Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-05-24
LETTER FROM DII ISLAND.
DIX ISLAND, May 2lst, Is


things in general on this Island, and promised
to carry the correspondence still further
at no distant day. Perhaps continue
ton of the same subject may not be unnter
esting to your numerous readers, and at the
same time make them at least somewhat more
familiar with Dix Island and its immense
granite business than they are. And here let
me explode an error, and common one, that
Augusta people and Kennebecers generally
have fallen into, and that is, that Dix Island
is Fox Island, and rice rersa. Now great
many have an idea that there is but one is
land down here in Penobscot Bay and that
Dix Island. have already stated in for
mer article the exact location of this island,
but for the information of those still in the
dark as to its whereabouts will state that it
lies about ten miles south from the city of
Rockland, while Fox Island on the contrary
is about that same distance almost directly
| east from that city, and differs from Dix Is
| land in a number of points. In the first place
unlike our Island having but fifty acres, it is,
l am quite certain, ten miles in length and
from three to five wide and contains two in
corporated towns, the towns of Vinalhaven
and North Haven. The village part of Vinal-
haven is called Carvers Harbor, a thriving
little settlement. This is where are located
the large granite works of Bodwell, Webster,
Co. Bodwell has nothing to do with Dix
Island whatever. SO Kennebecers hereafter
please do no. contound Dix Island with Fox
Island
The gentleman who has the contract for the
furnishing granite (and granite by the way that
hasn't an equal in the United States) for the
New York Post Office, is C. p. Dixon, an afia-
BILE and influential citizen of the Empire city.
The management of his business here is left
to his agent, ID. IL. Smith, Esq, a gentleman
fully competent for the position, and to whom
r has been applied, unwittingly or not, the ap-
pellation of Governor Smith, Git smacks
somewhat of John Smith notsriety). The man
agement of the cutting force and Of the work
generally is under the direct supervision of
Henry Roberts, Esq, man practically &C
quainted with every detail of the granite bus
ness, and who has superintendent the erection
of many of our public ediHces. To see that
the contract is faithfully fulfilled and that the
company deals fairly with the Government,
Uncle Sam must needs have his Superintend.
ent here with the others. r. L. Fogg, ESQ,
well known to your citizens, is the United
States Superintendent. The government,
through its Superintendent, takes upon itself
the duty of keeping the mems time and other
clerical work, among which that of making
monthly reports or returns of granite cutting
and the communicating of progress and con.
dition of work, is not the least. To assist
him in carrying out this work in presenta-
BILE and systematic manner are few subor-
dinates, among whom figures, but not con.
spicuously, your correspondent.
Mr.. Fogg has recently had his field of la
bors enlarged. In addition to his present du-
ties he has been appointed Superintendent of
the Hurricane Island granite works, where is
to be quarried the granite for the St. Louis
Custom House. Gen. Tison Of Rockland hay.
ing the contract This appointment gives gen.
eral satisfaction, and is undoubtedly compl-
ment to his merits, from the Supervising Ar
chitect at Washington, Hon. A. b. Mullett
So much for the heads of departments.
Now for the working force. The crew here,
which is at the present time nine hundred
strong, is divided into gangs, and each gang is
under the charge of foreman whose duties
are to select his stone, get diagram for the
same, and see that every man knows his BUSH
m ba nj
under cover. Three or four rows of long,
low sheds stretch out and around the margin
OF the island. They are lighted from drop
windows minus glass, and are exceedingly |
AIRY and healthy, especially in the winter sea-
SON. at which time would rather be excused |
Inc stone Is taken from the quarry to the |
sheds upon huge wheels, wheels equal in d. |
ameter to steamboats,, or on stout heavy. |
ASH dfags drawn by oxen, the equal of which |
are not to be found in days journey.
heretofore the stone in its rough state was
torn from Its bed by man power, or, if Won
Will have it, manual labor; that is, the drill.
ing &c, was done by hand; now, it is done
with machinery, and expedisiously too, u ma
chine that drives six drills, each drill BORING
at the rate OF twenty feet per hour and doing
the work, with the assistance Of one man to
each drill, and one to fire up and attend the
boiler, OF forty men; quite a labor saving
machine, and about the last use to which one
would think steam or machinery could be ap-
Piled Another steam drilling machine is 10
arrive soon, and a steam derrick for hosting
| stone from the quarries is now being erected.
l agree with Galilleo that the world still
msves, but rather doubt Solomon's statement
about there being nothing new under the sun.
From the sheds the blocks of granite come
out in finished state, some of the pieces
looking very handsome; here 10 monster
plaster or column, and there massive cor
nice piece already for the boxers who bind it
securely with wood and iron, after which it is
ready tor shipment.
1t is sort of conglomerate mass Of human
beings that gather to do this work, nearly all |
nations being represented, the Scotch element !
perhaps predominating. The Scotch are con-
sidered first class cutters, but not, opine, |
without good reason, as they serve a long an
premiership in the old country, and come out
here finished workmen, ready and eager for |