The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-10-27
The Sargent Quarries on Mt. Heagan.

quarry was the 1lrSt since inc company
began operations there. The road along
the river and over the ledge hill was better
than we had ever seen it, and credit should
be given to our first selectman, A. A.
CHM. for the improvement. Another
noticeable sign of a change was a load OF
hay and two baggage wagons on the way.
After passing the schoolhouse four new
houses were noticed, and some of them
had their new occupants with smoke
started. Then comes the railroad track,
crossing the town way and turning west
erly up the grade Alongside the track
on the north side is good wagon road
and the company's buildings, first the
store then the horse stable. with 20
stalls. where Il horses are kept Next
is the OK barn. where IL oxen are
kept besides one yoke at the works
Then come four fine dwelling houses
with cellars. nearly completed and some
occupied Back of these houses are some
smaller ones, and along the mile of rail
road track nearer the river there are five
more fine cottage house making eleven
in all owned by the Company Besides
there is also a cellar st, ned and ready for
building a house for Nj T. T. Sargent
head superintendent, and another cellar
stoned ready for the large store. After
passing the dwelling houses we come to
Il,
three large blacksmith shops with twelve
fires, and the engine house with 60
horse power engine Just set up and car
pentel' shop. with the second story above
foI the draughting room.
In all there are % buildings. great and
small. along the line of the railroad track,
all new since the Company began work
here The railroad track is laid to extend
and curve around the mountain. There
is as vet hardly beginning. with no end
of good stone and the best of stock alive
and glstening even to the very top sheets.
Along the terminus of the railroad the fol
lowing foremen have charge of the crews.
" y
first and lie has taken out the largest
space in the mountain. He said the stock
was good and worked well. but ''when |
get mp in there there is going to be some
good stock again" His crew was work
inc ont some smaller stone fora big break
Nh. {. worked the new patent drill to put
to get nearer the engine. where there was
half an acre of stone clear and free from
dirt ami sound on the very top.
Mr.. Calderwood said: You had better
90 up and see the rest of the quarries' so
we started and one not acquainted would
think the quarry was all around them, for
there was long stone, short stone. square
round and fiat stone, stretchers headers
double BIS, coping, and winding all around
everywhere along the roads and trees
there We're 300, 900 paving stone all paid
for and ready to ship. We soon arrived
at the space taken out by Mr.. Charles
Reed, of Frankfort. and his crew. and
tlltit was d plS StnHe dlttG lHt 1nptel
of the old threshing floor of Arannah 10
feet long, feet broad, and 20 inches deep
smooth and handsome. Near by was
young fellow whom we knew from Frank
fort putting in plug holes on a rock lust
canted up. We said: You are putting in
those holes 4 good ways apart eyes,
no i.l t.+l Ia IL
and breaks smooth here" We noticed
that although young he was experienced,
for he struck without looking on the head
Of the drill at every clip. Mr.. Reed crew
was working by the highest wall or best
head of any OF the qualries. Then comes
Mr.. Frank Reed, of Frankfort, and his
crew and the powder charged lewis hole
have done execution there Then MI
Noah Twist. OF Frankfort. and his crew:
and there is long wall of stone and
space taken out there. The last, and far
away. are Mr.. Daniel Donaver. of Prospect,
and rev. Mr.. Donaver's crew put in a
lewis hole, 3 feet inches deep. charged it
with one and one half pounds Of powder
and it seemed to me that enough stone
broke off to load coaster.
Scattered around in the different quar-
ries was large stone called an En- stone,
or coping s feet inches long. J feet wide:
high enough for good stone wall and
weighing $ II tons. Two contracts for
Us stone each have been filled and gone.
and another contract made for $50 more
with about 50 out now. MI Donaver has
cot ait some II of these stone and there
WcIt q number in his quarry that had been
moved out of the way with the iron blocks.
chain, tall and oxen. One OF the old vet
elan Stone cutters. MI. William Clark, of
Prospect. was hammering away on one.
and Ae said: Il get SIS for cutting one of
theso stones and it will take me about II
days 10 cut one now. for have to 90 home
early and don't get here very early. |
keep eight COWS and have furnished par
ties on the quarry with $50 worth Of but
ter. Farming don't seem to pay very well,
;" ! cut some stone yet Some of the smart
young stone cutters will cut one of these
stones in nine or ten days: but last winter
! thought did well to cut one in a month