The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-15
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.
NlRYLAND FREESTOSB INNING AND
MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
GRAND EXCURSION TO SENECA
ADIsTINaUIsHED PARTY

holders Of the Maryland Freestono and
Mining Company, large number Of gentle
men interested In the success Of the Seneca
stone assembled at the residence of Henry
u. Cooke, esq, the distinguished banker, In |
Georgetown, on Wednesday morning, at 9 |
o'clock, where carriages we're in waiting to
convey them to the Great Falls, and from
thence by steam packet to the quarries OF
the company In Montgomery county, Nd,
distant from Washington about 90 miles.
Those desiring to make the trip BY canal, |
and view the grand scenery along the route,
avnilcd themselves OF the hne little propeller
Minnesota, owned by Mr.. W. II. Ritter, and
commanded on the occasion by Capt. John
Oliver. Tho boat left her wharf, foot Of
Market street, at a. M, aud reached the
Great Falls about o'clock, where the party
taking the overland route had arrived few
moments previously; aud after joining the
party on board, the little steamer sped her
way to the Seneca quarries, arriving there
about IL o'clock.
Among those Of the excursionists we no.
ticcd Hon. Caleb Cushing, II. ID. Cooke, W.
W. Corcoran, WIN. s. Huntington, II. II.
Dodge, DR.. John L. Ridwell, Esau Plckrell,
Captain Sanger, II. Kilbourne and brother,
DR.. Brewer, Thomas Anderson, WV. Poole,
Jno. 7. Mitchell, George spates, A. II. Dodge,
{. ". Hayden, VIM. Albert King, Walter
West, Joseph c. Kennedy, General X. Will
lams, Surgeon General Barnes, Gen. D. W.
Price, United States Paymaster Geuer al,
Judge Bowie, of Nd, Stephen A. Douglas,
IT,, Adolph Cluss, Jos. L. Savage, Hon. b. b.
French, A. B. Mullet, supervising architect
81 . h. n NIL ID Anra
B. Same, engineer Of the aqueduct water
works, J. II. Risley, J. A. Wills, Col. Frank
Jones, General Babcock, r. J. Dobbins, of
Philadelphia, Thos. ?. Morgan, and others.
II may be well to state here that the Mary
land Freestonc Company organized for the
purpoCe of supplying the demands OF our
community with superior and cheap quality
OF building stone, and amer careful inquiry
IL was found that no stone, combining these
essentials, was equal TO the stone Embedded
In the quarrlcs at Seneca, OF which the
Smithsonian Institute was built, and which
has been tested both by time and fire TO the
satisfaction Of the most competent builders
and scientific gentlemen OF the United
States. As a further evidence OF the
estimation In which the Seneca stone
is held, we will state that many OF the
finest buildings lately erected, and In course
of erection, In the District Of Columbia,
comprise this material, among which we no
tice the Young Mems Christian Association,
corner of Ninth aud d streets, Ia monument
in Itself TO the superiority Of the stone above
all others for building purposes,) as also 81.
Dominic, ST. James and the Capitol Hill
Catholic churches.
Professor Joseph Henry, ofthe Smithsonian
Institute, In late paper, thus speaks of
Its durability as a building material:
10 regard to this msterial, 1t was stated
That II possessed quality that should espe-
eially recommend 1t to the attention OF hufld
era When nrst quarried 1t 10 comparatively
soft, working freely before the chisel and b am
meri but by exposure It gradually indur,tes
ana Ultimately SECURES a toughness and con.
mosphertc yieissitudes, but even the mos
severe mechanical wear and tear. Thus, OF
the tow.path Of the aqueduct, near Senec.
creek, over which horses aud mules have bee
travelling almost daily for upwards OF twenty
years, this iFeestone was found still uuiu.
