The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-11-08
The Granite Quarries of Penobscot Bay.
Correspondence of the Journal


full and enduring structures erected in all parts of
the country. About two of these quarres situate
islands near to Rockland, your correspondent
desires to speak. The first which shall receive
consideration is on Hurricane Island--an isolated
and once barren and desolate granite rock-whchis
now covered by thriving village of eighty houses
and with structures covering vast mechanical APP
pances. 1t is only seven years since the first
blow was here struck to wrest from this rugged
spot its tribute of wealth. At about that time, or
a little before. this ocean led ge purchased by
its present proprietor. for the of one thousand
dollars. To-day who can tell its value This
island has Of only one hundred acres on
the level, but its conical shape gives it a great
superficial measurement. 1t is picturesque sight
to one approaching from the sea-this rugged isle
with its glisening white granite its green FIR trees
and its many quaint buildings. One wonders how
the trees are nourshed for there is very little soil
but one wonders at many things if he visits
Hurricane Island. And most Of all he marvels at
the busy brain which has conceived and is now
carrying forward the great enterprise of 4uarrying
granite from this once unpromisng spot To
General Davis Tillson of Rockand belongs the
longs the island and all there is upon it except the
human beings and some of their dwellings,. Hav
ing had thorough military training he brought Il
peculiar fitness to his selfappointed task for
joined TO executive ability of the highest order it
requires almost military discipline To successfully
conduct a great enterprise like this. There are
now employed OH Hurricane about 6o0 men The
principal contract is TO furnish granite for the st
Louis Custom House and Post Otficc.-a to be
noble building, which is to to the height of 81
feet, and with frontage OF 232 10y a. feet this
structure commenced i'll August 1873. Every
stone for this building is quarricd ana cut exactly
for its place. numbered and sent to ST. Louis.
The old system Of ID per cent. contracts is done
away with (that was, the government gave the
qllarries - per cent OF the money by the Govern
ment expcndcd.) now the Government paws a Ger
tain sum per cubic foot for the stone cut and the
blocks are let out To cutters as piece work. For
some stones requiring Intricate work, the work
| men receive large sums. The cutters on Hurricane
Island are making good wages. The pay roll each
mouth covers a great sum. Al blasting is done by
powder; the drilling is much Of it, done by steam.
and in fact steam is the power universally applied
here. There is an air compressor, for drills OF
sixty horse power \ railroad of eight feet guage
runs into the quarry and here the stone is lifted
by steam onto two ingenious cars. which require
special description and is run along to the sheds
where it is to be cut to the wharf where it is
be shipped if in the rough, or to the pile where it
is compactly deposited These cars are an in
vention of Gen. Tllson's, on which he holds thil
teen different patents. one end of the is box
containing a dummy engine Of great strength the
remainder Of the car is long platform to hold the
load, and on it stands il crane OF sort Of derrick
run by the propelliu@ engine and used, of course,
| to lift on the stone A. can be imagined, the load
is taken on run down to its destination and mn
| loaded in remarkably short space of time On the
wharf stands another marvel III mechanics, III form
i of an enormous crane worked by al engine mean
| by of tremendous power, This crane turns aruUuC
on cannon balls ls does the dome OF an ilStrunO
mlcal observatory. 1t is capable of lifting. and %
deposting within vessels, stones of many tons
weight; vet perfect is it in its careful lnechan
cal balance and application that child could run
it. Seeing it in operation one might almost imagine
| he saw the famous Archlmetilan lever at work be
fore his eyes. 1t Is Id part the invention OF GrucIa
| Tlson In the polishing mill there are steel disks
Of perhaps eighteen inches in diameter. revolving
over the faces OF the stones. giving the granite
| high and enduring polish, which brings ont to The
eve the hidden beauties Of the stone, making the
crystals translucent and brilliant this HuTican,
Island granite. when thus finished reveals variety
| of colors. and is by many thought to be as hand
some as the famous Scotch. There is an arrange
ment here by which a stone twenty two feet long
can be polished on It's entire length at one time
| We saw one Of that length undergoing the process
In another room some monumental work was
| being done this latter is a branch of business t.
be vet more fully developed at Hurricane. \ large
business is done at this quarry in furnishing pay
| ing stones for Philadelphia and New York. Great
piles of these are awaiting shipment. The black
! smith shop is probably the largest i'll the state Of
| Maine 1t is $50 feet long 30 feet wide, aud cen
ains l4i FORCES but not all of these are used now
! As Il great amount of water is required, the ten
| erl is having new reservoir constructed, which,
when full, can hold million gallons Of water
The island is twelve miles from RucklHud, and
at times entirely Inaccessible, OH account of rough
sea and storms therefore all the wants of the hun
dreds there employed must be looked after ;,
| there is a market IT. perhaps taceuously called
Fulton Market"-whrre Boston beef and Other
meat is always ready for purchasers. Back OF
| this is an ice house and refrigerator Near by. III
a large building is Of thosr stores Of infinite
| variety, where almost anything can be obtained
Within a wild and beautiful valley there sly
| large boarding houses, property connected with a
| sewer running to the ocean. \ public hall. with
seating capacity for 90 persons affords place toI
the debating society dances and other social gath
| erngs. The seventy five or eighty houses IN the
little village belong to the WorkIneu and they pay
Il nominal ground rent to General Illlsou The
buildings where the stone cutters work are long,
| low sheds with sides which can be lowered OF
raised 1T will From aiur off can he heard th.
pleasant click click Of the hammer aud chisel
| upon the stones. and upon entering >Ard luu
come upon what at first appears like It company
OF td'torS. doing penal service for almost every
mothers son of them has OH a pair of Spcctaclcs-
| yea great round glasses. which give the face. d
look Of owl like wisdom comical to behold. They