The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-11

QunrrIed for Mr. william III. Wander
bilt
N ew York Times.

What is claimed to be the largest pave,
ment stone ever quarried in the United
States is now resting upon blocks in front Of
the main entrance of Willssm II. Wander,
bit's new house on Fifth avenue, between
Fifty-frst and Fifty-second streets. One OF
the firm of II. 81 A. S. Dickinson, of wes,
Fourteenth street, who have tho contrac,
for the stone work, reiterated the
statement that the block was the largest
ever quarried. 1t was no said twenty five
feet two inches long, fifteen feet wide and
eight inches thick and weighed )me-
thing over Al 900 pounds The 81 % was
taken from the quarry Of q Mr. l3kok at
Barryyille, Sullivan county, So York.
The block from which il was ken was
perfectly level, about ninety feet long and
nineteen feet in width. From this surface
tho block was cut out and then raised
by wedges. In this instance the
seam was so open that the stone was
raised without difficulty, and what was
usually gratifying TO the contractors was the
perfectly clean aud level bed below, which
required comparatively little dressing. The
block could have been made 35 feet in
length, but the great weight would have
made its transportation very ri,ky. As it
wssa great deal OF difficulty was met in
bringing IL to this city. 1t was rolled down
a hill distance of half mile TO the river
bank, and then placed edgewise in canal
bost especially arranged to receive il.
Tho canal bost brought Il TO the foot OF west
Thirteenth street in this city, when II was
taken out by one OF Delamater's noatin-
derricks. From Thirteenth street the
derrick was towed 10 the foot OF west Fifty
first street, where the stone was lifted GU.
and placed upon two trucks built for the oc.
cssion, and capable Of csrrying3 80 or 40 tons.
Six teams of horses hauled II 10 It's present
resting place. The risk In handling such
block Of stone Is very great as sudden
lar or fall would be apt TO break IL, II was
estimated that II would cost from $4,000 10
$4,000 10 duplicate Il. II will he laid directly
10 front of the Fifth avenue entrance 10 the
building, overlapping II a few inches on
either side, The contract for the stone work
called for such q pavement at tho main en-
trance, II such a ono could be procured, and
Mr.. Dickinson said they were particularly
fortunate in finding one at Mr.. Hickoxs
quarry. Aside from this monster
stone, tho others that have al
ready been placed in position ere
Of no ordinary sise. Nineteen blocks,
the one already described, serve 10
make up the entire front on Fifth avenue,
between Fifty first and Fifty second streets.
The others average from twelve 10 thirteen |
Feet 10 lcngth and fifteen feet In width. Theso
srge pavemenis are all laid upon three
parallel walls of solid rock, which Ia some.
hing Of an innovation In Ito way. 1t has
isuslly been the custom 10 rest them upon |
beds Of sand, but Il is frequently the case
bat the sand falls away and the stone fails |
with u, or, failing 10 do so, "a very apt 10 |
break. The present method was expected 10 |
10 away with any possibility Of breaking.
Mr.. Dickinson said that othor large stones
had been placed In position in the works OF
-o.cons,ruction. For instance, the step from |
he sidewalk al the entrance on Fifth avenue,
vss one ofthe largest OF i,s kind. II was
lne blue stone, twenty -four feet two inches
n length, three and half feet wide and |
thirteen inches deep. II will take the men
rom two 10 threo weeks 10 dress tho large |
tone, but II is expected all the work In this
Erection will be completed during the pres.
nj month.