Connecticut western news., 1872-08-09
A Visit to O Marble Quarry.

It had been said of Massachusetts that s1s owes large share of her prosperity to her supplies of granite and ice. II might with equal truth be said of Yer mont, that much of her material wealth consists in her apparently inexhaustiblt supplies of ma1bl7 and slate.
 When the Vermont quarries were first opened, it was the aim to obtain very white marble and kind easily worked. M.uy of the quarries were near trap dlkes, where the whitest marble lies, and the quarrying was greatly facilitated by numerous joints that occur, running parallel with the dikes, but time has proved that marble from such localities contains numerous hidden joints, which upon exposure dis6gure the slab, and ii often breaks at these joints, Now, beds of fine, close grained, compact marble. are far the most valuable, but in order to reach such beds good deal of capital and labor must be expended in removing the overlaying portions that have been injured by atmospheric and other causes. Tho Vermont quarries produce sound marble of good quality that finds ready mark ct all over the country.
 | What is termed "Vermont marble" is principally found in Rutland and Ben nineton Counties, the most extensiv, works in the State being at West Rut- land. One quarry is roofed over, which prevents rain and snow from interfering with the work. .-s.... .-5
 The beds of all these quarries are so compact, that the marble is obtalned by channeling through the blocks. This IS done bv machines and by hand. TC break these channeled blocks the marble is drilled, sometimes by machine some times by hand. Then wedges are driven in. This is technically termed ''gaddine up." Blasting is resorted to, principally for s'uncovering" - removing useless overlying material. The detached blocks are hoisted out of the quarry by derricks that are moved by machinery dliven by horsepower. The sweep to which thi horses arc attached is connected with machinery in the building, which moves 8 wire rope running underground to the derrick. The waste material is hoisted out by the same means and removed tc the dump" in carts.
 Until 1904 marble was not sawed il New England, but "sheets" were split of land worked smooth by the chisel. II that year was adopted the plan of ancient mal be workers, and marble sawed witt a smooth strip of iron with the belr O sand and water, method now univers ally adopted, In the Rutland mills the saws are worked by steam. They are set in "gangs," and adjusted to saw tho blocks into slabs of the required thick ness. They work down to the block a' fast as cut by regular feed motion The top is kept covered with sand upon which water continually drips When the block is sawed it is washed down by the aid of hose. If desired the slabs are turned fatwise, anc sawed again to the required width. Ii takes about forty-eight hours to saw { five-ton block. The saws are of soft iron and last to do the work upon about two blocks. The ssrting and breaking up O the slabs is termed "coping." The cooper" hicks the two edges, and the1 breaks the slab across by slight blov of the hammer. Down in tho quarr, blacksmiths are kept continually at worl mending and sharpening the tools -Hearh and Home.