Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-07
Gifg ano Sounfg.
THE GRANITE QUARRY
Of the Augusta Granite Co., and
Extent of the Business.
The Quality is Fins-Good Demand in New
York and Other Places.

One Of the liveliest places to visit nows-
lays is the quarry of the Augusta Granit-
Co., located very near the Fuller observa-
tory.
The quarry covers Is acres, and the
quality of the granite procured here is very
choice for monuments, building materials.
and other purposes. This quarry was dis
covered and opened over 80 years ago. by n
man named Oliver, and has been known for
many years as divers ledge. A monu-
ment made of granite taken from the ledge
now marks his resting place in the old Gem
e cry near the quarry, and has been stand
ing there about As years.
One year. ago last February the
Augusta Granite Co. was organized,
and since then the extent of the granite
business here has increased. The officers
of the company are: VIM. II. Quinn, pres
,dent, Hallowell; A. r. Fuller, treasurer
Augusta; Philip II. Cary. superintendent,
Haliowell. James f. Dolan of New York
is stakeholder.
Last season the granite for an eight-stOry
building in New York was taken from this
gu .rry. Among the material were so
carved caps, six feet long, over SIX feet
high and three feet in diameter. The gran
lite work approach to the entrance of the
Stste House was one of the pieces of work
the company. did last summer. Over 10O,-
900 paving blocks were shipped to New
York city last summer, and from IS to so
men were employed. Having this quarry
running in full blast last season, was the
means of bringing several men and their
families here to locate, and today they are
citizens and paying taxes.
A contract to furnish granite for one
mile of street has recently been completed.
One-half million of blocks will be shipped
to Rhode Island. Already 10000 have
been shipped. 1t will take 25 vessels to
deliver the amount of the contract.
There are four derIicks at the quarry,
one run by steam, 12-horse
power engine, Frank Randall. engineer.
There are also steam drills, and all the
necessary appliances for such business.
There is track from tn, quarry to the
crusher, upon which two cats are run. The
crusher, for preparing the granite for street
purposes. is Owned AMI run by the city,
while the company supplies the graz lite for
it. The granite for the fine piece of roai
repairing on Western avenue is grounl at
this crusher, from the rough pieces Of
granite, amounting to over so loads day.
Around the crusher is a very dusty place to
work, and under the warm sun is far from
pleasant. Tie crusher is run by steam,
with John Kittridge as engineer.
The granite is taken from the quarry in
rough dimensions, or random sizes as the
customer may order. 1t lies in great sheets
and in some places where the best m ,teral
rs found are layers eight feet thick, of very
handsome material for monuments. The
JOURNALS attention was called 10 the place
where one slab had been blown out, it be-
ing "a feet long and l6 feet wide. 1t took
,nly one lewis to remove this
block A lewis consists Of
several holes drilled into the ledge, filed
with powder, and after the Dose stone b.
tween the holes is broken, the powder is
touched off.
One very interesting feature about the
work at the quarry is the breaking of the
slabs of granite into paving blocks. Ii is
wonderful how very true and even tine slab
may be divided into the proper shape and
size with large hammer. Standing at one
end of the yard and looking down the track,
IL paving cutters can be seen, each having
before him a large pile of these little grin-
lite blocks. At present there ar 81 quarry
men employed and it is expected that the
entire crew will be increased til, week.
The capital stock of the Augusta Granite
Company is $4,000. A large amount of
the fac granite taken from this quarry last
ear was shipped to dif,relt parts of Mas
s,chuset.s, chi fly oain,y. 1t has been
pronounced superior to Western granite.
and of extra quail y for monum,n ts and
building purposes.
Ia the May Issue of the Maine Central il
a fine write of the Rsng"l-y and Dead
river region, mentioning the fact of Judge
W. p. Whitehouse of this city, catching the
,rRest salmon yet taken from Rangelcy