The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-21
THE BUCKINGHAM SLATE
FINEST DIPOsIT ~ THE WORLD
AMI INExHtySTfBLE.
Mined by Weichmen with simple Appii-
anccs and Used for Many Purposes
Besides Covering Roofs.

ohio railway. IL - Impossible 10 lofH
any correct estimate OF the extent. o.
rather immcnsity of tho deposit. as al
tho indications are that a large are.
of country is resting On a solid slat'
foundation. Enough slate IS in sight a
the several quarries now poing operated
20 keep a force OF five hundred men en-
ployed for one hun drcd years. The iarg
est quarry Is about S2J feet deep, and not
less than hundred yards square, anC
has given .emuncrative employment e
"a force of about three hundred men for
long term of yc1rs ether quarries are
being worked upon a less extensive scale
though yielding equally as good quality Of
slate.
Tho quarry operatives are generally
Welshmcn or their descendants, who seem
10 have q natural adaptability 10 ms
kind OF work. possessing both by acquire
ment and inheritance. tho skill and Judg-
mcnt necessary TO produce the CONNER
cial product As a rule. these men arc
sober. thrifty. intelligent siuzens, and
desirable residents.
The thrifty settlement at and near
Arvonia owes its being 10 the slate works
ond every department Of general business
in that locality exhibits the unmistak-
able signs of prosperity. Notwithstanding
hard times tho quarries have been IN
operation right along, and seem 10 be
doing a fine business
MANY USES.
A great many people are unaware
that slate Is used for any other purnose
than roofing: but this IS a great mistake
Official and practical tests, proves Buck
ineham slate 10 have weight resisting
pwer nearly equal to granite and vastly
becomes
very desirable as an ornamental building
stone. Some very pretty effects can be
seen in Richmond where slate trimmings
are used with brick and takes the place
Of granite. brownstone, or marble. \
rood deal Of Buckingham slate found It's
way into the construction Of the JEFFERSON
Hotel. which Is as fine building as any
Southern city can boast.
Many NANTES turned out AZ Arvonla
are real works OF art, artistic IN concep-
lion with elaborate. well-executed carv-
ings.
steps. ratings. flooring pillars, wains-
cotting. tomb stones and various other
things are also manufactured there.
{ The tomb stones are worthy of special
notice. Slate is undoubtedly the best
known material for this purpose. In
color II affords q restful contrast TO
The chastity spectral marble. and II Is
also impervious 10 exposure and weather
which so easily defaces and finally dis
infegrates marble In Wales, there are
t,rave stones OF slate that have been
standing exposed to wind ana ram LOT
six hundred years, yet there is no indi-
cation OF crumbling and the inscription
and date are perfectly legible.
A great many slate stones have been
erected I'm the burying ground at ArVona'
and I'm beauty and design and workman
shin they compare favOrably with tho
best are productions I'm Hollywood.
FOR COFFINS.
There seems to be no good reason why
slate would not be excellent material for
making collins 1t can be hermetically
scaled. and the weight would not BE-
greater than that Of the ordinary metallic
casket. This kind of coffin would effect
uallv preserve our dust from the ravages
Of the predatory worm; and monument
of the same material erected over said
dust would also maintain against the
ravagcs OF time. the record OF the VIZ
tues we might have had.
History could not be- written ON a more
enduring page.
The cost Of erecting a plant for the
manufacture Of slate IS mere triile
when compared with the cost Of other
manufacturing plants. Ten thousand dol
chinerv for this purpose. and erect the
necessary buildings Skilled labor -
abundant, and here we are free ftoin
strikes. and labor disturbances. when
lave menaced the lives ana property OF
many i'm other sections.
There appers TO be no difii'l " IN CD
flaming a ready market for this product.
Pennsylvania IS our nearest competitor
and there the quality of the sioue Is IN
ferior TO ours. Exhibits Of the BUCK
tnehafn slate at the Ceute 1ial, WOiid S
Fair. and numerous local fairs. nave
always easily taken the first premium.
4 great deal OF IL is now being shipi ed
abroad from Newport News, out lne
home market IS the larg st. Now, WIN
an the conditions favOraDle. why C, mot
the whole deposit be utilized rms would
give emplovment TO labor. encourage the
farmer by giving a market at mis- door ior
his farm and garden prOducic, unlock the
door to other enterprises. and pay the
promoter of the scheme q very mi en-
more liberal return than can BE had on
"can money"
This is not a solitary exception. VIZ
pinia is loaded with resources, bur icy
are hard to see from the WINDOWS oI
ralace car or the Verania Of CITY n0lei.
WHITE HALL.
rollowing the Buckingham extension
of the Chesapeake and ohio west from
Ar,.cnia we soon come to White HAN, a
hustling new town which Is doing "a
hic business In timber. Five years ago
ne site upon which White Han is buit
VS. "A forest: now there are stores
school house. church and saw mill, gIlst
mill q large wood working plant ana
a number OF comfortable looking resi-
dences.
This Is probably the largest shipping
point between Lynchburg and Richmond
carloads Of railroad ties. sawed lumber
Ground bark. sumac. walnut logs. poplar
timber for the paper mills, aud many
othcr valuable products are shipped
daily.
Al the manufacturing plant slaves
flooring timber for the shipyards AT
Newport News siding. framing, billets for
shoe lasts. laths, shingles and other
things Of ready marketable value are
made. The payroll for labor has been
ID constant ncver-failing help 10 the
entire community. which in the natural
course OF events. must have trade reia-
lions OF some sort with the employees
Money paid out for railroad ties teie-
graph poles, bark. etc. has enabled n
large number Of people 10 turn into val
ne the forest resources.
An appearance Of thrift and progress.
out OF keeping with the usual rickety.
happy-go-lucky exterior OF a great many
country villages. impresses one favor
ably az White Hall The large mining
Interests OF this section Die around n
and n this develops. as everything now
indicates. the effect VIII Doe 20 greatly