The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25
A NEW INDUSTRY.
The Famous Travertine Quarry
at Bridgeport Among
the Peaks of the Sierra
Nevadas-There Is but
One Other nine of Such
Marble in the World.

Inc announcement That three carlOaOS
of travertine arrived in this City a few
| days ago from California quarry had lit
| tie Specification for the general public. but
| to builders and architects familiar with the
varied uses of this magnificent marble, of
which there is but one other quarry in the
| world, its importance was well under
stood.
The altitude of the small town of Bridge
| port, the county seat of Mono County is
! 6402 feet. 1t is located in a fine valley,
bordered at one end by the highest peaks
of the Sierra Nevadas. On the east side of
| the valley, at short distance, a range of
| volcanic mountains runs north and
south, and three quarters of a
| mile from the county seat. in a
| southeast direction, amid scenery grand
| and impressive, is found the quarry of the
Travertine Company, whose product is to
| have SO important bearing on the de-
| velopment of industrial wealth. j. G..
Russell in his graphic report says: "The
whole range is frequently snow-clad In a
| single night, and in the clear atmosphere
that follows a storm each peak and crest
| and wall of alabaster stands out clear and
sharp against the blue sky, with such re-
pose and grandeur and purity that no one
| can remain in their presence without
feeling of wonder and admiration" There
is evidence that at one time volcano with
a crater half mile wide was in eruption.
The lava ceasing to flow mineral boiling
springs appeared, filling the cavity with
their crystaliized salts, and deposited the
travertine and onyx, which it is certain
will continue to bedrock, probably 400 or
500 feet deep, and even with the increased
consumption for marble will not be ex-
hausted in thousand years.
1.-THE springs" continues Mr.. Russell,
which have deposited the travertine and
onyx must at one time have been very
copious." The great beauty of the traver-
tine found here will undoubtedly bring a
large amount of it into use. A few of
these travertine-onyx springs are still
flowing, daily producing the material.
The report of the State Mineralogist for
1898 and 1884 says: lone mole is still in
process of formation; numerous springs,
varying in temperature from lukewarm to
boiling, are scattered irreguiarly over these
spaces between the ridges" Mr.. Russell
predicts that the little mountain Of Bridge
port will one day become the Mecca of
scientists to witness the mighty laboratory
of nature.
The great value Of this deposit was dis
covered in the latter part OF 1898. Being
only fifteen miles from Bodie, once great
mining center, prospectors for gold
Travelled over this rich deposit for years,
ignorant of its value. A searcher after
marble for monuments in the year men
toned brought the treasure to light.
In the port of New York alone 1900
tons of Sienna and Numidian marble are
imported in one year, representing value
Of 100000 to builders. In the same
period, from the yards of the Vermont Mar
BILE Company alone, New York City, plain
white was sold to the amount of So, 900, 600.
This California travert,ne is spoken of
IN the highest terms by competent judges,
and slabs, which are under the saws here
now, have created enthusiasm among ex-
| perts. IN New York City it is pronounced
the finest species of marble. Mr.. Harden
| berg, architect of such we'll known
buildings as the Waldorf and the
New Aston, the latter costing over 49,
100000, says it is the most beautiful
marble he has ever seen. Mr.. Post,
architect on the Mills building in the same
city and the new Havemeyer building on
the site of the old New York Herald struct-
ure, also gives 1t strong Endorsement.
| Among others in New York who have ex-
pressed their admiration of its qualities
may be mentioned Clinton, architect of the
| Mutual Life building, Harding & Gooch of
| the Postal Telegraph building and the new
| Mackay building, and the names of such
well-known men as Hunt, Bissell Robert
son and Kindall.
But the knowledge of the wonderful
| beauty and enduring qualities of this
travertine is not confined to America. Its
fame as an exquisite building material has
reached Europe, and its merits have been
| investigated there with the same results
that have followed its use elsewhere.
| In London there is in course of erection
a Catholic cathedral whose grand proper
| tions and artistic adornments will make it
| one of the noble monuments ofthat world s
| metropolis. Into that splendid edifice will
go twenty columns, each fourteen feet
| long and two feet in diameter, with caps
and bases, all from the quarry of the Cali
| fornia travertine concern which has re-
| ceived the order from London.
How rare this travertine deposit is may
be seen from the fact that there are only
two such in the world. The other one is
in the lofty Apennines, near the world
| famous Carrara, whose inexhaustible de-
| posts have been worked for centuries. 1t
is an interesting fact that the geological
formation of the region of the Sierra Ne
yada in which the California quarry of the
trayertine is situated resembles closely
! that of Italy in the Apennine chain.
| There are points of difference observable,
| however, in the quality of the marble, and
| tine California material has been pro-
| nounced by experts superior in variety and
| beauty to the Italian travertine.
] I'm tone. color and soundness," said Mr..
McDougall of Ruffino e. Bianchi. one OF
| the best posted men in marble in the coun-
| try, lit surpasses the Italian product. 1t
! is the most beautiful l have ever seen. It
would be impossible to describe or emu.
merate the number and delicate blend.
ing of shades. predict that its use will
work revolution in the application of
marble in building"
M