The Portland daily press., 1875-11-04
The Granite BUSINESS.
The Quarries about Rockland.-H urri-
cane Island.-Carver's Harbor.-Dix
Island.-Clark's Island.-G0vernmeni
Contracts etc., etc.

in the construction of prisons. The relentless
ness which granite typifes adapts it to the
construction of jails; but the architect has
done so much for granite that it has come to
form an important part in nearly every fine
building in the country. How far it will ever
be used in the construction of cheaper build
iDgs remains to be discovered There is this
thing about it. Granite in the rough when
made into building reminds one of Jail;
and it only becomes thing of blended grace,
beauty and strength when it has been touched
by the highest genius of the architect, and that
sort Of touching, as will be seen hereafter is
mighty expensive. The question of the future
of the granite business, remarked an intelligent
contractor the other day. is in the cost of
cutting. If the expense of cutting, which
makes it very costly building material, can
be reduced by the application of machinery,
granite will come into more general use
HURRICANE ISLAND.
Recently representative of the PRESS WIS.,
tied several of the granite quarres in the vi
cinity of ROckland to get some facts con-
nected with the business. The first place Wis.
tied was Hurricane Island. This island is the
outer of the Fox Islands and contains about
14O acres. If the whole soil on the island were
collected IN one place it wouldn't suffice for
half acre potato patch. The name is well
and blast blow from every quarter of the
heavens, touch it gently or beatit With the roar
of thunder-all to no purpose.
Cluging to the sides of this ocean isle are
over fifty cottages and dozen boarding houses
of various capacity, some with ample accom-
modations for fifty men. These habitations
are occupied at present by over one hundred
families and the island has population of over
700 persons. Last year the population was
about 1900. There is a large store, market, a
post-office and a large building devoted to
hall and school room. Gen. Tillson, the pres
ent proprietor of the works has contributed
literally toward building the hall. Religious
services are held quite frequently. all sects being
invited to participate and clergymen being paid
by subscription.
About four years ago beginning was made
at Hurricane. Since that time about 100000
'has been expended in making Improvements.
Until within year the works were owned by
company composed of two New York men and
Gen. Davis Tillson of Rockland. Recently
Gen. Tillson purchased the shares of the other
parties and is now sole proprietor of the whole
island. He now has sheds to accommodate
about 500 cutters, blacksmith shop with
nearly thirty FORCES, shop for grinding tools
where tie grindstones are run by steam, Pat
tern shop, dozen boarding. houses the most of
which will accommodate fifty men each, sta
bles. stores, etc. The greater part of the cot
tages belong to such workmen as build or buy
them.
More than any other quarry owner Gen.
Tillson has applied steam 10 the moving of the
heavy material. He has laid iron tracks from
the wharf along by the sides of the shops to
the quarry on which are run by steam heavy
carriages, with derricks which are also worked
by steam. The rails are ten feet apart and the
carriage so heavy and strong that piece of
granite weighing twenty tons can be dragged
over the surface from the quarry hundred
yards distant, then raised to the carriage,
loaded and hauled to any place when needed.
This is an invention of Gen, Tlllson. He is
now making arrangements to drive his drills
with compressed air, and, in short, to apply
steam to all parts of the work.
One popularity of the granite at Hurricane
Island is its thickness. The greater part of the
rock lays in strata of various thicknesses, but
much Of it too thin for the massive purposes of
the upper stories of such immense buildings as
the New York post-ofice. In one part of the
quarry now open blocks of even twenty feet
square might be quarried if they could be
moved.
All of the granite workers are now partially
engaged on government contracts. Gen. Till
son is engaged on a contract to furnish the
granite for the st. Louis Custom house,
AS there is no little misunderstanding re-
specting these contracts, and particularly as
partisans are eager to make capital out of any
possible pretext, they have attempted to use
these granite operations. In the first place,
the government decides to build a post-ofice or
custom-house at a certain point. The plans
and specifications of the proposed building are
made and the amount and size of the granite
required set forth. This done, proposals are
advertised for in the leading papers of the
country for the furnishing of the rough gran
lie ready for shipment. The job is awarded
the lowest responsible bidder and very close
contract drawn. Experience has proved that
It is better to have the stone cut at the quarry.
| The large space required for cutting and hand
ling is very expensive in cities, but a. the quar-
| ries it is comparatively worthle S.. The course
now pursued by those representing the govern.
ment is to make another contract with the own.
er of the quarry to furnish buildings, shops,
| ire the men, furnish the tools, etc., the gov
| eminent, however, furnishing all the materials
1 pntprinr intn ha cuftipn q icif cd
| to the Superintendent. The workmen are
paid just as much per diem by the govern
ment as the contractor pays the men. The
whole matter is so carefully adjusted and
i the checks SO numerous that it would seem i'm
possible for the contractor to defraud the gov.
eminent. For his expense in keeping the
accounts, paying the men furnishing beds, and
shops. the contractor receives fifteen per cent
OF the amount expended for materials and
labor, and is bound to place every piece Of
granite in perfect condition on shipboard
The government has four officials at each
place, superintendent, storekeeper, time
keeper and clerk. These look out for the inter
SITS of the government, see that the supplies
called for are needed, purchase them at whole
sale prices keep the time of the workmen and
see that the government gets the material fol
which it pays.
Until one has visited the shops where granite
is cut for the fine government buildings, hi
will not be aware of the amount of labor tina
is required to a pillar or window cap or othe
large piece, or of the degree of skill necessar.
to do the best work. There are lots of piece
Of granite scores if not hundreds. in thos
arge buildings which require two men si'
months to make rough block of granite