The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-06-27
Reported for The RECORD.
GOAT HILL AND ADJACENT QUARRIEs

The gentleman acting as guide to q
party of friends who were passing over
the Belvidere Division of the Penna. X. II.
Co., long before it came under the man
agement OF the late remarkable Thomas
Scott, was no doubt surprised when, upon
his announcing "Goat Hill, of Revolu-
tionary fame" one of the party, after
scanning the brow and slopes in an earnest
manner, innocently inquired, "Where are
the goats +"
1t remained for others TO ind the goats,
and there have been many surprises since
then. Some twenty years ago gentle.
man by the name of Max Green was the
first person who in practical manner un-
dertook to use the granite OF which the
hill is almost solldly composed. The ex-
pertinent of Mr.. Green did not pan out as
well as was expected, probably on account
of finances. 1t was destined, however, to
attract attention and induce others to see
what there was in It,
A Philadelphia party, with A. W. Tay-
lor (now deceased) as superintendent,
created quite commotion for awhile,
but, like their predecessor, quietly stole
away and said, "There is too much
solidity there 10 be of practical use it
won't pay"
James H. Callan, OF this city, also en-
barked in the Belgian block trade at Goat
Hill and opened up quarry. For awhile
success crowned his efforts aud large
numbers OF blocks were made and ship
ped TO all parts of the country. Losses
in contracts and stringent money markets
prevented the successful continuation of
the quarry and work was suspended from
time to time, until at the present time
there is little, il any, done there.
Thus years rolled on, giving many an
opportunity to test their ability as man.
ayers or proprietors. 1t remained for the
firm of b. M. & j. f. Stanley to come In
and reap the harvest which had been ripe
70. so many years and ready for the blast
and hammer. This firm is composed Of
men who not only have practical ideas,
but sufficient means TO put them into &C.
ton, and thus where a few men worked
on at slow pace from day to day hundreds
are now employed, not only at Shanley's,
but all over the neighborhood. Wherever
rock protrudes from the earth OF suffi
cient size to warrant few thousand
blocks, there, Immediately, is quarry
company formed and the product of the
earth is gathered with but little cultiva-
ton and sent TO market, which at the
present time is not confined TO Lambert
vile alone, but takes 10 New York, Phila
delphia, Camden, Baltimore, Elizabeth,
Newark, Jersey City and all intermediate
places.
Few people, even many OF those who
reside here at home, have any idea of the
number of quarries in operation nor the
number Of men employed. Astrol around
the hills, with an occasional question, pro-
duced the following facts The Shanleys'
quarries, which are the largest, are along
the line of the Belvidere Division of the
Penna. Il. r., not a quarter Of mile be-
low the city limits and north of Callan's
quarry. Here all kinds OF stone work is
gotten out, while in almost all the other
quarries only Belgian blocks are made,
except in several instances where crushers
are used. SINE beautiful dimension
stone have been sent from these quarries,
and those who have visited the Gettysburg
battle field will find among the hundreds
of other handsome and costly shafts raised
heavenward in honor of the sacred dead
resting there none more beautiful in color
or finish than the one chiseled out OF Goat
Hill granite This firm send out dimen-
sion, blocks, ruble, crushed, backing,
foundation, ballast and dust. Nothing is
wasted. Two crushers are constantly
running aud the tracks are SO run as TO
allow the cars 10 be filled from the cruso-
ers and taken out of the way without the
use of horse and cart. Everything is done
by system and thus hundreds OF tons CT
stone are annually displaced to meet the
needs Of contractors and builders. About
one hundred men are employed here on
an average the year round and there is no
b.t, haf -du "a
come. Joseph Ledger has the supcrin-
Tending Of the works and Is responsible
for everything in and about them. lie is
ably assisted by CLERK Thomas Wasser,
who proves an efficient, energetic, go.
ahead young man, who believes In at.
tending to business first and pleasure
afterwards. A large order has just been
placed with the Shapleys which will give
employment to forty stone cutters alone
for the next eight months 10 come
The Delaware River Quarry and Con
s!ruction Company is another organiza-
ton which seems to have met with un-
paralleled success. 1t is under the man
agement OF Robert A. Montgomery and
is located at Moore's Station, just below
the Goat Hill quarries. Here crushed
stone seems to be in great demand, and
with the aid of powerful crushers cars
are constantly employed In running to
market crushed stone, ruble, ballast and
dust. While there are not many men
employed here at block making, yet nearly
all the blocks made at the smaller quarries
around the city, which will be named fur
Their on, are bought by this company and
are delivered to its agent at the freight
station 10 Lambertville. Blocks are cart
ed from one half mile to four miles and
from early morn 10 dusky eve there is a
constant line of two horse teams going
and coming. There are about thirty men