The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-11-01
R0ckland and the Lime Business.
A Wide. awake Pesple with AN Industry
of their own-Lime-How it il made and
production.

Rockland has always been known as one of
Names most enterprisipg and energetic cities.
Its present rank is due to its leading business
men like the Cobbs, the Farwells, the Whites,
the Wights, the Gases, the Birds, the Tillsons,
the Spears, the Burpees and many others equal
ly prominent. Wherever they appear, in busi-
ness, politics or what else, they take the promi-
nent position to which their force of character
entities them. They believe in Rockland and
their energy coupled with their faith has made
the city the well-to-do and thrifty town it is.
"Whatever we have" said one, 1--WE keep it
busy" There are few retired capitalists in
Rockland. Nearly every citizen who has accu
INFLATED from ten thousand dollars to ten or
twenty times as much-and there is large
number in all classes-has made his money in
active business there, and row unites his per-
sonal with the general prosperity by investing
his money in its enterprises.
Rockland is city that has largely grown up
by speciality. True it has always had large
interest In navigation, but its wealth and size
and prosperity to-day are largely due to the
manufacture of lime
Iime-burning has for many years been
leading business in that locality and the first
conversion of that rather useless looking blue
ledge into most essential building material
must date back many years when Rockland,
Thomaston, South Thomaston, and some other
parts of Knox County we're embraced within
the corporate limits of Thomaston. As years
passed the industry grew until the product of
the lime kilns of Rockland and vicinity has be-
come famous all over the country and is pre-
ferred by builders of experience to that manu-
featured IN any other locality 1t always COM
mands the highest market price and its best
variety, that made from the "lump'' rock has
no equal in the market, commanding $I.50 .
cask when the best common grades sell for
$l.05. Of this variety the Rockland kilns-
burn about 10000 casks annually, 1t is made
from peculiar and rare variety of limestone
which those experienced in the business know
at sight. Indeed, they can readily distinguish
the richness CT the rock by sight where the in
experienced can see no difference in quality.
The extent of the limestone is unknown.
The ledge in that county extends from Lin
colnville through Camden into Thomaston. AT
[ Rockland, the ledge is about mile and half
| back of the city, and has been opened in lines
generally parallel to the wharves. The extent
OF the business in the past is indicated by the
cut in the solid rock, a mile and half long,
from fifty to eighty feet deep and from fifty to
one hundred yards wide. New quarries are
being opened as needed and the man who finds
a rich vein under his garden or in his field has
struck something better than silver or gold
Generally the quarries are owned by compa-
MES made up of those owning kilns, and othel
capitalists. The price for the ordinary quality
is five cents barrel, which goes to The quarry
owners. The limestone is hauled to the kilns
on the wharves or shore by teams which re.
ceive ten cents cask for trucking the stone.