Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-20
CHAMBER oFcoMMERcE.

Fond du Lac Sandstone Approved by tho
Committee on Mlnerals-Mr. McCaine
Speaks of the Importance of Using Best
Building Material In st. Paul.
At the chamber of commerce meeting
yesterday morning the committee on miner
ais, consisting of Daniel McCaino, John X.
Davidson, j. w. McClung and David Day,
reported as follows upon the sample of
sandstone submitted to the inspection of the
chamber last week by N. Nelson, of Duluth:
"We have examined the specimen pre-
sented and find it fine grained stone, light
brown in color. It appears to be free from
hardens on exposure to the atmosphere. Like
Superior region, it will make strong and
attention not only of our archi-
citizens generally. We are informed that
Louis river,at Fond du Lac, and some 600 to
& Duluth railroad, from which side track
is to be laid to the quarry in the spring.
That the quarry has been stripped for o
distance of PIG feet and height of thirty
six feet; that the stone dips some 3 to 4 de-
grees to southeast, and occurs in layers from
eight inches to four feet i'll thickness. 1t
can be freighted to st. Paul for about 80
cents per cubic foot, and we are informed
that some 10000 feet (cuhic) have been con-
tracted for to build church in Minneapolis
the coming spring. No fault can be found
with the sample as material for building,
unless it be on account of its color--a mat
ter of taste and not of durability"
Remarks were made by Mr.. Banning and
others concerning the Fond du Lac stone,
and Mr.. McCaine spoke at some length upon
the
BUILDING MATERIAL IN USE
in st. Paul. 1t is subject, he said, worthy
of more attention than it has had from our
citizens. The building stone most used here
would be wholly worthless in New England.
1t il of recent formation and not a solid
stone. It would not Withstand the tests to
which the climate of the East would subject
it. He had seen the Connecticut sand stone,
known as Portland stone, cracked to pieces
by heavy rain, which Wet it, being followed
by freezing cold. None of the brick made
near here could be used in the East except
for backing walls. He be-
lieved any brick made here
would be split to pieces by wetting it and
then exposing it to a freezing temperature
But the stone and brick used here answer
for time, because the climate is dry. He
thought further, that inferior mortar was
too much used. 1t is carelessly made, and
often goes into the wall a worthless mix
ture. Often the sand used is not fit fol
such use, being the round sand of the river
bed instead Of the sharp sand which is
needed. This he considered matter OF
great Importance. We are now building
four and five stories high, and should q fire
occur in one of these high buildings
constructed of poor Stone OR brick,
imperfectly held together by poor
mortar, the walls would prob
ably spread ana fall, and after that the
| firemen would not venture near such build
ing. He advised tho use of more cement
! such as could. be made, he thought, from The
magnetism limestone of this region, and
urged that thorough geographical survey
of the State should be had, with reference
to its metallic deposits, building stone, clay
and lime beds, etc.
Gen. Sibley spoke of Prof. Winchell's sur.
veys being prosecuted yearly for the State
under the auspices of the University, and
mentioned that last year Prof. Winchel
spent considerable time in the Lake Superior
| mineral region.
The report of the committee was accepted
and adopted.
On motion of Nh. McClung, the commit
tee having charge of the memorial to Con
gress relative to mill drift distractions OF
| navigation, was instructed to correspond
with the States representatives in Congress
and nrass the Inattar unon THAR attantioia