Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-11-01

never ceases day in the year and by
night the glare from her furnaces and
hundreds of coke oven is see against
the sky for miles around. Here Was
told that 1 must not fail to visit the
wonderful lime stone quarries. Every |
one tells you that,so the stranger, even
if on business, has no excuse for miss |
ing so great curiosity and 80 wonder
full an object Of interest.
And what is this quarry Nothing
more nor less than Il small mountain
whose base has been removed leaving
it perched 80 feet in the air, aud sup
ported only by huge pillars of rock. A
strata of lime stone rock from 20 to 50
feet Ill thickness and running through
the mountain at it's base has been re-
moved and as l have above stated,
leaving only here and there huge
rock pillar to support the enormous
canopy. The work of excavation here
has been going on for about 20 years
and the effect is wonderful. A field
of more than five acres has been cleared
out and the ceiling is smooth and even.
A good stout boy can scarcely more
than throw rock up to the lofty cell
ing. height averaging about,75 feet.
Under this great canopy railroad trains
are run, numerous mule teams trot to
co. nd Of in, Ornnna
are at work blasting out hundreds of
tons of rock each twenty four hours.
Mr.. M. N. Green, one of the f0remen,
courteously took me in charge and
showed me through this great curiosity.
explaining much that was of interest
and profit. The effects of blasting here
are terrific to the unannitiated, as l
have had occasion to know. When
the roar is heard, the whole mountain
trembles and the reverberation of sound
waves is sufficient to sway the body.
At single blast not long since a mass
of not less than $50 tons was thrown
The daily output is more than 200 tons
An amusing incident occurred her q
while back and within the memory OF
the writer. 1t was while Mr.. 3. J
Shirley, as foreman was in charge ani
was often related by him with great
satisfaction. Two dudish and self
consequential young men in their pa
tent feathers and silk hats visited thu
quarry about the quitting time lat'
one evening; at such hour and the nool
hour series Of blasts are pat off. 81
it was that as our dudes approached
the men were all hurrying out, ant
Mr.. Shirley warned the youngster
that the sire" was at hand. The.
! looked him over and saw his cordurO
trousers stuffed into muddy boots,
four days beard and a SLOUGH hath
was of no consequence they though
and they saw no fire, $50 on they wen
into the great cavern and we're 500
lost in wonder beside an enormous pi
lar with faces up-turned admiring th
lofty ceiling. Suddenly from benin
that pillar cloud of smoke shot forth
!, the blast beloved, the mountain tren
: bled, the rock flew in showers and th
dudes-well, they sprang upward toe
= When they had come to earth agai
: there was another boom, and another
: till our dudes seemed jumping rope
e Then they came out hatless, caneles'
:. breathless, faster than they want il
-. and down the hill side they ran at
). 24O gait till lost to sight. Our frien
Shirley, knowing there was no DANCE
= stood doubled up with laughter, ii
~ the tears rolled down his ruddy cheek
:, His dignity, his official Importance ha
been INDICATED. Vengeance was hi
A. s. M.