The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-21

GRANITE BLOCKS.
History Of the Great Paving Stone.
Where That to DO Used in This City
Will Come From.
Missouri and Arkansas the Two
Highly Favored States.
How the Work OF Quarrying and
Fini shing is Done.
Granite Stones Scientifically Handled,
Granite Stones Scientifically Handled,
Showing How the Human Mind,
well-Directod, Can Overcome
Seemingly Obstinate Matter.

Stacked along Third street arc thousands
OF granite blocks for paving purposes.
More than half the number required TO
complete the pavement OF that thorough
fare are already there, so culled as TO make
them absolutely correct and perfectly
adopted to the best class Of work.
After centuries Of experimenting-no
altogether in this countryside scientific
mind seems to have settled upon the con-
yiction that no pavement equals that of
granite blocks. when properly laid. To DO
sure, II requires foundation with the few.
est possible defects, an ingredient that adds
materially TO the cost II may also be re.
marked that the pavement costs more
than any other, but comes into favor on
the motto, "The best is always cheapest"
In Memphis there will have TO be paid
out about S4.l0 for every square yard OF
the pavement laid, as against prices rang
ing from sl.50 to $500 for other kinds OF
pavements At Louisville, where the
granite has recently come into popular os-
TEEN, the cost is $500 per square yard,
and that fact does not deter the authorities
from going right ahead with wholesale
contracts for IT, Other cities are pursuing
a similar course under similar expense.
II isn't every grade OF granite that IL
suitable Tor paving purposes Even tho
first quality will not do. Granite is In
geology an unslratifled stone, composed OF
quartz. mica and ioldspar. Where the
mica is wholly or partially replaced by
hornblondo II IN called sycnite Fcldspar
IL either white, gray or reddish; quartz is
colorlcss or smoky; mica Is white 20 brown.
isll, and hornblondo is OF q grconish black
color Granite. therefore, IL found In
white, gray and rod. That al Knoblck Is
gray, with decided grcenish black tinge,
indicating the decided presence OF horn. |
blonde. That found at Gmnitevillo is Of |
reddish hue, indicating the absence OF |
hornblende. The formation OF granite Is |
that Of minute grains, from which II takes
its name, and the biologists says that Its |
component parts must have consolidated at |
n temperature Of red heat. and under very
great pressure. The impact accounts for
lis great strength. In some tests
made In Scotland 10 ascertain the
power OF resistance Of granite Il required
weight OF 20, ii6 pounds TO crush one
hall inch cube. Fourteen cubic feet OF |
granite will weigh ton. The folly Of at |
lacking such a solid mass with implements |
OF weight and strength will appear at q |
glance. Where force fails mild mcanssuc. |
coed. Tho process Of cutting granite blocks |
into sizes for handling with dcrricks Is |
called blocking and fealhcring. With |
small hammer and n long drill, which IA |
nothing more than chiael, the cutter
kaa la lao ~ H.. o
holes about four inches deep, half inch
wide, and from six TO eight inches apart.
II working ON the face Of a clin tho hon.
zontal line Is made, and this IA supple
menied by another limo on the top OF the
rock at a line which indicates the desired
width.
Mos, Of tho blocks 10 be laid on Third |
street and elsewhere In this city the pres |
ent year will come from the Gmniieyillc, |
Mo-, and Little Rock. Ark, quarrics. |
Both are known as Syonitc granite. Of |
which an authority writes as follows |
Looking over the vista Of the ages, no |
race has ever existed that has left cdificcs
90 compare In extent, grandeur and mag.
nihccnce 70 those Of the ancient Egyptians,
whose solid masonry In their stupendous
temples have deiicd the ratagcs OF time.
The immense sine OF the 'Sycnite' granite
blocks Of stone thoy employed, and the
raising OF them In the building Of their
temples seem ~ supcrhuman labor. Tho
sculpture upon these works remains la all
is original boldness aud dclicacy as II
worked In marble Some are said 10 have
been erected 2,2T2 H. G.. This 'Sycnte'
granite occupies large tmcla In Upper
Egypt between the first cataract and the
town OF Assounan, ancient 'Sycnc' II
was extensively guarded by the Egyptians
IN the reign Of Z,'sius, King OF fhebes,
1900 ycars II. O., and formed into obolisks
and colossal statues, which have lasted
until the present day. After considering
all the resources In the way OF building
stone, u has become q well established
fact that granite quarrying IL the surcst
basis Of profitable quarry industry"
Describing the product Of both tho
quarrics referred 10, tho same writer saws.
referring flut 10 that nj Granitcyille
This granite was first used IN the piers Of
tho 81 Louis bridge, aud the basement
and first story Of the 81 Louis posiollicc.
These quarrics have transformed the city
OF - Louis from n city In swamp 90 one
Of the finest paved cities In the Union.
There having been no less than thirty-two
miles OF streets paved with granite blocks
~ the past ak years. The manolith over
the grave Of Thomas Allen at Pitishcld,
Mas. which V $40 feet high, 40 feet al
the base, 2. 10 feet AZ the iop-the largest
except one In the country quarric1 al
1nniicville. This .'Sycniic' granite has
icyolnuoniked the construction Of fino
buildings In 81 Louis until ils massiyc
structures are q wonder 10 Strangers"
Taking up, then, the article ON the Little
Rock quarrios, the samc writer says "Ono
OF the advantages Of the fourchc Mount.
tain 'Syonile' granite formation n that Il
closely resembles the Quincy Sycniic gran
I've IN NC Themes Of IT, grain, the oven
hcss ot i'a color, the irccness from defects,
ana iis beauty when u Is polished. II IA
iierr from mica Than that celebrated gran.
I've, ana may when extensively worked,
prove even superior In texture when dccp.
~ quarried. One OF the great adyantaers
OF this granite formation a the absence of
dccaycd aud worthless parts. great ad.
Vantage over many other valuable granite
formations Tho color Is near the same as
the Quincy GRANTEES, although there Ia a
gray granite Of coarscr formation found
there. This granite must become the
principal building stone for large struct.
urcs Ia the cities contiguous 10 Little Rock
and the houth in the vast country reached
by railway and river Being 20 near alike
10 the Quincy Syenito granite In color and
texture, II Ia only a matter OF time when Il
viii be used extensively for monumental
work, aud become a great industry, ulu.
aiely a. valuable M the Quincy syenito
quarics are 10 their owners and the peo-
pie Of Massachusetts,
Granite blocks weighing from two 10
lnLII lnna L.L-llA L-.-...- 49,