Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-30
The industries of HalloWclI.
THE GRANITE QUARE.Es IN TIE VICINITY OF |
TIE CITY.

Through the poencss of Charl Wilson, Esq,
drm Of Bodwc'l < Wilson, we were favored with a
ride to the different ante quarrie for which
city is celeb aled Our first stop was al the Melvin
quarry called, which is situated the old road
to MI. Vernon about one mile from the city. The
Iiallowetl Granite Company haye a lease of this
quarry. Here we find men drilling preparatory to
blasting; two holes about two inches in diameter
and one inch distant from each other are made and
six feet in depth. These mortis ed, so 10 speak
into and filled with powder. The blast saw
preparing win Il successful, detaeh block we eh-
ing sixty All that Will remain to be done, viii
lie to cut 1t into the required shapes.
We now proceed to the quarry owned and worked
ly the Ilallowoll Granite Company, ON the road
leading to Manchester, d.by the way, it is con.
tanned in the territory which has been long
Il bone of contention between Manchester ard
Halowe.l. Justice at length prevailed aud It
returned to It's former allegiance. The tax collect
eel the property now goes to help keep the high
way in repair, as it should.
Ine track owned 10y tie company contains some
sixty acres or more, with an 'incXhauslble supply
OF the best granite in the world. As evidence of
this orders from all parts of the United states bear
witness. Here find corps of laborers drilling
and blasting, and others hewng out the huge blocks
to ill orders, and all the modern machinery for
making what would be almost impossible, quite
easy rs were.
Here is Il steam engine for pumping the water
from the quarry anl also portable railway for
CONVEYING away the refuse stone and DIRT We
noticed a set of wheels that used in moving
large blocks of stone that will weigh ten tons OF
more. 1t seemed to us they ought to be handiedby
Il pair OF elephants. The large oxen We spoke OF
recently, ssaI phered by NJ. linlhan had been
used during the past sunni err in drawing granite to
the sheds in the city but by an unfortunate acci-
dent of them lost an eye, and they being very
fat were disposed of. Their giith was about eight
feet. They have another air large and seven
pairs beside, not q-ite rs heavy, making sixteen
oxen beside sin mules that are ed conveying
granite TO tide waters. The teams draw
ing paving stones to the tompany's wharf, to be
shipped on tue opening of navigation, to Washing
ton, Phila,el hia and New York. | am informed
that the company have orders to Ill that viii re,
quire six months to complete.
They have employed one hundred hands duriGg
the summer, and are employing over fifty during
the winter. M0st Of the nice dimension work is
performed al the sheds near the railroad depot
in the city, where eve,v facility Is Afforded for
loading the amer in.Shed directly upon the
cars.
Some idea of the amount of capNal required in
the business is conveyed we were tNfo,med by
Mr. Wilson that their pay roll upwards of
$4,000 per month. Quite snug little sum- ncary all
of which goes into the hands of the laboring mch
The prorretors are in fun sympathy with their
employees and every effort is made to advance
their interests Men are paid fair wages for one
year to learn the business, after which the wcrl,
is done by the piece. On nice work some men
can earn from five to seven dollars per dry.
For several years past the way this business has
been conducted, it has been failure, as it has
been in the hands of irresponsible parties; but
since it passed into the hands of Messrs. Bodwell
~ Wilson, things have assumed different aspect.
They of wealth and may well add,
sterling eorh and have the interest Of the city
heart and are doing all they to improve the
diton of all with whom they come in contact.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Wilson is the
representative elect from this city and we restas-