Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-08-31
Rutland Marble. No. L,
INTRODUCTORY,

INTRODUCTORY,
IN the remarks we may offer respect
ing the marble quarries and marble bus
mess Of Rutland, we lay no particular
claim 10 originality, either in matter or
manner, or to any superior advantages
over those who have already written on
the same subject. We are, in fact, in
debted to others for many Of the state
ments we here present; but, either they
were made some time ago, or they are
contained in volumes and files not easily
accessible to general readers, or they do
not IN all respects accurately represent
the present state Of affairs. Besides, the
subject matter of which we treat is en-
during; the wants Of the community in
reference to it for purposes Of ornament,
utility and affection are unceasing and
therefore it can hardly be out of place at
any time to speak OF it.
Marble is name applied to those va
rieties Of carbonate Of lime that can be
quarriel in large blocks, destitute Of
assures, and sufficiently compact in
structure to receive good polish, 1t
usually efiervesces with acids, and when
calcined affords quick lime.
The value Of marble depends on its
whiteness, or upon its agreeable shades
OF color, also upon its durability, and
its susceptibility Of being wrought by
artists into innumerable forms which
excite the admiration OF beholders.
Pari&n marble, obtained from the island
OF Paros, in the Egean Sea, was Of
snow-white color, and when polished
had waXy appearance. 1t hardened
by exposure to the air, and thus was
enabled 10 resist decomposition for ages.
1t received with accuracy the most deli
cate touches of the chisel, and it has re-
tanned for hundreds and even thousands
Of years the mild, wavy lustre Of the
original polish. The finest Grecian
sculpture which has been preserved to
the present time is generally Of Parian
marble, as the Medicean Venus, the Di-
ana Venatrix, the colossal Minerva, Ari-
adpe and Juno. 1t is also Parian mar
bic on which the celebrated tables at
Oxford England, are inscribed. These
are otherwise known as the Arundelian
marbles. "Pentelican marble" from
Mount Pentelicus, near Athens, closely
resembles the Parian, but is finer and
more compact. In the age Of Pericles,
the preference was given to this marble,
and .he Parthenon or Temple Of Minerva,
whose taultless proportions are still
contemplated with admiration by trav-
eleys, was constructed entirely of Pente-
lican marble. -..-----.
The United States are rich in marbles,
but Jnese riches have been only partially
developed The quarries OF Pennsylva-
MIA which are distant about twenty
miles from Philadelphia, afford a hand
some clouded marble A similar variety
is quarried in Thomaston, Maine. OF
black marble resembling the Irish lucu-
lite, 5he quarry at Shorenam in this
state furnishes the chief supply consum-
ed In the United States. The variety Of
marble scattered all through Vermont
is very great; but those which have been
most extensively worked are the saccha-
roidal, or loaf-sugar-like, white marble,
large quarries of which are found in
Middlebury, Sudbury, Brandon, Pitts
ford, Rutland, Clarendon, Wallingford,
Tinnouth, Dandy, Dorset, and. Airing
ton. OF these, by far the most extensive
and valuable are those at West Rut-
land and Sutherland Falls, and it is to
these we propose to confine our remarks
in two or three of the subsequent issues
Of the DAILY HERALD.