The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-10-16
BILL ARP,s SUNDAY CHAT.
atlanta C3n:!:tution.

mills ere all big things, but nothing has
impressed me like the magnitude and
magnifcence of the marble works on the
North Georgia railroad. have been up
to Nelson and Tate, and for time dwelt
in the marble halls. All other mineral
treasures are dug or blasted out of their
beds, and come unwillingly with the hard
labor and toll of human muscle. All Of
them are hidden in the hills and noun
tains, and when removed leave behind
them unseemly holes and chasms, and
great heaps of waste and fragments. It
is all rough and dirty business, and o
strain upon man and beast to keep it go
ing. But these marble works are in a
level plain-a valley, where for half a
century the best corn and wheat and oats
grew-unconsciou that few feet below
there was sleeping mountain OF marble
that was worth millions.
Our route was overland, and took us
across the country by farmers road and
over the crest of young mountain, and
from its brow 7 saw for the first time the
little white, shining marble city down in
the valley below. It seemed to me that
I could almost throw stone into its
midst, but it was long three miles By
the slow descending road, and, when we
reached it, the little city and the valley
that enclosed it had expanded into extent
and beauty beyond conception. My first
emotion was amazement, and my next
was regret that my wife and children
were not there to see-lam going to take
Mrs. Arp there very soon, for she does
love to look on beautiful things. She
does love to talk about marble mantles
and hearths and vases and marble walks
and fountains and statuary, and frescoed
walks and other things, and have heard
her mention diamonds and pearls with
savory JUNCTION. These things, | tell her,
are scarce in this world, but will abound
in heaven, and I refer her to St. Johns
vision on the Isle Of Patmos as an en-
couragement to US all to be good and
travel the road that leads to the pearly
gates.
at first saw the immense derricks
that were slowly swinging the great block
Of marble around, aud I wondered where
the shining masses came from, for l saw
no sign on the mountains side.
"Where does it come FROM" said I.
My companion led me few steps away,
and I looked down into marble cham
Der. Just think of it-a chamber in the
ground with perpendicular marble sides,
and marble floor and nothing to mar its
beauty but the marks of the drill. Floor
after fcor has been lifted out in regular
layers of FIVE feet in depth until depth
of eighty feet has been reached and still
the work goes on. Just think Of mar
BILE chamber hundred feet square and
eighty feet deep and not speck of earth
or foreign matter in all that has been re-
moved. Looking down into the dizzy
depth the men seemed as children and
the engines as little toys. In the largest
chamber there were four engines at work
drawing the drills, and every puff of steam
advanced the stroke until the line was
punched. They drill and cross drill until
the five foot floor is all bisected and then
the horizontal work begins that loosens
these huge blocks from their movings.
The derrick seizes them and lifts them to
the top as easily as could lift brick.
The mighty power of steam does it all,
and the work of the men is play.
A locomotive on an elevated railway
kindly takes these marble blocks from
the derrick. a monster chain is let
down-a chain with great hooks, that
clasps the marble aides..and swings easi.
ly along under the railway as the engine
moves until it finds a resting place oppo.
site the gang-saws that are soon to cut it
into ten or twenty or perhaps hundred
pieces. They are called saws, but they
have no teeth, and make no noise except
the Kissing through the sand and water
that is fed from pipes into the narrow
opening as the SAWS descend into the rock.
After the saving comes the polishing.
The marble has been disected until it ls
light enough to be handled, and is then
transferred to the horizontal plan of an
immense cast iron wheel that is swiftly
revolving on it's axis-water and sand are
fed upon this wheel, and it takes but
minute to bring the marble to a perfect
plane and to smooth every irregularity
upon its surface. This great wheel is
twelve feet in diameter, and has cross
beams of wood that span it, but do not
touch it. These beams are stationery and
prevent the marble from revolving with
the wheel.
But it will take too long letter to tell
the wonders of these works. The owners
are increasing the force and the products
every year, for the demand is exceeding
the supply. The mighty north that, be-
fore the war, supplied the nation with its
marble, is now buying from these works.
It is cheaper and better quality than
Vermont has been furnishing for cen
tury. saw many beautiful columns that
are being prepared for the new Drexel
building in Philadelphia. saw them 10
the rough and in the turning lathe and
then set up finished with base and capital
all complete. Every day the products Of
these works go north and east and west.
There are now over 700 hands employed
in the marble business in Pickens Coun-
ty, and their daily wages is from 25 cents
to 81. The Is cents is paid the appren-
tices. I saw a good looking youth Of
twenty.one, who, two years ago, entered
as apprentice at Is cents day. He is
now at the turning lathe and gets 50 and
rs cents 8 day. He has taken himself a
wife who does all The domestic work and
is help. mate according to scripture, for
she helps meet the expenses. atyoung
man has good, easy and cleanly trade,
which rainy days do not hinder. He
works in comfortable shop that is cool
in summer and warm in winter. He is
laying up about $40 clear money every
week and ought to be happy IS he looks.
What better can young man want?
About 500 of these workmen are white
and most of them are natives and this
great enterprise that our northern friends
have established is boon and blessing
to PickeGs County. The Tate family
owns this property and have leased itup
on royalty Of cents cubic foot. Just
think of it, nearly 81 on every cubic yard
and $4,000 yards already taken out
Royalty used to mean the allowance or
toll exactel by the king, and it does make
man feel kiDgly aud proud to have
money coming in every day and every
hour like meal from hopper.
And yet you will find men right there
in Pickens who are Jealous and ervious
of this great work, and are ready to swear
that these men are getting rich off of the