The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-06-27

has IN successful operation quarry, un-
der the supervision of Daniel Higgins, and
the work is all done by those who are SEN
fenced there for longer or shorter term.
While down at Moores the new quar-
ries of Messrs. Keller & Moore are visited.
They are situated on the Pleasant Valley
road, just short distance from the Penna.
X. X. station. This is a new company
and gives employment to about a dozen
persons, but will increase as fast as pos
sible.
After leaving Keller & Moore's, stroll
around the Pleasant Valley road brings
you, "by way of Howard Carr's, in the
direction to the upper or surface quarries,
as they may be called. Here there is very
little preparation required for men to go
directly TO work, simply little drilling,
a little powder, few hard knocks and
the large boulders which are found in
abundance arc reduced to slabs fit for
shaping into Belgian blocks. Here may
be found men of almost every nation, who
handle the hammer-Americans, English,
Scotch, Irish, Welsh, Swiss, Italians and
Africans of American descent, all striving
with each other to put money in their
purses by the sweat of their brows.
II anybody imagines that block making
is easy work let them disabuse their minds
at once. Yet there are few workmen
who 60 about their labors with any more
cheerful countenances than do the block
makers and quarrymen generally. Wages
are good, as most OF them work by the
piece and they chip off large hunks of
stone into neat blocks fit for street work
in the twinkling of an eye, almost as
quickly as a carpenter would saw them
out of stick of timber of the same size.
Up in the above neighborhood Alfred
Wanamaker, an old quarryman, employs
about sixty men, most of them colored,
and Robert II. Dilts, the well-kuown gro
ceryman, finds employment for forty men.
Howard |. LaBar, clerk in the office
of the Penna. r. r. Co. in this city, fur.
nishes the financial part of another quarry
and looks after matters generally, thus
helping fifty bread winners supply them
selves and families.
John Elliot & Company employ twenty
two hands.
Percy d Anderson do quiet business
and have but few employees, yet they turn
out fine line OF work, which meets with
ready sale, and are not bothered with pay
rolls or clerical hire.
George Banchoff is one CT the pioneers
in the block business aud has furnished
thousands of blocks for South Jersey,
Philadelphia aud other places. He EN-.
ploys some thirty men. He has sold
every block he had in stock to go to
Frankfort, Philadelphia, and is using
every means to replenish his stock. Very
few quarrymen can afford to hold blocks
very long; 1t runs into money.
There are a number of other companies
who employ a greater or less number, all
within a radius of mile. Among the
number may be found John Payton &
Co., Levi o. Reynolds, james Taylor,
john Mitchell, Clark Brothers, Collins &
Carlson, John McGrath and Hort Bro
theirs.
Lambertville Cooperative Company,
No. /, composed OF practical block
makers and quarrymen, and backed by
citizens, has done a good business, be-
cause all work for each others interests,
and the moro work produced the better
the pay. About thirty to fifty men COM
pose this firm, OF which G.. j. Fisher is
Treasurer.
Near Rocktown (propery named), about
four miles from this city, is found the
Rocktown Granite Company, with eighteen
men, and the Ringoes Belgian Block Com
pany, with about the same number. The
former company send their blocks to the
city and the latter haul to Ringoes, about
five miles distant, claiming that the differ
encc in miles is made up in the quality OF
roads.
One would naturally suppose that those
who were in the business Of getting out
material for good roads would make sam
pies for their customers to look at, but
such is not the case. 1t is the reverse in
many cases and at times poorer roads can
not be found. Could the poor horses
talk there would be some remembrance.
just above this city, on what is known
as Mount Gilboa, Messrs. Barbour & Ire
land have opened quarries for crushing
stone. and two powerful crusbers are
sending out quantities OF good road ma
terial.
just below the city, on the Pennsyl-
vania side and opposite Goat Hill, new
quarry has been lately opened, under the
name of the Camden Granite Company,
in honor, no doubt, of the gentlemen from
Camden, N. j., who operate it.
Another quarry has been opened up the
Pennington Branch of The Penna. r. r.,
about mile from the city. 1t Is con
trolled by Edward Thorp aud will employ
some fifteen or twenty hands.
AS TO the question of wages, labor is
divided as follows: Stone cutters, SO. 80
per day, or from 81. 90 TO $50 on piece
work; block-makers average $3.50 per
day, or 2 cents per piece when the stone
is gotten out for them, or 81 cents when
they employ their own help; drillers re-
ceve $l.75 per day. and laborers, who
do all kinds OF work, from 81. 90 to 81. 80
per day.
The benefits derived from the quarries
in this community are immense, particu-
larly to the merchants and business men
OF all kinds.