The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-29
The Big Rocks at Bedford.

In response to graceful invitation Of the
Hoosier Stone Company. of Bedford, Ind. to in
spect the quarries there. pleasant party of over
twenty of our more prominent and build
ers assembled at the Central station to depart
en- route for the Bedford quarries A special
Pullman was chartered by the company for the
guests, and hospitable provision made for the
greatest amount of comfort and pleasure of the
space of a days trip.
Great interest was manifested by all to see the
quarries justly reputed to be of illimitable re-
source. Indeed, even to the non-profsssional,
visit would be attended with extraordinary in
terest. as the natural beauty and diversity of the
surroundings are such as would ever attract the
lover of the romantic and picturesque in nature.
As the train approached the object Of the journey
the natural beauty of the scenery increased with
the rolling ground; here and there rugged mass
es OF homogeneous rock protrude with increasing
boldness through the ground. gray and moss
covered with noble age, but mere signs Of the
bounteous foundations below them.
Around the horseshoe bend the train passes,
and over a trestle supported on vertable CYCLIC
pean blocks OF quarry outcroppings, to the foot
of the hills, still covered by primeval forests,
stopping at great excavation In the side OF the
hill, which the descending party now in aston
ishment discovers not to be composed of sepa-
rate strata of stone and earth, but of one solid
homogeneous rock, fit TO be the quarrieS of Baal-
beck or the pyramids. Here blocks Of stone
could certainly be had for their construction
without natures feeling loss. The party, under
the leadership Of the president of the company,
w. G. Winstandley, and two of the directors,
Messrs. Z. V. and FL. L. Thornton, then pro-
ceeied slowly up the hill and into the quarry,
which, though extensive, is but the smaller, the
larger one, covering an area Of several acres be-
ing situated mile distant on the opposite side
of the hill, or belt of rock, as the quarrymen
term it; and. with but the exception of few
assures running down to endless depths of the
earth's bowels, one veritable solid piece In
breadth and depth.
The depth of the assures. though filled in part
with leaves, was proven by the temperature. for,
although the day was almost uncomfortably
warm snow could still be seen within them still
unmeted. After a short walk and another de-
scent the main quarry is reached, just in time to
see a block of stone wedged from the solid rock.
Being fifty four feet long and only four and one
half feet In width, by two and one-haf thick, it
was prophesied to break in two in being wedged
and thrown lite side from It's bed, but the
piece fell without break, fit for Cleopatra's
Needle
It may be we'll, In view of those interested, to
say word about the quality of the material
now so OPPORTUNITY to be inspected.
The Bedford formation, situated ia the central
portion of southern Indiana, covers area of
ABOUT TWO nunu~eQ square mlleS, In the center
of which are situated the 'Hoosier quarries,"
and is pronounced by biologists to be of oolitc
formation, which, on inspection, proves to be
myriads of fossil shells pounded by the fury of
the prehistoric ocean into almost microscopic
atoms and solicited into one homogeneous mass
by the cementing process Of ages The stone,
which is either of beautiful bun or gray, &C
cording to its position in the quarry.
is perfectly even in tone, and freshly
ouarried pieces are soft enough to be cut with
l>,,;fa ypf, hoy Sn pip mid
a quality both admirably adapting it for purposes
of carving and rendering it impervious to the
effects of weather. An absence of holes or flaws
of any sort or iron stains adds to its beauty Con-
sidering this and the illimitable extent of the
quarries it may not uuduly be prophesied that
they are yet in their infancy, though growing at
present in response to rapidly increasing de-
mand
The cutting of the stone is accomplished by a
small engine on a portable track, running two
steam saws, which cut to the depth of six and
onehalf feet in the solid rock, which is after
ward drilled horizontally and split from the
mother rock. Analysis of the rock by Prof. /.
A Tanner, Of the Polytechnic Society, sshows
rhat of the following stone-the Salem, Am
herst. Bowling Green, Mount Sterling, and Vir-
GINA granite the Bedford, with the exception of
the Virginia granite, shows the least loss upon
exposure to alternate moist, heat and cold.
After pleasant day of inspection the party
left, to take dinner at Mitchell and then to take
a return train home.
The following were among the guests: Archi-
tects, Messrs. Chas Drach, Smith & Forbush.
II. e. Sitter. E. Anderson Emil Rueckert, Geo.
w. Rapp. Jas. W. Mclaughlin, s. E. Des Jar
dins, w. w. Franklin, D. S. Schurenan and
Plympton g. Trowbridge; builders Messrs. David
Hummel, Isaac Graveson, John Boyle and VIM.
B. Foster. On the whole e very merry party,
which, to do justice to the courtly directors.
principally due to hospitality not less generous
thanit was enjoyed by their guests.
Killed by q Freight Train.