Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-03
For THE EVENING STAR
SOMETHING NEW ABOUT BUILD.
ING STONES
Science vs.. Age.

The great variety of building stones daily
coming into the markets of our infant republic
present objects of study admiration, and
wonder. Men of science, as well as practical
builders, are engaged in testing the properties
and values Of the new specimens offered, and
we find almost every state in the Union possess
ing within its limits material with which pala-
tial residences may be constructed, and which
only await capital, labor. and enterprise to ex-
tract in quantities. place on railroad, and put in
the hands OF architects for use in building I'D
for every man q palace of Venetian or Alham-
bran grandeur. Even In the southern states,
hitherto devoted to cereal products, have turned
their attention to the building and ornamental
stores found in their borders and to-day Texas
and North Carolina present the most chaste,
beautiful, and 1ne-grained marbles In the coun-
try; that Of North Carolina having ground of
rose pink, with few pure white veins running
through it. These building stones are there.
and need only to be developed to furnish ma
terial that will give all beautiful and enduring
homes. We trust the network Of railroads viii
soon furnish transportation that will enable the
architects to interchange these varieties of
stones. and combine the granite foundations
furnished by New England, with the soft gray
and browns OF Kansas. Ohio, and Pennsylvania,
with the green serpentine and red sandstone of
Maryland, the clear straw c0lored marble of Viz
ginia, and the pure white and pink of North
Carolina, while our forests will furnish the wal
NUT the oak, maple, and gum for the lighter
work. A''-
The chemical properties found In many OF
these marbles, and which give them their color
Ing. In many cases from the materials which
mar their durability and render them useless
Greater care has to be exercised in the selection
OF stones for building than even in the selection
OF timber; and the stone must be seasoned and
hardened by exposure to make 1t reliable Ace
10 generally the test Of the enduring prOperties
OF stone but nowadays Science has taken the
place OF age, experience, time and distance and
the everlasting hills Of granite are but "a NAV
things to student Of stones, who with one
stroke Of his chisel and hammer can knock a
mans hopes of fortune in hill of
marble, or sparkling dust. 'higher than Glide
TOYS .ite;. for, If he says your marble sis no
go0d. 1T Is decomposed gneiss," or copper
pyrites, you may as well hang up your fiddle
ana look to pastures new for fortune. n he
says 1t 10 firm and hard, susceptible of hiph poI-
lsh, enduring In color. and not easily decop-
posed, you may quarry your marble to any
extent you please, and realize q fortune from it
science ID wonderful tribunal for Our rocks
ana stonea and to that power all must bow.
The marbles Of the United States that have
been submitted to chemical tests, and present-
Ing ut the same time specimens Of the pronertiea
Claimed for each marble, may be found collected
IN the new National Museum 1t Washington n
T., ana more interesting history could not be
unIoided TO the architects and builders Of the
country. Non ANos