Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-04

eofo SSue W snc hiue. Lump Iock Is Soft
er than bottom rock, and is said to con
tain larger per cent of msgnesis. It il
also said to make lime which Is superior
to all others in strength and for general
purposes, but it is rejected by the trade
on account of its being somewhat darker
in color. Bluff rock makes the strongest
lime, better than any other for founda-
ton work, but not uniform and we'll
adapted to other work. Side rock con-
tains some lime, but in the main is tai
cose, or micaceous, with magnesia, and
often many other constituents. Grass
hopper, although possessing the general
appearance of other lime rocks is easily
recognized by the quarrymen. 1t is
worthless for making lime as plastering
made from 'grasshopper lime" blisters in
hardening. In all operations about the
quarry cask of lime is the unit of meas
ure. The owner of the quarry sells the
right to remove rock at certain price
per cask, for the lime which the rock pro
duces. The contracting quarryman en-
cages to blast, hoist and place the rock on
the cars at the side of the quarry at a Ger
tain price per cask. The railroad com
it in the kilns by the casF. This arrange
ment seems to have insured harmony be
tween all connected. All parties engaged
in these departments of the lime business
seem to have a definite and correct knowl
edge Of how many casks of lime consti
tute days work, and the result seems
to have been of great benefit to the work
man. There seems to be community of
interest which is well preserved and cared
for. There arc existing the most friendly
relations between superintendent and
workmen. Therefore there is no servitude
about the work
BY diligent care the hazards to life and
limb have been reduced to minimum
and we may say that, from the working
mans standpoint. the lime business is in
an excellent condition. But capital bust
ness energy, and sagacity, as we'll lis labor
are necessary in all important business
enterprises. This Is emphatically true in
the lime business. There are two sides
to this Industrial situation.
During the past few years the manu-
facturers have seen their profits dwindling
until they have in many instances en-
tirely disappeared For the last two sea
sons there has been little encouragement
to do business; but the indomitablo pluck
of the men engaged has enabled them to
go on. While the price of lime has been
settling to the non profit plane, there has
been no reduction in the price of what
ever goes to make a cask of lime, except
used in burning, and In the cost of the
cask. This slight relief has been gained
at the expense of Maine labor The logic
of the situation Is, that unless relieved by
legislation the result will be that labor
must make large concessions all along the
line or that this great industry must
languIsh A movement has been made to
unite the manufacturers and thus steady |
and somewhat control prices.
This will undoubtedly afford temporary
relief But the solution Of the question |
lies in the application of economic princi- |
pies which can never be reached by the |
inakeshift OF a trust or q combine It's |
solution depends not altogether upon
business energy bat upon craftsmanship |
Not upon the degradation of American |
labor, but upon proper appreciation of
its rights, and due protection ofAmericap |
enterprise