Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-06-15
A THRIVING VILLAGE.

Barre, and were much interested and |
pleased with the place and the enter
prise and thrift shown on all sides.
Barre is situated on branch of the
Winooski river, four miles from Mont
pelier, and is noted not only for its
prosperous condition as a farming
town, but for the large industry that
has sprung up in the quarrying of
granite and the manufacture of mon
iuments and other granite work. There
are two large hills or mountains in
the eastern and southern portions of
the town, which cover perhaps twelve
square miles, that are granite forma-
tions, much of the stone lying uncov-
cred from the earth. The granite is
perhaps equal, if not superior to any
in the United States, both for build
ing and monumental purposes. Tie
rock lies in layers throughout much
of the region, though there are bould-
er sections where immense boulders
are found. The stone is remarkably
free from seams, quartz streaks and
imperfections. 1t quarries very cas-
lily and in some sections splits square
and perfect from ten to thirty feet,
or to as great a length as is desired.
The natural color OF the stone is
darkish, the grain fine and the quail
ity such as to admit of a very fine
polish or hammered finish. There is
a great contrast between the polished
and the hammered surfaces, and it is
thus rendered particularly desirable
for tablet and monumental purposes.
This stone became noted in Vermont
by being used in the construction of
the capitol buildings at Montpelier.
but not till neutrality-suspicious. since
the building of the railroad to Barre
village-did it gain any specialreputa-
ton abroad. The quarries average
about three miles from village; the
quarrying is done chiefly by Scotch
quarrymen who have come over from
the Aberdeen and other granite quar-
RES in Scotland. The stone is al
most entirely got out without the use
of explosives, the drilling being done
by hand and steam drills. The blocks
ars split out to order, after the quar-
ry is opened. The various compa-
MES, some twelve to twenty in num-
Der, have their works at the village
and own sections of the quarries,
where they either job out the getting
out of the stone, or have partners or
competent foremen who oversee the
work. The stone are handled by pow
erful derricks, and blocks weighing
from fifteen to twenty tons are easily
lifted. The drawing is done by
horses, and very heavy and strong
wagons are used The hauling is
done by the job, at so much per ton.
The stone cutting establishments are
on the west side of the village, where
| hao oxytonIoI C,In lie
in all directions to accommodate the
business. Everything is being cut
and finished from small building
stone to monuments, polished, carv-
ed, and mounted with carved figures
which require months of time, and the
labor of the most skillful foreign al
tists-there are many Italian and 9th.
er skilled artisans from the old coun.
tries. The largest demand for mon
umental work is in the West, anC
several firms work almost entirely fol
western parties, while some of the
companies are establishing offices il
the larger western cities. The labor
ers are we'll paid, common stone cut
, tiers getting $2.75 cents day. Th'
business, Notwithstanding the hare
times, appears to be good, and full
gangs of help are employed. AS nat
ural consequence other business il
the village is good, and the farme
finds ready market at home for al
his produce. During 1884, beside
the erection of new granite works
etc., there were about seventy-fv
: new houses put up, the most of ther
large and containing from two to fou
tenements. New streets are beiH
opened, and new buildings are goin
up in all directions-really the place
to use western term, is booming
New business blocks are being bull
town hall to cost $40. 900 and cos
ly residences will be erected this Sc:
son. Besides the granite business
, the Fork & Hoe Co. employ sixt
= hands, and there is thriving indu
. try at Twingville in the foundry, plo
and other iron business; while at I'll
other end of the town town there is
: wooden factory. Two thriving schoo
are located in this town, one the Go
dard Seminary, the other the Bar
= Academy. The seminary is und
the auspices of the Uniyersalists
the state and has large number
students, while large and beautif
: brick edifice affords facilities for
who seek admittance the acaden
= achieved quite fame under the lo
and able administration of the Ia
y DE-. Spaldnig, and has good patro
TO age under the management of Proft
ny sor butcher. We know of no pla
es in the state more beautiful and thr
~ ty, and few where there is sHcf
boom in business.
Higgins, the Appointment clerk, thir
,k that the politicians are unjust in say
that the number of changes VIII
W have been directly made, and which v