The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-12-10
Captain Harding InspectS
QuarrieS for Government.
Big CONTRACTS.
Through Efforts of Senator Dill.
bingham Granite Men Have
Barre Granite Industry Inves-
tigated With Business in View.


the United States government come to
Montpelier and Barre and officially
inspected the quarries and sheds, with
the end in view of the possible award
ing stone. Captain Chester Harding,
one of the assistant engineers of the
District of Columbia, was here on
Friday and after full day spent in
observing and investigating the
granite wealth of Barre he expressed
in unqualified terms. his favor
able impressions. Capt. Harding said:
There is unquestionably an almost
unlimited supply of granite in Barre,
of first rate quality, and with ample
facilities for its manufacture and
shipment. Those words contained
in a nutshell the answer to the ques-
tion which the United States govern
ment has asked about the Barre quar-
ries. Granite dealers throughout this
country long ago came to the same
conclusions, but not until now has the
government seen fit to consider the
question.
The present action came about as
follows. The Pennsylvania Railroad
Company is about to erect new sta
tion in the city Of Washington and
although, hitherto, Washingtonians
have been very much in favor of
marble for great public and quasi
public structures, the railroad officials
saw fit to choose granite for the new
building. Desiring to make the in
novation as slightly apparent as pos
sible, they chose the so-called white
granite and awarded the contract to
the quarry owners of Bethel. The
contract must be approved by the Dis
trict authorities, however, and as a
consequence Captain Harding was
ordered to inspect the Bethel quarries,
to ascertain whether a sufficient
amount of suitable granite from there
can be assured for the prompt filling
of the contract Montpelier and
Barre business men learned of this
proposed trip to Bethel and several of
them, among whom were Henry
Phelps, of Barre, and James W. Brock
and James NJ. Boutwell,. of MoDtpel-
Ter, communicated with Sentaor Dill
bingham, in Washington, about hav-
ing the inspector visit Barre at the
ct
terested himself in the matter and as
result Captain Harding was in.
struoted to thoroughly inspect the
Barre granite supply, and the facili-
ties for manufacture and shipment.
Senator Dillingham; went further and
talked with Commissioner MacFarland
with regard to the District Office
building which is to be erected rext
year. The contract for building ma
terial for that will be under consid-
GRAFTON soon. 1t will require about
$50, 600 cubic feet of stone which must
be supplied in few months time
after the construction is begun. If
the commissioners should choose Barre
granite it would mean a good contract
for this vicinity which would un-
doubtedly lead to more. Captain
Harding visited Bethel ON Thursday.
AS to the report he will give regard
ing conditions there he was nom com.
initial on Friday. Whether favorable
or unfavorable it will make very little
direct difference with Barre and Mont
pelier, as the railroad station contract
is sure to be for marble if the Bethel
granite is not found in sufficient
quantity. The local interest is in
the District building contract and
such others as are to be made later.
Captain Harding was on Friday
taken on tour of inspection in Barre,
accompanied by prominent granite
men and representatives OF the press.
A special train left Montpelier at
eight O'Clock and made its first stop
at the plant of Jones Brothers in
Barre, the largest granite sheds in the
world. All the departments were
visited, Captain Harding manifesting
great interest in the work. About
300 men are now employed by Jones
Brothers. 100 of whom are at the
sheds, sixty-fve at their light quarry,
and thirty five at their dark quarry.
Among the things OF special interest
that were seen at the sheds were the
following A great sheet of finished
granite, Is feet by 10 feet 4 inches,
polished on one side, lay in the yard,
which was pointed out as the largest
ceiling piece for "A stone vault ever
manufactured. The vault is for the
Washington Court House in Ohio.
Statuary Of various kinds and in all
stages OF manufacture was SEEM The
methods of working by hand and with
all kinds OF pneumatic tools upon all
shapes aud sizes Of stones was oh
served The great engines the pol