Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-03-19
OUR MARBLE INTERESTS.
Capitalists Interested in their Develop.
rneut.
Knoxville likely 90 be Largely pcncntted.


ment.
Knoxville likely 10 be Largely Benentted.
We took occasion yesterday to visit the
Government quarry at Mecklenburg and
found il the scene of even greater activity
than we had supposed. Since the weather
has settled so as to iustify active opera
tons, Gen. Holman, the superintendent,
has put ON additional force, and will push
forward the work day and night until
enough stone is got out to complete the
building. He thinks this will be done in
three months. He is now getting out stone
for the cornice of the building, some of
which are very large. They will weigh
thirteen tons when cut and dressed ready
for laying.
When The government building is COM
pleted, a private company will take Charge
of the quarry and proposed to get out mar
ble for shipment to some of the large cities.
The company is composed of George w.
Ross, of this city, and Gen. j. II. Holman,
and J. and w. Patrick, of St, Louis. The
last two are very wealthy, controlling mill
ions of capital. Gen. Holman s.practical
knowledge of the business will insure its
success Mr.. Ross financial fcapacity is
well known. The company is a strong
one, having abundance of capital to run the
business to its utmost capacity. st. Louis
has been lookingIor building stone forsome
sandstone quarry thought they had it, but
that stone has been condemned by the
Government as not possessing sufficient
strength for bsildiDg purposes. This
Knoxville marble has been attracting
much attention there of late, as well
as of Eastern men. Judges OF build
ing stone pronounce it the finest
building material in the United States,
if not in the world. Its weight
is about 10 pounds per cubic foot, more
than any Eastern granite. Mr.. NLullett,
the Supervising Architect at Washington
pronounces it the most durable stone in
the United States. ....
Knowing these things, it is not strange
that shrewd business men and capitalists
such as those above mentioned, should put
their money into itand deveiopit. Already
they have begun to receive orders FOR thell
marble from st. Louis. But for the fact
that the Government requires all the stcns
that can be quarried now, they would be
shipping it to I'll orders. In view of the
fact that they had good thing, they have
leased the quarry now being worked, fol
ten years and will in a few days extend II
TO twenty years. They have purchased ter
acres of land near by. where they vii
open another quarry. They will purchase
sufficient machinery to properly run th'
business, and contemplate working a
least one hundred hands constantly.
If these gentlemen are successful, anC
we see no reason why they should not be
this business will prove very beneficial e
Knoxville. IT Will he n development o
our hidden resources, that will brins
wealth. The marble of East Tennessee i
destined at some time to become Il sourc
of prosperity and we trust this is the begin
ming. I'VE shall rejoice at the success of thi
company, and trust that others may b
stimulated to effort by their example.
1t is no experiment with them, They
know Just what the cost will be and wha
they can get for marble, Gen. Holman
experience in the Government bUildin
has taught him practical lessons in thi
particular stone, and the company wi
make use of that knowledge. Hence W
can not see how the enterprise can fai