Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-08-05
MARBLEIlED LIMESTONE.
A VISIT TO THE QUARRIES AT
DICKSON, ALABAMA.
And some Notes that may Interest
the Public.
To the Editor of the Ledger,

To the Editor Of the Ledger; tt
The caption Of this article may be q
geological impossibility; yet, recent
visit to the magnificent limestone quar-
ries at Dickson, Alabama, on the Mem
phis and Charleston railroad, suggested
the term-marbleized limestone, am
told by parties who have used the micro
scope and studied physical antiquities,
that marble, as well as limestone, is COM
posed Of minute sea-shells, with about a
billion to the cubic inch. But marble is
older, or was packed closer, than lime
stone, and therefore withstands the ac-
ton of fire and other elements for a
greater time.
To my Impractical eye, however, the
Dickson quarries would easily pass for a
good article of Scotch granite, for it has
fine grain and is capable'of polish
that rivals many Of the most costly i'm
ported monumental or household mar
bles. The gentlemen who work these
quarries deserve all praise for their en-
terprise, and l would not thus volun-
teer to bring them more prominently be-
fore the public without thinking that the
public would to some extent be also
benefited. Four or five years ago they
rested from their travels as Southern
refugees, and bought on easy terms a
ledge of rock cropping out of hillside
two miles north of Dickson, and seven
hundred acres of cheap but well TIM
bered land. They began quarrylng the
stone and hauling the rough blocks to
the railroad. The supply was soon dis
covered to be inexhGustible, easy to
quarry and of superior quality A
steam mill was erected close by and SIX
frames of saws set in operation to cut
the blocks up into tagging or slabs OF
various dimensions, according to orders.
The force employed is about nifty men,
yet the demand is always ahead OF the
supply. Much of this stone has gone to
Memphis; it was used for the front OF
the Stanton block, and for various fronts
and sidewalks, and | saw several large
hag-stones to be put down in front OF the
Southern Express office on North Court
street. Large orders come from Mobile,
New Orleans, and other cities.
The increase of the business made 1t
necessary to build branch railroad to
Dickson, which has been done, and the
stone is lifted with derrick from the
quarry directly to the cars. A large or
der has been received lately from the
Catholic Cathedral in Mobile, and one
also from Memphis for the stone to be
used in the front of new school build
ing. The firm is F. L. Fossiek Il Co.,
well known also as contractors to supply |
masonry on the Memphis and Charles
ton and Mississippi Central railroads.
The members Of the firm, Major j. W.
Dunkerly, +. L. Fossick, jr., George Z.
Fossick and Mr. James j. Bowser, Su-
perintendent of the works, gave your
correspondent a cordial welcome on a
letter of introduction from Col c. l..
Anderson, Superintendent of the Mem
phis and Charleston railroad. The day
spent recently at these quarries is cher
ished as q pleasant and interesting re-
miniscence. And as this gray limestone
is furnished very cheap at our very doors,
and can be used for highly ornamental
as well as solid purposes and is superior
for turnpikes, (see Poplar street read,
/ doubt not that it will soon come into
very general use, and we will be able to
say that one of our great natural resour-
ces has been successfully developed.