The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-24


drawing royalty OF over 81, 900 a month,
and the aggregate is constantly increasing.
The output of the quarries is already inn
mensc, and is doubling every year. Over
1000 men are already employed in tho
valley Besides this, mills for shaping and
polishing the marble are running in Gin
cinnati, Chattanooga, Peoria, Marietta and
Nelson, Ga. The Marietta mill is two
stories high and nearly 500 feet long 1t
was built by company OF Bostonians and
Phiadelphians, OF which the lamented X,
Nj. Pusifer, of the Boston Herald, was
president. The marble is sent all over the
country, and there have been few ship
ments to Europe. 1t is almost impossible,
with the present facilities, to supply the
demand.
The Long Swamp quarries are probably
the largest in the world. A fortnight ago
visited them with Capt f. p. Howell,
whose descriptive article undoubtedly led
to their development. The run from Ma
rietta to Tate, the nearest point on the
North Georgia Railroad, was made in less
than two hours. The road passes through
a mountainous region, and is bringing tothe
front country OF remarkable salubrity,
fertility and mineral wealth. When the
connection with the East Tennessee Road
is made, Atlanta will have another pic
turesQue route TO the North. Ii is said
that the rails will all be laid before snow
flies. The mountains are covered with
oak, blackjack, popular, walnut and other
hard woods. Before many years the music
OF the circular saw will be heard in nearly
every valley. Some miles below Tate the
"wet editor" OF Atlanta pointed out the
spot where Joe Brown stood at the plow
Initiating Cincinnatus when he received
the news Of his nomination for Governor
OF Georgia. II Is in field upon the side
OF hill where the soil is OF dark red hue.
Another point OF interest was Ball Ground,
thriving village. 1t gets its name from
the fact that in olden times the Indians OF
Northern Georgia assembled here once q
year TO hold court and play ball.
At Tate We left the North Georgia Road,
aud ran down Long Swamp Mountain
upon a locomotive owned by the marble
company. Long Swamp is a misnomer.
There is no swamp within 100 miles Of
the quarrleS We were on steep grade.
The crooked little railroad told its story in
its cuverts and bridges. They were Of
pure marble. The supporting walls were
OF the same material. In some places the
road was balasted with marble, and in
others huge white blocks were strewn at
its side. They were coarsely variegated,
and had evidently been dumped because
they lacked the required purity. As We
descended into the waller the rattle aud
clatter Of the machinery in the pits were
heard above the rumbling OF the locomo-
tive. Volumes OF smoke were funneled
through the pipes OF the steam mills, and
the nlsping OF thousands OF saws was
heard. The valley is quito narrow and
toriuous. Long Swamp Creek, from ten
to fifteen feet wide, ripples through il.
The soil Is as red as Jersey soil. There are
quarries upon both sides Of the creek. The
first two pits are each nearly 100 feet
square and about 100 feet deep. They are
really immense watcr-tight marble tanks.
The marble is removed In blocks weighing
from ten 10 twenty tons. The size is lin
tied only by the power Of the machinery
used In handling them. i saw one block
sixteen feet long, four feet six inches wide,
aud four feet thick. II weighed over
twenty-five tons, and was said 10 be the
largest block yet taken from the quarry.
The quarries recalled pictures OF the Kim
bcrly diamond pits. Ladders are used
in tho descent Despite their depth
the marble is 20 solid that no water
appears The only dimpness comes from
above. The bottom Is covered with steam
drills. They are fed with water brought
from the surface In rubber hose. No OK.
plosiyes are used. The workmon set the
drills, and they move along ~ though im.
bued with life. II takes about ten days
for a drill 20 cut out block weighing
twenty tons. When nj work their noise
Is deaiening. The drills rattle as they
IL. Il. 4. L. a..a.
the air like powdered sugar.
The blocks are raised from the bottom
Of the pits by huge derricks. They have
the ghp Of machine giants A travelling
steam derrick piles, stores, and loads those
that are &c be sent away. The unrcscryed
blocks arc rolled 10 the mills near by upon
low platform cars. Without removal from
the truck, they are placed In frame be-
meath the saws. This frame somewhat re-
sembles the frame Of loom or Of an
antique hand printing press. When fast
ened in place the block IL cut into marble
slabs by gang Of parallel SAWS They
move horizontally and not perpcndicu-
larly. They are longer but not 10 wide 90
those used in saw pits years ago. The
gangs vary In number according 10 the
thickness OF the slabs. The saws are
luolultnHs Allt hiANa NIt CUT Nl lIlt NlllOu
Of sand and water. The saws become as
sharp ne well-whe,ted scythcs. They arc
driven over the blocks by machinery.
Steady streams Of fine sand and OF pure wa.
ter feed their edges aud slowly perform the
work OF a bucksaw. Each block dfips
with sediment while the saws are flying
through IL. The saws play night and day
The sand and water wears away the steel
until some Of them become mere threads,
when they are discarded. There are from
twenty 10 thirty saws in n gang, and each
mill uses from thirty 10 fifty gang contin.
ua!ly. II takes from ten TO twelve aud
even twenty hours 10 saw a block into
slabs
The marble has grain like loaf sugar
II has great strength and beauty. IL Is
said 10 closely resemble marble used In
the temples and palaces Of ancient times,
which have stood a weather test for thou
sands Of years lts strength was demon.
slratcd by the Ordnance Department ai
the Waicriown Arsenal three years ago.
IL is capable Of sustaining 1900 pounds
20 the square inch. The testers reported
that n single column twelve feet high and
two feet In diameter would support tho
entire weight Of large building a thou.
sand years after iron and granite columns
had gone 10 decay. Il saws little harder
than Italian marble, and Ia said 20 cope
truer and better than any other. II planes,
drills, turns into columns, vases aud urns
equal 10 any first class stone. II breaks
attI lraaaaa far faak .fagaI tt.rI auI L.