Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-24

cable up OH the ground where 1t might
otherwise rub; and the thing is done.
This mode of transmitting power, though
not often employed in this country, is not
uncommon in Europe; it is sometimes
used to convey power two or three miles
and is found very effective, the loss OF
power being by actual test but eight per
cent. per mile; that is, in this particular
case, less than one per cent. The water
wheel also drives pump, which through
three inch pipe delivers at the mill a
constant supply of water for the saws.
THE MARBLE MILL.
An excellent site was chosen for the
mill where the marble is sawed one
end of spot easily graded to level,
giving room south of the mill for large
marble-yard, - only one hundred feet
from the track of the Rutland Railroad,
across which from the front of the mill
sweeps the Marble Company's railroad
track, on long stretch of trestle work,
awav to the quarries. A little north OF
the mill, on the old road which led to the
bridge across the river,-built by Mr..
Belden, but long since fallen, Islands a
row of new houses built for the work
men and south of the mill stands huge
derrick, swinging its one arm over the
side track, and Iooking-as it is-prepared
to take up any little pebble Of fifteen or
twenty tons or so, and lay 1t away In any
convenient spot. Already around it, in a
double ring, lay piled up on each other
huge white blocks, ready to be dragged
into the mill and slitted up.
The mill itself is wooden building
100 feet by seventy five, and about thirty
feet high to the ridge, through which
over head runs the main shaft, on the
outer end of which is the cable-pulley.
The twelve main driving pulleys give mo-
ton, by rubber belts, to three quadruple
sets of pulleys and fly wheels, arranged
compactly and conveniently through the
middle of the mill on the floor, whose
cranks and pitmans drive the saw-gangs,
six on each side of the mill. A railroad
track for the marble trucks runs up from
the ward on each side of the mill, and
underneath the mill is a large drain
which carries off the water, sand and
dirt, into the ravine and so to the river.
The total cost of this work was about
$4,000, and all of the machinery and
buildings, except the water wheel and
Nichols & Co. The plans seem excellent,
and the workmanship thorough-nothing
tor show, and everything for solid and
long use many contriyances for tighten
ing labor and rendering the machines
more effective are introduced, a technical
description of which would only confuse
the reader, without conveying much in
formation, though easily appreciated by
mill-wrights and machinists.
1t is the purpose of the company this
coming summer, to put up another build
ing adjoining this one-the power fur
nish9d by the same shaft-to contain Ii
gangs of saws for which the wheel and
cable will furnish power and to spare.
This will make the mills of the Belden's
Falls Marble Company, we are informed,
the largest in the country. The mill
wright, Mr.. II. T. Dewey, has had already
much experience in erecting such mills,
and has acquired reputation which will
take him to Italy, for a similar work
there, another year.
Marble Company's mills is convenient,
the water power ample aud steady, the
mills powerful and soon to be the largest
in the country, the marble most excellent,
the Company of sufficient capital, and its
Superintendent, Mr.. H. t. Machin, is an
energetic and practical business man from
Portland, Maine with all which advant-
ages there seems every probability that
the investment will from the start prove
profitable, and in the end exceedingly re-
munerative.
WHERE THE MARBLE COMES FROM.
Though the Marble Company has Il
ledge of good stone on its own land, for
the present, at least, it will only saw for
others, and especially for the Addison
County Marble Company. This corpora
tion, having capital of 100000, is
working quarry four miles southeast of
Belden's Falls; and to bring its marble to
the mills, the railroad before spoken of
was constructed at cost of $50 900 per
mile. The marble got ont by this COM
pany is pronounced by judgesnot excelled
by any in the country, and much superior
to most. The vein of statuary marble is
said by Greenough, the sculptor, to be
equal to the best italian or Greek mnrble,
and the only marble he has seen able to
stand out doors in our climate without
discoloration. All the marble of this
quarry is exceedingly strong and fine
grained, yet easier to work under the
chisel than most marbles; and freer from
streaks and stains of any kind than any
marble yet quarried in the State.
This ledge is not newly discovered,
having been opened sixty years ago, and
some marble got out but capital or ener-
gy failing, the enterprise was abandoned,
and nothing more done with it till
about two years ago. About 80 feet by
marble grows better as the excavation
progresses. The Company owns about
three-fourths of mile in length, and the
number and value of the tons of marble
to be got out of it is almost incalculable.
1t is in contemplation to extend the
railroad further, to reach other quarries
in Middlebury which have not power
enough to saw all they cut, and to bring
their blocks to Belden's Falls, where is
power enough, and excellent facilities fOr
shipment.
There are several qualities of stone
quarried here, building and tile marble
monumental marble, of most dazzling
wilderness and perfect purity; and stain
airy marble, no less fne-grained and clear
but with just the tinge of color which
sculptors prefer for their best works.
not absolutely white, but of tint that
best brings out the lights and shadows, -
and withal so strong that it can be worked
30 fine edge that will almost cut, with
out crumbling in the least. For bust he
made from block of this marble Green.
ough obtained $1,000, and he is now at
work on another block, life-size statue
Before concluding, it may not be uait
teresting to describe
HOW MARBLE IS SAWED.
The blocks, laid by the derrick each OF
truck which itself stands crossways or
another, are drawn up to the front of the
mill ; tackle is hooked on, power applied
and each truck with its load drawn into
the mill on its own truck and placed I'm.
der gang of saws. In some mills the
blocks are drawn in by oxen on STONE
boat, but the simple mechanical contriv.
ance employed here render the operation
much easier and quicker. The saws urt
straight plates of iron, perhaps four inch
es wide, running like thread,
len Oth wise of n hute rnctaDuul,,