The Baltimore County union., 1872-08-24

c1pdDl0 OF D6lQR SObtcI Oub III DAOSno VI oAAA@DSs
any size, rivalllng in prodigious magnitude the
stones of Palestine described In Biblical histo-
~. 1t may also astonish many readers to learn
that when the Capitol extension at Washington
was being constructed, after having endeav-
ored in vain, at home and abroad, to obtain
solid blocks for the massive monolIthic columns
sustaining the porticos which are now admired
by people from all sections OF the world, the
government found at the Baltimore quarfle5
what could not be obtained elsewhere, and to
Maryland was given the contract. The stones
from which these columns were cut were solid
blocks twenty-seven feet IN length and about
six feet in diameter. They numbered l25, and
cost 81 900 each, and and this may be SAID to
have been the cheapest and most substantial
portion of the marble work at the Capitol
Nearly the entire east and west wings of the
Capitol building-the latest extensions-were
also constructed of Maryland marble
WHERE IT COMES FROM.
The marble quarrries of Maryland are all To-
Gated within half mile of Oockeysville, small
village in Baltimore county, about twelve miles
from Baltimore, on the line of the Northern Cen
tral Railway. Near this village is fine fertile
valley, several miles in extent, through which
passes Beaver Dam run, on either side of which
for several miles is an unbroken vein of limestone
or marble rock. in many places cropping out OF
the earth and affording the farmers opportunities
of obtaining any desired supply OF stone for lime
burning purposes at very small COST Far back
in the earlier history of our State the early resi-
dents utilized this most valuable among natures
gifts, and to the liberal use of lime, produced by
burning this outcropping rock, upon their lands,
is attributable the richly productive nature OF
Baltimore county farms. AT that time, say fifty
years ago, The value OF American limestone mar
BILE was unknown. For building purposes, it
used at all, it was used in the rough, and it was
scarcely dreamed that our country could compete
with foteign Importation, aud produce marble
capable of high polish and brilliant finish, adap-
ted 10 almost any use.
ABOUT FORTY YEARS AGO,
however the idea of piercing the earth depths
for marble was first practically tested in Mary
land, and it was soon discoyered that With every
loot excaFated the stone became whittier, more
substantial and solid, aud this experience has
been verified through succeeding years until it
may now be truthfully asserted that Maryland.
can produce marble as fihe as any that is needed
for general and architectural purposes.
The pioneers in marble quarrying in Baltimore
county were Mr.. John Baker, an old citizen OF
Baltimore, and Mr.. N. Dougberty of Baltimore
county, who opened up the quarry once known
as ''Beaver Dam Quarry located on the brow
Of hill upon the old Bosley estate, a argestract
duce it generally for building purposes at that
time, but with i'll success, and for many years the
work developed slowly. Several years later,
about the year 1885, the quarries passed into the
possession of Messrs. John B. Connolly and John
F. Connolly, of Baltimore, and the operations
were increased from year to year, until now they
are enormous.
Near the quarries are located row OF neat
stone buildings, occupied by the laborers, who
number about 100, forming quite village. In
the centre Of the group is the spacious and we'll
stocked country store to supply the operatives.
Passing on TO the quarry over The branch rail-
raod numbers OF strong open cars are seen, with
blocks OF marble, awaiting shipment, ranging in
size from that OF a dr.. goods box 10 those as ex-
,ensi-2 as q large express wagon in dimensions,
and weighing from two to twenty tons. Tow
ering. up to heightsof $50 feet from the surface
is frat seen a huge derrick, or hoisiing appa-
ratus, worked by steam, with wire ropes an inch
in thickness, capshle of hosting thirty tons of
stone.
