Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-03-18
WEST sr,rIvAN aRANrrE ouARRIE,

WEST SULLIVAN GRANITE QUARRIEs.
Win the opening OF spring, OF the
buds and of nature generally, busin ess
takes an awakening, aud perhaps no place
| mas bad more OF a Rip Van Wrinkle winter
than the quarries at West Sullivan.
For the first time In the stone history OF
| this town, with bnt one exception, the
| business has "shut down.. What the
cause OF it was is guesswork; many have
their own ideas, but 1t has given the
townsp. ople a precedent and chance
actually to know what they would do IN
such an event.
1t also gives the operators a chance to
get a basis-a data as 1t were, to figure
from. Many valuable lessons have been
taught by it, and many lessons learned
from it, and 1t will do evident good for
having happened.
This town is located on toe of land,
formed by an arm OF Frenchman's bay,
which empties into the bay at Sullivan
Hancock Falls. The granite quarries have
been extensively operated for upward OF
halt a century; periodically up TO the
SOS and the mining boom here.
For the past thirty years they have been
continuously operated, and have proven
to be one OF the leading industries OF
Hancock county. The business Is stroBg
factor in the affairs OF the county, and,
like the product itself, Is OF an enduring
nature.
The principal business carried on here
is in the paving and street-curoing line,
although in the past some heavy jobs OF
hammered work have been done here.
The 1902 State commissioners report
says that ''in the town OF Sullivan are
some Of the best granite quarries In the
State. The granite is an excellent build
ing stone. and 1t lies in such large and
accessible sheets that blocks OF any
desired size can easily be obtained.
General Sullivan, of revolutionary fame
and for whom the town received its
name, qusrried stone, 1t is said, from
these bills, to build dam, the ruins OF
which can be seen in the streams OF
Frenchman's bay. In former days, when
large contracts were carried on, the cut
stone was conveyed to the wharf by train,
engine and cars, the first, by the way, In
Maine; this method proved Improbable
In paving operations and stone is con-
veyed by teams.
The distance from the present quarries,
lately developed for superior stock, aver
ages less than a mile from the " harves.
About twenty double teams find constant
employment In conveying the finished
stone for shipment. Hundreds Of cargoes
OF stone are marketed annually, and the
work gives employment to over 1000
hands, and by the time the stones are set
In the streets OF our Atlantic seaboard
cities, the money involved amounts TO
perhaps several million dollars annually,
and to the direct benefit OF more than
IL, 600 people-quarryme cutters, team.
sters, contractor stonemen, sailors here
and on the OF her end, contractors, shore
men, teamsters and lsborers in the cities.
An association of the local operators
has weeded out the former sub contract
ors, and his body has acquiesced to the
demands Of labor, so that with our yards
open to outside workmen, and with the
Survival of the fittest'' as a basis, this
towns industries are in splendid po
sition to prosper.
The quarries lie in sheets, varying in
I hick ness. The quality of stone Is fine
grain and light gray in color. All of the
Quarries are not of the same grain or
color, but lie In the same form. Water
is handled by pipes and conducted by
ciphon OF stesm power. Hosting is
done by able horses.
The location, shipping privileges and
uudeyaloped nroDerfv here piues fhera
auarries advantages such that the future
development OF these properties can be
improved upon to such an extent that it
would, for a long time o come, be use less
for outside places to compete wi, these
producers, should more modern appliances
be come neces cry.
YES els of 200 to 375 tons are usually
employed, larger ones taking the lead
from year to year. The shipping season
begins about March 25, and lasts between
eigh hit and nine months. r. F. G.