Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-10
THE TATE MARBLE QUARRY.
The Place Where the Best Marble In the
Country is Found.


PIcKENs COUNTY, June 9.--Tbis mex
haustible mine of wealth is situated In
this county, Georgia, one and a half miles
east Of the Marietta and North Georgia
Railroad, on the Tate lands of $500 acres.
These lands are fertile valleys, alluvial
bottoms, dotted with wild, romantic
hills, surrounded by high mountains ard
interspersed with cold springs and bab-
bling streams of water.
THE VAST RESOURCES OF MARBLE.
About fifty years ago Col. Samuel Tate,
the father of Messrs. Gale, William and
stephen Tate, who are still on the prem
ises, worked these quarries of marble
without machinery, and developed. to
some extent what is now being developed
as by magic. Col. Tate made some
money. The war coming ON this industry
was crushed out.
A short time since Col. Steve Tate leased
these quarries TO a Vermont company,
which has commenced the grandest en-
terprise OF the South. With eighty or
ninety skilled workmen and near 500, 900
worth of the best and most modern ma
chinery, these hills and valleys are being
changed into gold. Here the magic wand
OF progress is doing great work.
NEW MACHINERY.
There are four channelers, each 20-hOrse
power; two gadders and steam drills;
five gangs Of saws run by a l20-hOrse en-
CINE, and one rubber of vast dimensions
that runs with the rapidity of thought
There are also hundreds of other intricate
pieces OF machinery for polishing, shap-
ing, etc. There IL one mammoth derrick
and tackle, moved by steam, with ca
pacity capable of lifting sixty tons. With
these facilities about 700 cubit feet Of
marble can be finished up In the day.
New machinery is being constantly added.
Leaving of the cash payment on the
ninety-nine years. lease, the royalty on
the marble marketed win make the own
ers of the estate millionaires before the
industry is fully developed.
QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF THE MAR
BILE.
Mr.. Osborne, an educated. skilled work
man from Vermont, who has spent his
past life in marble works, says that this
Is the finest marble on the American con-
tinent. Three quarries are now being
worked. "Etowah" is pink, deep and
light-shaded, Yariegated. "Creole" ia dark,
or black, and white, clearly marked, varie
gated. Cherokee" is pure white and
cream, all OF which admit Of the finest
polish. The quantity is ineXhaustible.
FOR thousands OF acres every NIL Is a
solid mass of marble. All the rich alluval
bottoms are underlaid with foundation
of smooth marble. In the low lands the
soil and clay are about eight feet deep.
Then you come to a level surface of mar
BILE, which is thought to be from $50 to $50
feet deep.
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.
Thirteen new, well-hnished, neatly
painted tenement houses, one boarding
house, and the large buildings for saws,
polishing and finishing up, ETC., are among
the latest improvements.
One Of the company is erecting a very
fine dwelling about half mile from the
works. The architectural appearance Of
this building illustrates the progress in
taste in the science of modern building.
COL. TATE AND FAMILY.
Col. Steve Tate has a beautiful home,
one-fourth of a mile from the works,
where hospitality is dispensed with a
| generosity and pOliteness that makes the
h cart glad. This, home, with all its sur
rOundings, is one of the most prosperous
and happy in the South. Col. Tate is a
fine business man, with a large, liberal
heart and excellent judgment. He de-
| serves his good fortune.