THE DIN AND NOISE
of the drilling or channeing machines now be-
comes so loud tbal conversation except in high
tone, is failure Reaching the edge OF the ex-
cavaton the sight is astonishing. large hole,
embracing area OF about two acres, is seen,
resembling in some respects, it might be sup
posed, the crater of volcano; the rumbling OF
machinery, the smoke of steam engines, and an
occasional blast of surface or blackstone fur
nishing the accessories; but peering over the
edge the comparison is disturbed by seeing scores
OF men busily engaged at depth, upon the va
rous lodges or platforms, of from so to 100 feet
On all sides are seen the solid walls OF white rock,
looking as though the supply could never be ex-
hausted, and although it is stated that at least
million tons of stone have been taken out, there
would seem at q casual glance TO be only a small
Quantity of the upper surface removed.
GETTING oUTEHE ROCK.
The working Of the blocks out of the solid rock
is very simple, but quite ingenius. In former
years this was done by hand and was slow, la
borious and expensive operation. The enormous
blocks for the columns at the Capitol were thus
obtained, and although the aggregate amount
paid for them was $500, ,000 there was little profit
on the operation. The old plan was to blast
away side of the rock and then drill holes from
three to six inches apart into which were driven
feather wedges, as they are termed. Having
drilled rows of these holes on all sides of the block
the wedges were struck at equal points and in
tervals and the rock thus gradually split. Now
all this work is done by machinery. There are
now at work in this quarry five steam engines, to
each of which is attached an upright bundle of
sharp-pointed steel drills. These machines are
placed on the face of the rock and at every revo-
luton the drill is raised and let fall, its weight
cutting like hand drill, and the engine is drawn
forward, by machinery, about one inch at each
blow. Thus a channel about one and half
inches wide is cut into the solid rock to any re-
quired depth, and it only remains to split the
rock at the bottom to have monster square block.
COST OF THE WORKS.
There is invested at this quarry ia steam en-
gines, machinery, machine shop, saving mills,
derricks, &C., from $50, 900 to 500, 900. En-
ployment is given in various waYs TO over l50
persons whose Fay rates from Sl75 to 81 so per
day. or aggregate of $4,000 to $lO0 900 per
ear. There is shipped daily for nine months in
he year at least three car loads of the marble,
aud large quantities of rubble stone or waste, and
,he annual sales from the quarry reach about
$3.50, 600 to- $500, ,O0O John B. Tidy, Esq, a
wellknown citizen of Baltimore, is the general
business manager.
THE CoCKEYsvILLE MARBLE COMPANY.
The next visit made was to another extensive
quarry, the works of the Cockeysvlle Marble
Company, about fourth of mile above Here
was found an extensive saw mill, 50xl00 feet, in
active operation, worked by steam power, so
saws. These saws are of soft iron, being SIM
ple strip, devoid of teeth. They are set in large
wooden frame Of any required size, the stone
made solid within this frame, aud by swinging
motion TO and fro the weight of the frame, aided
by sharp-cutting finty sand and water, wears
through the rock very rapidly, cutting depth
of over an inch and quarter per hour. The
saws are run by a 50-horse power engine, kept
running day and night the year round. Near
the above is another large mill, run by water
power, but at present idle, owing to the drought,
and the company are about to erect a second
steam saw mill, to accommodate their increased
trade.
THE QUARRY.
The quarry of this company, although partial
" opened several years ago, Was not extensively
worked until 1868, when Messrs. Martin A. Sis
sou, Joseph Loaf ne and Nicholas Acker, the pres
eut contractors for the marble work on the new
City Hall, took possession, and since that time
have excavated the rock sufficiently to furnish all
the stone for the City Hail. as also for numerous
other purposes. Here also may be found the i'm
proved machinery for drilling, and the display OF
solid marble rock is as extensive as III the other
quarry. There are employed from IS to 100
hands, undev the superintendent OF Mr.. Tnos.
Mcdonald, the same man who Pot out the col
umns for the Washington Capitol. The ma
chinery is capable Of producing blocks weighing
twenty tons, or surface Of $50 cubic feet. 10
addition 10 the slab marble gotten out here, the
company also furnish from forty to fifty perches
of broken stone for the Philadelphia trade, known
as rubble stone, for building purposes. The
company own about $50 acres of land, and have
about $65, 900 invested. Within the quarry
proper the beat is intense, and when informed