The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-05
A Visit to a Marble Quarry.

II had been said OF Massachusetts that
she 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 inexhaustble
supplies OF marble and slate.
When the Vermont quarries were
first opened, Il was the aim TO obtain very
white marble and kind easily worked.
Many Of the quArries we're near trap
bikes, 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 dis6guro the slab, and It
often breaks ut 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 OVERLAPPING portions that have been
injured by atmospheric and Other causes.
The Vermont qharries produce sound
marble of good quality that Rndsa ready
market all over the country.
What is termed vermont marble is
principally found in Rutland nal Ben.
nington Counties, the Gost extensive
works in the State being at West Rut.
land. One quarry is rooted over, which
prevents rain and snow from interfering
with the work.
The beds OF all these quaIries are so
compact, that the marble is obtained by
channeling through the blocks. This Is
done by machines and by hand. To
break these chanpeled blocks the marble
Is drilled, sometimes by q machine some
times by hand. Then wedges are driven
in. This is technically termed "gadding
up, Blasting is resortcd to, principally
for Empowering" = removing useless
everything material. The detached blocks
arc hoisted ont Of the quarry by derricks
that arc moved by machinery driven by
horsepower. The sweep to which thu
horses arc attached is connected with
machinery in the building, which moves
wire rope running underground to the
derrick. The waste material is hoisted
out by the same means and removed TO
the dump" in carts.
Until 1904 marble was not sawed in
New England, but "sheets" were split of
and worked smooth by the clisel. In
that year was adopted tie plan Of ancient
marble workers, and marble sawed with
smooth strip OF iron with tho help Of
sand and water, method now uniyers-
ally adopted, In the Rutland mills the
saws nre worked by steam. They are
sot in gangs" and adjusted to saw the
blocks into slabs OF the required thick.
ness. They work down to the block rs
fast rs cut by Il regular feed motion.
The top is kept covered with sRnd,
upon which water continually dfips
When the block is saved ii Is washed
down by the aid Of hose. II desired
the slabs are turned flntwise, and
sawed again IL the required width. II
takes about forty.eight hours to saw u
five.ton block. The saws are OF soft iron,
aud last TO do the work upon about two
blocks. The sorting aud breaking up Of
the slabs is termed coping" The
cooper hicks the two edges, and then
breaks the slab across by a slight blow
OF the hammer. Down in the quarry
blacksmiths ore kept continually at work
mending and sharpening tho tools.
I-HdrM aud Home.