The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-06-18
BIG GRANITE COLUMNS.
To Be shipped from Vinalhaven to New
York.

Granite Company OF Rockland VIII snip
from the famous wharf quarry at Vn-
alhaven the first instalment OF the
eight magnificent columns which are to
form a part of the cathedral OF St.
John the Divine in New York city.
The columns will be made upof two sec.
tions 40 and 20 feet in length, and Will
be towed to New York on barge OF
special design. ..;,,,
the columns to New York in monollthlc
form. which had it been successful,
would have proven one OF the greatest
featS of the age, was speclal lathe
costing over $4,000, on which the I'M,
mense shafts were to have been turned
into the required shape and size. Ihree
attempts, one of which meant the loss
OF almost years CONTINUOUS lapor'
were made with the lathe, only 10 dlS-
cover that mechanical genius had come
to naught SO far as the test was con-
cerned.
Men familiar with stone work and
machinery will form an idea of the
yastness of the Bodwell Granite Com
panv's proposition when they learn that
The granite shafts measured III their
rough state GA feet in length, II feet
in width and seven feet III thickness.
From this giant mass OF solld stone,
WEIGHING 80 tons, was to have been
turned a monolithic column "a feet IN
length and feet 3 inches i'll diameter.
These figures will have even more
anpreciation when the reader pauseS to
consider that there is only one Struc-
tire in the whole world which contains
stones SURPRISING or even remotely ap-
nroachinp the proposed Ninalhaven
monoliths in size or cost. That struc-
ture is the cathedral of st. Isaac IN
st. Petersburg, the facade OF which
is supported by monolths i've and
one-haIf feet longer and one foot
larger in diameter.
Aside from the monoliths OF st;
Isaac's, there have been quarned, and
are still in existence, less than dozen
stones which can compare with the Pill
lars which were to have been used IN
the cathedral of St. John the Divine. :,
The monoliths for st. John cathedral
were no part of the original scheme;
1t was intended to make the pillars OF
exceptional height and impresslveneSs.
butsas first conceived they were to be
built up pillars of gothic cluster de-
sign. Plans and drawings for such Pill
lars were made and remade by Hens \
La FARCE the well-known New York
architects, and still the desired effect
appeared to be lacking. Originality
and grandeur that would prove superior
in effect to anything on this continent
were what the trustees wanted. Inc
expense must be only secondary con-
sideration.
The Bodwell Granite Company enter
ed upon its contract in April, 1895, so
quietly and modeStly that MI. russell
and his crew had the first big block of
granite nearly into the yard before the
world gained even an impression OF the
wonderful work which was being done.
After months of the most pains
taking labor the massive stone was H.
naly III readiness to be prled OFT and
moved on rollers to the yard, where 1t
was to be fitted to the lathe. Nearly
month was spent i'll getting the stone
into circular shape, but 1t was finally
holsted on 10 the great lathe.
This lathe is So feet long, weighs 14o
tons. and swings l-2x60 feet long.
Eight tools are used, each taking a
three-inch cut so that the column is
reduced two feet each time the cutters
traverse the entire length Of the bed.
The head and tail stocks are carried on
extensions of the bed, and the latter is
made in SIN pieces, fastened together by
stav bolts. The hollow spindleS each
weigh nine tons, and run in metal bear
lngs. The tail stock is driven by back
gear for cutting, and for polishing speed
HAS what is known as the direct drive
I'uIleyS 80 and 36 inches in diameter are
used
The platenS which carry the cutting
tools rest Oh friction rollers which raise
them Just off the bed. On each side is
a feed screw four inches in diameter
and &C feet ) ID inches long. On the
platen which carries the tool posts is
secured a revolving table which is fitted
on its upper slide, this being operated
by feed screw and has traverse of IS
inches. The head and tail chucks each
weigh about IL tons. Twenty-four
set screws serve to hold the blank and
the complete weight Of the great mass
of moving stone is entirely supported
by these chucks.
When cutting one and three-quarter
revolutions are made per minute, and
when polishing three revolutions are
made The lathe is driven 10y al en-
CINE of 5O-hOrSe power, and notWlth
standing the great friction and weight
of the moving parts, the lathe runs for
about II seconds after tie belt is
thrown off the pulley.
When the first shaft was placed on
the lathe the process worked so smooth
ly that the contractors We're filled with
delight The lathe was operated day
and night, and the column lacked only
a few hours of completion when late
one night the immense block broke
completely i'll two and fell to the ground.
by this unlooked-for accident the COM
pany lost not only the valuable block of
stone but a years work, at which many
hands had been quite steadily en-
ployed. The second shaft never
reached the polishing stage, for it gave
way while being rounded into shape.
The contractors had meanwhile fig
ured that the great torsion was respon-
sible for the destruction of the first
column, and when the third shaft was
hoisted onto the bed of the lathe ad-
ditional precautions had been taken for
turning the stone more easily at the
central point. In spite of this, how
ever, the third attempt was also unSuc-
cessful, the stone giving way under the
action of the giant cutters upon the
lathe.
The company deemed it inexpedient
to risk any more columns in the mono
lithic form and arrangements are now
being made for shipping them in two
sections. Captain Sorenson, Boston
sailor, who has several times been hon
60, l. In,, Iii ~ md