The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-11
MAKING STONES
OF CRUSHED ROCK
Curious Process Gone Through in the
Manufacture.
THE. CROWDS OF SPECTATORS.
That Gather to Observe the Work Are
Held at tho Rivers Side by an
Irresistible Impulsc-Mak-
ing Rapid Progress

There mas been a good deal Of spccula-
ton among those who have watched the
work being done toward the development
Of the power OF James river as 10 "al.i'
use was going to be made OF the rock
that mas been taken out OF the river
1ed IN such large quantities.
10 many Of these it will, no douot. De
surprising to learn that il will he USED
IN the construction or the power house
OF the Virginia Electric Railway ana De
Telopment Company, while the shape IN
which It will appear in this building VIII
be a matter, not only for surprise. but
even for wonder. as the everlasting roch
las suffered a metamorphoSis so COM
3olcte that II Will not be recognized by
the very waters that nave rolled over IL
since the foundation of the world
The rock as 1t appears in the building
is no longer rough and Of 2il conceivable
shapes and angles, but smooth sym
anctrical and in large blocks. The process
through which it is finally brought to this
condition is an interesting one
On byrd street, in 4 line with the Cal
lego Mills. is n rock crusher OF lrresistl-
ibIe power. Into this the rock Is drop
ped and with a crunching and the scat
terlug of some white dust resembling
Hour II comes out In assorted sizes, like
nut coal. The men who work at this
crusher told me that the dust was very
bad on their head and lungs, as 1t Is 50
fine as to be breathed along with the
air.
HOLE IN THE ROOF.
From here the rock is hauled in wheel
barrows to the roof Of a frame building,
which has been erected for the purpose,
and dumped with little ceremony through
a hole in the roof.
After being mixed to the proper con-
sistency with water and cement the
mass is put into Inpuids of the desired
shape and size and allowed TO dry and
harden. 1t is then subjected To heat for
two days until hard enough to be han
died, when 1t is moved out -of doors.
On exposure TO The weather it hardenS
still more and has all the appearance of
natural stone
The advantage gained in using this
artificial variety is that tbs proper size
and shape can always be had and bales
can be left in it at any desired place.
1t is very attractive in appearance. and
the building Will no doubt be very hand
soma one.
There is already Il large pile of this
stone made and stacked ready for use
when the excavation for the power house
shall have been completed, and a large
force of hands IS busy making more.
The river front presents q busy scene.
Large forces OF hands are at work on
the excavation for the power house and
the wall that is 10 keep the waters of
the James in their proper place.
HUGE DI1RRICKS AT WORK.
Derr.icks are running, lifting huge
rocks, which are put on carts and rolled
OF to go through the process of being
crushed and as It were, remade. The
huge turbine wheels that are 10 turn the
machinery of the plant. and sections of
the wells in which they axe to run. are
lying on the bank above the scene of
their future labor, taking advantage of
the light of day before being imprisoned
below the level of the James.
Many of tho busy men of the city
snatch enough OF time to go down and
see how the work is getting on and after
getting there become fascinated in see
ing the huge cranes. the many hands and
ahe fnvitable mules. that they stay much
longer tf7an they intended. and yet do
not regret it
IGut the James rolls on as if ignorant
or else conforming the work of man to
turn him from the path he has followed
Tor thousands of years and make him
llewer of wood as well as drawer Of
water.