The Portland daily press., 1897-04-28

lists, professors Of mining schools, officers
OF the United States Eneinesring Corps
and other experts, 1t was found to fulfil
sll the exacting conditions imposed.
10 get out the large blocks Of stone, new
beds had to be opened at great depths
and the work of quarryinR, dressing and
carving the 8, 000 tons of granite required
| and naturally slow PROCESS When heavy
piers of masonry In the interior have
been built and large masses Of concrete
used, delay of couple Of months bias
been insisted upon before continuing the
construction, in order to allow the work
to set and to avoid any possibility Of
shrinkage or settling thereafter. Those
who witness the structure today can
judge of its general character and the
perfection of the workmanship.
To furnish tie material for the con-
struction of this grand monument was
certainly an honor for any State, but a
still greater cause for local pride Is found
In the fact that 1t was built by a Maine
company. Tho quarries at North Jay are
the property of the Maine and New
Hampshire Granite Co. and the able and
enterprislng men at the head of this
great concern, not only contracted to
furnish the granite for the world famed
mausolaum but also to build it, and no
better proof of the excellence of their
work ID needed than the fact that the
Grant Memorial Tomb stands today un-
equalled In any part of the world.
Every block Of granite which entered
at North Jay and over 900 cars were re-
CURED to transport the granite to New
York aad the freight charges alone have
amounted to over $50, 600. For the past
two yeals 5Gn skilled laborers have found
employment in Maine preparing the
huge blocks of stone for use. while over
million feet of lumber and tons of
paper have been required to ship the
granite to New York without Injury.
The citizens of the United Etates nave
just reason to be proud of the beautiful
temple they have erected for tie final
resting place of their famous general and
President, but tbs people of the Pine
Tree State have special REASONS for pride
in the fact that the granite cal me from
Maine quarries. and the work was done
by Il company composed of Maine men.
The Grant Monument is not the only
notable structure which has been built
by the Maine and New Hampshire Graa-
ite Co., for they have erected many large
and handsome buildings in all parts of
the country, among tho most recent
ones being the Fidelity Mutual Life
Association building in Philadelphia.
and the Bowling Green, Queens insur-
in New York City.
Besides the white granite quarries at
North Jay the company also has red and
green quarries at Redstone. n. H., and
among architects and builders it is
generally admitted that the quality OF
their granite is unsurpassed. The COM
pany paid out last year over three hun
bred thousand dollars for labor alone at
their quarries.
The general offices of the Maine and
New Hampshire Granite Co. are located
in this city, aud there are also branch
offices in New York aud Chicago. The
management Of this company is repre-
sented in the persons of Mr.. Ara Cush-
insn, president: Mr.. Payson Tucker,
treasurer; and Mr.. j. P. Murphy, gen.
eral superintendent, and it may be added
that the Energy and ability of the treas
nrer, Mr.. Tucker, has done much to
place the company In Its present high
position