Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-01-24
Slate Making I'm Pennsylvania.

The Chapmansvillc quarries, in North
ampton county, were opened in 1850,
the first one being worked on small
scale in 1864. Here are located, states
the eastern correspondent of the New
York san. the Chapman and New York
Slate Manufacturing Company, the
Fis her Slate Company. and the Edel-
man Quarry. The quarry of the Chap
man company is hole over 100 feet
long, so feet wide, and 22j feet deep.
1t is called n Hat rock quarry--the
split of the slate inc,ining to the south
at an angle of about ten degrees. The
removal of the top is an item of consid-
cradle expense, varying with the loca-
ton. When the top has been taken
away natural joint in the slate Is
sought, and if not readily found hole
is drilled and blast made. The slate
is spit into blocks which are hoisted
by means of derricks TO The surface,
when they are landed on trucks and
moved along track to the shanties
where they s:e split.
The splitter, with his mallet and
broad steel chisels, sits on block, and,
taking slab of slate between his legs,
drives in his chisel little way at one
end. He moves it a little with n firm,
gentle pressure, and you can see the
split begin to start as straight rs a die.
He repeats the operation at the other
end. Then he drives his chiscl.in the
middle and easily prizes the slab in
halves. The split pieces are split and
split again until they are of the requir-
ed thickness. AS fast rs they are split
q man who stands by the splitter takes
the states and runs them through the
dressing machine. This is n cast iron
form set on five legs, with steel ex-
tension piece or arm about four feet
long. Suspended over this is steel
knife which is attached TO n spiral steel
spring and worked by the foot of the
dresser. A gauge board guides his
eye and he puts his slate. against it,
presses his foot on the treadle, and
down comes the knife, cutting the edge
clean and straight. lie makes the four
edges straight, and lays the slate in
piles according to size. just as fast
as his foot can work, good dresser
keeps his machine going. The splitter
and dresser work together, and are
paid according to the quantity they
turn out.
Diamond saws having reciprocal
ing motion and making 40 stroke per
minute are also used. They cut only
one way, being lifted by a cam for the
return stroke. A constant stream of
water clears the teeth of slate dust
The planners are similar to those used
fer planning iron, the polishing bed be-
ing of cast iron, Ii feet in diameter,
and making hirty revolutions per min
ute.
A cJipioas feature about the place is
that the factory, engine house, smoke
Stack; and-M ny OF the houses arc built
of slate blood; ). There is a great de-
mand for a'Y 5tsinds of labor in the whole
region. Obituary day laborers earn
from 81 TO ssk35 per day, and often
more, ACCORDING to the eXigencies of
the occasion. Carpenters earn 1925
to 1926. Ericklayers find work, but
most new luldings are frame. Ma
chinists are sought after daily, and
make good terms, because practical
men to- work at the opening of new
quarries and the erection of machinery
are scarce. Skaters (splitters and dress
ers) earn from $3.50 to 81 and $3.50
per day by the piece. Quarrymen can
always find employment.