Psired. Even the corners around which the
heavy lock.gstes swing, showed no signs OF
chipping or decay and gu the perpendicular
tinuNlly ouziag through the Joints and trick
ling down its face, forming an incrustAtion OF
carbonate of lime, this freesione was observed
the grooves and ridges Of the surface still nearly
HHLA!L4et As when We block. hrst .! cane ion
years ago"
Having thus depressed, we will turn to the
oxcurslollsts and the quarrles. After dis.
embarking, the party was hrst conducted to
the extensive new saw-mIll Of the company,
erected ut cost OF over $4,000 and bnt
lately put in full and successful operation.
Mr.. A. c. Wicker has charge Of this mill,
and the machinery used Is known as Merry.
mans patent. There are eight gangs Of
saws ln use, making u total OF from 40 10 SO
saws and 50 complete is the machinery that
not the slightest vibration is perceptble 10 any
portion ofthe building. The mill was In active
operation when the eXcursionlsts paid their
visit, in saving tagging OF 4-lnch thickness
for the use OF the United States Treasury
OF course, the water is the motive power 10
work the saws, and such is the capacity that
huge blocks, weighing from 8 to 20 tons
each, arc sa we'd Into smooth slabs or blocks
In an incredible short space Of time.
The stone Is brought from the quarry to
this mill on cars propelled by horses, and
without shifting 1t the truck Is run under
the gang frame, where the stone Is sawed In
any desired thickness. Two derricks are
erected in front Of the mill In question, the
larger one for the purpose of lifting the huge
blocks from the cars, and the smaller one
for loading boats on the canal with the
dressed stone for shipment to market. There
are two saw-mills now In use; the smaller
one, adjacent to the working quarry, run.
ming Ave gangs of saws, and which was also
evidencing its industry by keeping busy
some dozen or more of laborers In supplying
Its teeth with the tenacious and profitable
morsel Of red stone. About midway from
the new mill to the quarry Is a substantial
twO-story frame building, having a front OF
forty feet, with the same depth, and which
Is designed as store-room and office, while
at convenient distances from the busy scene
Of the quarries are comfortable houses foI
the accommodation Of the workmen and
their families. Blacksmlth's shop and tool
shops are also on the premises, affordlnp
every facility for the practical working and
development Of the grand enterprise In which
the Maryland Freestone Company are now
engaged.
The possessions Of the company embrace
an area Of more than 800 acres, fronting on
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and run
ming back a distance Of fully half a mile.
The quarrles arc lueXhaustlble, and the
quality of stone taken out improves daily.
There ore now In the employ of the com.
pany some 100 men, and the quarry is worked
by blocking out with feather and wedge,
thus doing away with blasting; but notwlth.
standing this rapid process of working the
quarry aud the great demand from builders
for the product, 1t is In contemplation by the
company 10 shortly increase their force to
some 800, giving employ to many worthy
men, who, with their families, will draw
their supplies from this District, and thus
directly benefit our merchants and dealers In
the necessary staples Of everyday life.
Mr.. James Lam5On Is the general superln-
tendent Of the works at Seneca, and Mr..
WIN. B. Lowe Is the resident agent.
The company, after strolling around and
viewing and admlring the vast works and
Possessions Of the company, were invited by
the committee OF arrangements to partake
Of dinner, which was gotten up In most cx-
ccllcnt style, under the supervision Of Mr..
Anthony ROdier, Of Georgetown, assisted by
Mes'rs, Daniel J. Cox, G. Harper and Al
fred Putrr. Full justice having been done
the Nmnd', the cloth was removed and sentl-
ment- cAnhNngcdi Judge Bowie, Of Mont
gomery county, Md, congratulatlng the
Freostonc Company upon their efforts and
progress In developing their lnexhauslbls
mine of practical wealth, concluding in com
plimcntlng those citizens Of the District who
had embarked IN the great enterprise.
Dr.. john l.. KIdwcll, president of the
company, followed, who stated briefly the
commencement and progress made by the
company, nnl what III future would be il
the spirit OF energy continued to pcryade the
stockholders, who were demonstrating to the
people that the great home enterprise was
worthy OF their kindest consideration and
support.