Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-05-18
Maryland Lime Enterprise.


Standard Lime and Stone Company to par
ticipate in an excursion of inspection OF it;
several pieces of property and plant, OF
Tuesday morning last we boarded at tn,
depot train of handsome Pullman palac,
cars especially equipped and provided TO
the occasion. The train was under tn,
management of the Baker Bros. prominent.
ly connected With this new enterprise anG
so well and favorably known to the business
community of our county, assisted by oul
genial friend and popular countyman, Thos
j. Owen, OF Gaithersburg, by each of whom
we were warmly received and in few mo
ments made to feel comfortable and at home
The most instructive chapters in history.
and We can add with equal force and truth
in social life, are those of opinions 1t did
not require more than moments glance
around us as We glided smoothly over the
face of smiling nature and through the bud
ding voice of an invigoratng spring day to
determine that there was deeper and
stronger current than that of pleasure ami
mating and engrossing the attention of those
into whose presence we had so recently been
introduced. 1t was the Inauguration of a
new enterprise, one that was to be ingineer-
ed and conducted upon strictly business
principles and under the superintendent
of gentlemen who are conspicuous for their
integrity of character, practical experience,
together with the invigorating influence of
that success which had attended and crown
ed the efforts Of their several vocations in
life. Means, brains and sinews were form
ing combination under intelligent heads,
which whilst it is naturally anticipated will
be remunerative to those directly concerned,
at the same time is to give new impulse to
u more productive and substantial mode of
agriculture-an enterprise that is to prevent
the waste Of meterial, and by the saving of
| fertilizers, labor, food and all forms of capi-
tai, will add thousands every year To the
pockets of our farmers and the wealth OF
our State
! We should have been of dull comprehen-
sion if we had not appreciated at once that
the object Of these gentlemen had for those
with whom we have long and still are close
ly connected strong local significance.
Our community is strictly an agricultural
one, and for thirty odd years it has been en-
deavoring to break loose from routine and
find shorter and easier way to results, to
devise new processes and new implements
to execute them, 10 make two blades Of
grass grow where but one grew before, reap
ten acres OF grass or wheat where formerly
but one was reaped, open up new avenues
of wealth, and what Is still better direct un-
instructed labor into more productive chan
nels, and thus contribute thousand fold to
its common prosperity. Not wishing to
detract from the good fesuts that have ema.
mated from the app icat)n ot manufdcture
fertilizers that have been so extensively aud
profitably used throughout the county, we
cannot refrain from the expression that the
now very general use Of lime in every por-
ton of the county has produced a revolu-
ton and given an impetus in the direction
of substantial and remunerative agricul-
ture that has not only revived the spirit Of
Respondent farmers but is imparting buoy
ancy and energy which under the kind
smiles Of Providence must eventually make
us one Of the most, il not the most, favored
counties in the State.
We have gathered from actual observa
| ton that when valuable minerals are dis
covered in any accessible locality men of
practical sense are quick to understand that
the opening and working OF the mines will
benefit themselves and the public Hence
from this line OF reasoning we reached the
conclusion that with vast quarries of lime
stone concealed in the earth little beyond
the northwestern boundary Of our county
now being worked under the most skilful
and approved mode, producing quality OF
lime of the strongest and best lertilizing
character, offered at reasonable rates and
with quick and cheap transportation by rail
and water, was Il matter that our people
would learn Of with great interest-espe-
cially so, Us its efficaciuus results are broad
cast throughout the county and il is now
within such easy reach What could not
be done successfully by one or IL lew indi
viduals,iis being done by great combina
| ton of industry, experience and wealth and
il our people are prudent and wise they will
show their appreciation by "a careful survey
of the advantages in the way Of procuring
a fertilizer that has lded SO much to their
comfort in the cultivation Of their home
steads.
| With this somewhat eXtende intrDduc-
ton, which we could not well avoid and
which our readers will overlook, we will
briefly give some of the many incidents and
| observations coming under our notice whilst
on the days excursion. Having alluded to
the general character of the gentlemen who
compose the stockholders of this organiza-
ton, it would he well perhaps before going
further to state that the officers, W. G. Ba-
ker, President, and Daniel Baker, Secretary,
both of Frederick county, and, as we have
already mentioned, well known in this
county. Among the directors are Governor
Jackson, Messrs Americus Dawson, |. T.
Fulks, Spencer c. Jones and Samuel Darby,
the four latter of this county.
| Our first halt of interest was at Buckeys.
town. The companys property at this
point consists Of 81 acres, all of which is
underlaid with limestone. The kilns at this
point, four in number, are out of order, not
having been used for some time. There is
sufficient limestone at this point to meet any
demand. At the Point of Rocks the train
halted for moment To witness the loading
of canal boats with lime brought from their
kilns at Martinsburg At Berlin there was
a moments stop to receive and welcome
more Of the friends of the company from
Virginia and Frederick county.
At this point an interesting feature was
introduced in the spreading of an elaborate
| and handsome luncheon in one of the cars
reserved especially for the purpose 1t is
needless for US to add that the guests, per