening Of four or
five hundred feet has already been made, and II is
constantly extended. From the upper edge Of the
opening the depth is about sixty feet. On the in
cned plane thus presented rows Of Irishmea are
placed ten in row each with long drill one inch
in diameter. With these drills grooves are cut
completely through the layer. from its upper Dor
der TO the bottom Of the opening. at distances from
eight to ten feet apart These immense blocks are
then divided and subdvided by means Of wedges
driven into series Of drill holes, much afer the
manner of quarrying granite, except that the drill
holes in the marble are deeper, and the wedges
used larger. The blocks as prepared for the mill
are Eve or six feet long, four or ave feet wide, and
as thick rs the layer from which they are taken
They are removed from their bed by large derricks
by which they are hoisted from the quarry and
loaded on the cars which are to transport them to
the mills or markets.
Specimens Of the marble quarried by this CON-
pany were exhibited at the Stae Pair and they at
tracted great attention for their fine texture white
ness. and beautiful appearance Large quantities
Of II are sold at the marble yards in the principal
cities Of the country for Italian. and none but the
most practiced eye will be able to tell the diff
ference. The marble sells on the ground from 20
to 20 cents, per square foot, from 80 to 81 per
cubic foot.
The Rutland Marble Company will raise about
100000 feet during the present year. supplying
four large saving mills in the vicinity besides fur
nishing much that is shipped in the rough. They
employ about 200 hands at the quarry. The ar
rangements for boarding and lodging this large
number are Of the most ample kind, the buildings,
which are owned by the company, being neat and
roomy
The slide that occurred at this quarry in May,
and about which so much was said and written,
only removed such portions of the waste material
as the proprietors had made arrangements to blast
of during the present winter; instead, therefore,
of its operating injuriously it proved great ad-
vantage.
The saving shops are interesting objects, and
we'll worthy Of q visit. In the mills Of W. Y Rip.
ley. at Center Rutland, are twenty gangs Of saws,
each frame capable Of holding twenty or tn irty
SAWS from ten to twelve feet long. These eaxs are
made of the softest iron. They move horizontally,
each gang being placed above the block of marble
to be sawed and spaced to correspond with the de-
sired thickness Of the slabs. A block five feet in
depth requires about 90 hours saving, when the
whole is reduced to slabs of the desired size Mr.
Ripley already saws 10000 feet yearly and is
erecting another mill, which when completed. will
increase his present capacity for saving. The 9TH
er mills in the vicinity and on the Otter Greek are
simimiarly constructed. Steam has been intro
duced to some extent q motive power.
Before the railroads were built these quarries
were comparatively worthless. The freight by land
carriage was so great as to consume all that was
obtained for the product after deducting the ex-
pense of quarrying. Mr.. W. p. Barnes owned the
one now'descrbed, being twelve years since in mod
crate circumstances. lie has sold that part Of his
quarry now owned by the Rutland Marble Compa-
ny for $4,000. The present prOprietOrs are
working it largely and reaping rich reward for
their investment and enterprise.
Messrs. Sheldon, Nor gan & slason also are en-
gagged in qurrying and saving marble. They have
an excellent steam mill, and cut about $50. 900 feet
yearly.
The inhabitants of Rutland county cannot ap-
preciate too highly the advantages resulting from
these enterprises. They are now provided with
home markets for their produce, which are Of more
consequence to them than the gold mines of Cali
fOrnia can ever become. Business is created for
every farmer and mechanic. The hundreds and
thousands directly and indirectly engaged in the
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