Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-05-09

all marble, and Pliny and Ovid feared
that the mountains themselves would be
destroyed. A tax was levied on each
piece of marble that entered Rome,
which somewhat lessened the traffic
Constantine (about 30S) allowed all to
sell and work marble free of tax. The
commerce in marble reached its highest
point during the reign of Marcus Azure
Illus 161-1S0), after which it gradually
declined so that Emperors conceded
privileges and gave premiums to exca-
vators. After the revival of art the
commerce in marble was again revived,
and it has increased gradually to the pre-
sent time
Michael Angelo was at Carrara, much
of the time, from 1906 to 1925, superin-
tending the excavation of marble for his
own use and executing his orders for
works of art. Experiencing great diff
Guilty in getting to the quarries in the
mountains, he constructed roads which
did much to increase the industry in
marble.
THE QUARRIEs.
The principal quarries are at Carrara,
Massa and Serevezia, those of Carrara
being the most extensive | make the
following extract from my diary, which
was written after returning from the
quarries here,
About three and half o'clock D. m.
we started for visit to the quarries in
the mountains. For a mile or more it is
quite easy walking, although the roads
are badly cut up by the large wagon
wheels, and are not kept in good repair.
The road follows a rapid running stream
of beautiful water upon which are stu
ated numerous mills for saving marble.
Every body seems to be busy, and the
business is marble-d hard business but
one which must be lucrative. On we
went tOiling up the mountain road. At
about four o'clock we met workmen
returning from their labor. People in
this country do not work as many hours
as in America-nOminally about eight,
think, but oftener not more than seven.
We constantly met with loads of mar
BILE coming from the quarries-large
blocks on wagons drawn by oxen, and
small pieces on the backs of dOnkeys.
There are several roads to the mountains
but we kept the principal One-the one
which appeared to lead to the highest
peak. When we began to ascend the
mountain the scene presented was most
magnificent. The road lay through mar
row raYines, while on each side and
ahead lowered the lofty Appenine peaks,
their tops white with snow and their
sides swarming with men engaged in
quarrying the precious rock. Occasion
ally we passed Overhanging cliffs of cal
careOus formation under which are grOt-
tOs where the families of wOrkmen have
taken up their residence.
1t is only necessary TO build and out
side wall to make a house. But water
is dripping from the rocks and it must
be damp place to live in; however,
suppose it is as good as these poor peO-
pie who work for forty cents per day,
can afford. If they can get food enough
to keep them from starvation they are
cOntentcd. On we 90 till we reach the
end of the wagon road We have walk
ed or rather climed, two miles already,
and are somewhat fatigued, but we must
see the tOpmOst quarry and on we 90
another mile (it seemed three jumping
over brooks and big blocks of marble
and climbing up steep ascents. The
wOrkmen are f1OCking past us by hun
dreds, but many still remain at work,
and the click of the hammer and the
shouts and songs of numerous voices re-
sound in every direction. Hark there
goes blast. All eyes are turned in the
direction of the sound and every one
stands breathless.
Crash crash comes laundering down
an immense white rock that has been
torn from an Over-hanging cliff, prob
ably two thousand feet away How it
bounds and leaps, throwing the debris of
broken marble in every direction FL
nallv its fury is spent and it rests quiet
" waiting to be divided into pieces suit
able for transportation. Both men and
oxen have been killed by pieces Of rock.
but the government now furnishes
police force whose duty it is to take pre-
cautiOnarv means too prevent accidents
Wonder | see a man dangling upon the
side Of a cliff, suspended by rope fas-
tened around his body. Oftentimes
places where the marble has cropped
out are reached in this way and there
the quarIyman hangs working with his
hammer and drill.
Just as the sun was sinking we passed
the last quarry and stood near the top
of the highest peak What a view burst
upon tie vision All around were the
hoary. dragged peaks of the Alpe Apu-
ami their sides spotted with white beds
Of marble the valleys and ridges Gov
cred with vineyards and olive and chest
mt trees At the foot lay the city of
Carrara with four miles of beautiful
country spread out beyond and beyond
this bOuudless eXpansc Of water-thc
Mediterranean sea. dotted with white
sails Michael Angelo said when enjoy
inc the same view, Il desire to erect
colossal figure on this mountain that
might be seen from the sea by the mari
nnrs. and he would have done so had
his time and labors allowed.
Night was approaching and we hasten
to rctracc our steps 10 the place from
whence he came. During the descent
we were constantly reminded of the
downward tendency of mankind, and of
his liability to exhibit weakness of the
knees under certain circumstances.
At Carrara there are about 700 eXCa-
vatiOns, 300 of which are now worked.
At Wassa there are 200, 45 of which are
worked. and at SereveZia about 175 out
of 275 are in operation. The fine statu-
ary. ordinary white, blnish and veined
marbles mostly come from these places.
There are a few small quarries at other
places but they are of little commercial
importance At Porte Nenere cOlOred
marbles are found, and green marble at
Genoa, in small quantities. There are
also quarries of ordinary marble, but
little worked in the Alps of northern
Italy.
The quarries of Carrara are owned by
178 individualsor companies. The prin-
cipal proprietors are Carlo FabricOtti,
Walton & Nephew, and Thomas Rob
SON Fabricotti owns about one quar-
ter of the whole of the Carrara quar-
ries Watson & Co., One-fifth and Rob
son one sixth. The remainder is owned
by small proprietors who usually dis
pose of their marble to the larger ones
as soon as it is quarried.
wORKMEN AND WAGES.
There are 5000 men employed in the
Carrara quarries, and 1900 more in saw
ing mills, studios and other departments
of the marble interest, making $500 in