The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1884-02-16
MOORE COUNTY GRIT
GRINDS CRIST ALL OVER THE
CONTINENT SO WELL
As to Make the Story of the Quarry
and Their Manufacture Interestins to
all North Carolinians.
Special Cb,re.pondence Of the Chroaici.

Special Correspondence Of the Chronicle
CARTHAGE. February l2-More than
half a century ago William Danielly dis
covered a vein of blue grit under the hills
few miles north OF Carthage. At the re-
quest of his neighbOrs, and for the sake of
his pocket likewise, Mr.. Danielly wrought
specimens oi this granite into millstones.
and the millstones in turn We're sold only
as they were demanded in that imme Ii
ate vicinity. So we'll pleased with this
grit were Mr.. Danielly's neighbors that
the circle of his trade began suddenly to
expand. His work met with ready sale,
not only in the counties adjacent to
Moore. but also in others. Until within a
comparatively short time wagons came
came from South Carolina to carry the
Moore count, grit to the Palmetto State.
Notwithstanding this encouragement it
seems that neither Mr. Danielly nor his
successors thought of developing a new
industry. They took little interest in the
matter-so little, indeed, that the trade
already established gradually declined.
Finally, the old quarry became neg
lected, if not forgotten spot
1t was in 1873 that Mr.. l.. Grimm, who
was then the superintendent in the ma
chine shop. of Tyson & Jones, called the
attention of the Taylor Manufacturing
Company to the virtues OF this neglected
rock Mr.. Grimm's suggestion was
adopted; company was Incorporated;
tract OF land containing two or three hum
dred acres was bought; buildings were
erected-this wasthe Orig gin of Parkcwood,
and of the gigantic proportions Of the
North Carolina Milestone Company.
In visiting the Parkewood of to-day one
is impressed with the number of houses
one sees. Besides the dozen houses that
cluster around the quarry, residence
| may be seen in almost every direction
! from the stately hotel. There are objects
| of interest everywhere, and the visitor
| hardly knows which to examine first. But
! under the kindly guidance of Mr.. Taylor
| he is relieved of all embarrassment.
From this place said Mr.. Taylor, point
ing to the pit, I'VE get our millstones.
This was the original channel of the
| stream. Such water as collects here we
| remove by means of that pump. Owing
| to its distance from the boilers, it requires
| eighty pounds Of steam to use it, but it is
nevertheless effectual in removing the
| water.
s'In blasting the stone we use a steam
| drill dynamite and an electric battery
| We then raise the salne from the pit with
! that derrick, place it on car, and carry
| it to the cutting room. After slOping it.,
! we remove it to the dressing room, where
it is faced and furrowed. This done it is
Epext placed in the dry-house. The object
Of the dry-house is to remove the moisture
from the stone and thereby to render it
, harder. The house (walled with granite,
as you see), is kept at constant tempera-
ture Of 800 by means of steam conveyed
from the boilers through underground
pipes. The stone is dried for no definite
length Of time. but only so long as cir
cumstances permit.
''The stone, when needed, is taken
from the dry-house and carried to the
room where it is banded ard plastered !;
each stone of course being made by turn
ing off the plaster to preserve an exact
| balance.
s.Thence it is carried to the erecting room,
in which the mill is framed, virtually fin
ished, in fact. In this department is al
, most every convenience for our work. Be-
sides that ''stationary tiger engine'-
25-horse power-with which every mill Is
thoroughly tested before being shipped
here is an adjustable cutoff engine CO.
horse power) that runs all the machinery
in the department-bands, saws, planning
machines, mortising machines, surfacers,
and every other piece Of machinery here.
With these appliances, together with the
.aw-mill, which we shall examine in a
moment, mill can be framed and pre-
pared for the paint shop in comparatively
short while.
1.-The mill is not exactly finished, how
ever, when carried to the paint shop
The frame, of course, must be painted,
! and the stone redressed The necessity
for redressng arises from the fact that
the stone is glazed by the cutters heavy
tools softening the surface to the depth OF
an inch in testing. The redressing is not
tedious, being done by means Of dia-
mond mill dresser. This work done, and
fine coats of paint on the frame, the mil
is placed in a repository, where it re-
mains until it is shipped. This briefly is
the process by which our mills are manu-
| factured.''
Mr. Taylor had spoken of the saw-mill
he now directed us thither. ''Thcse," he
said as we entered the building, pointing
to two boilers walled within granite
''supply steam for all the works. Each il
eO-horse power. We have four engines
and every one in operation at this moment
is driven by steam from these boilers
The boilers and engines were made by the
Taylor Manufacturing Company, OF Penn
sylvania They serve our purpose pre-
csely. For instance, this engine (6O-horst
power) runs successfully saw-mill, grist-
mill and shingle machine at once.
''Such is the variety Of our machinery
+ that we try to utilize everything. W.
; cut our timber, haul it ard saw it. Th'
rough edge is used as fuel. So likewise il
the sawdust which is removed from unde
the saw by that screw, thence by an ele
, | vatOr to bin on the second floor, from
| which it IS deposited within five steps O
the furnace. Moreover, we make our owl
shingles as may be seen from the operation
, of that shingle machine. Then, too, w
: try to encourage home industry, havin!
erected one of our mills for the convent
ence of the village and of ourselves"
I learned that they run also an excel
lent brckyard and a model farm owne
and managed by the company. 1t ma
be worth while to inform the disciple Q
Izaak Walton that, besides these things
there is lake hard BY stocked with va
e riety of fish.
7 7 Formerly the company made mills {
; only two sizes, now they make mills {
Il five sizes-l4 inch, 20 inch, 80 inch, 81
1 and AZ inch. These are belt or gear mil
. at the option of the purchaser. The
- construction is unique. They have an eff
cient and simple trampet and oush Tor til