Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-09-24

half feet have been taken out, and two
smaller specimens were to be shipped to
Barre this week for the purpose OF work
| ing them up into columns for ornamental
and exhibition purposes.
F. X. Markham of Barre, who has secur-
ed the options along the granite line, and
who has been getting surveys OF the prop
erty, expects, about the first OF October, to
have force OF about 80 men at work max
| ing suitable road from the highway to
the ledge, and blasting out marketable
stone. When asked If the product his
company expected to get out was to be us
ed for building purposes, he said emphat-
ically no, but for monumental purposes,
averring that he already had an offer of 81
per cubic foot for all the stone he would
place on the cars at Windsor. Parties
made trip to the mountain last week with
view OF looking over the feasibility Of
constructing line OF railway from the sta
tion to the quarries. We understand that
nothing will be done at present respecting
this feature of the enterprise. The haul
ing can be done with teams at fair profit
as the grade is such that good loads can be
drawn the entire distance.
c. s. Sherman has taken some very fine
and picturesque views of the mountain,
and especially OF Jumbo Rock near Gran
ite Gulch, which forms about the eastern
limit of the quarries to be worked.
Much has been said locally about the
hardness OF Ascutney granite. While 1t is
true that the stone is very hard and firm,
this same quality is essential for high
polish. This hardness is claimed to be
equal to the famous Aberdeen granite OF
Scotland, half inch cube of which has
been known to stand pressure OF $500
pounds. 1t has been demonstrated beyond
a reasonable doubt that the rifting quail
ties OF the granite are excellent, and emil
nently satisfactory in that 1t will split one
way as well as another. This peculiar and
most desirable quality has been discover
ed from experimental openings on what
may be termed the surface rock. II Is rea-
sonable TO expect that this characteristic
will not only hold its own but will i'm
prove, il possible, as the ledge is penetrat-
ed. Along the foot of the ledge there is
opportunity to build platforms for the use
OF the workmen in splitting and trimming
and for the use OF derricks.
There is every reason to believe that be-
fore twelve months have passed, Windsor
will have a healthy industry firmly estab-
lished, and one that will increase as time
goes on. Then, perhaps, the vacant mill
buildings will be utilized for some manu-
featuring purpose, II not for granite works
Windsor furnishes an excellent shipping
point for southern, northern aud western
business, and there is ample room east OF
the railway station, as well as in other
parts OF the village, for granite sheds and
the like.
The parties that are now interested are
the only ones who have ever taken hold
of the matter in question, with their mon
ey and an apparent determination to sue
ceed in opening up an industry that must
inevitably be largely beneficial to the town
and they have proceeded so far without
seeking the favorable comment or distin- [
guished consideration of any OF its citizens
Windsor Journal.