Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-12-17
CERTAIN sUREl
Definitely Settled That Washington
Depot Will Be Of Bethel Granite.

nnal decision tbat Bethel, W., grant
is to be the material used in building tn
new a 600 union station in this city
the products of Vermont's quarries vii
receive generous bit of advertising tina
ought to be a great stimulus to the in
dustry. Vermont marble has been EN-
/ ployed to a greater or less extent in thu
construction OF the public and othe
buildings in Washington, the pure whit
"Times building" on Pennsylvania aVen-
ne, being a notable and beautiful exampl,
Of exterior construction, and the ceiling
of the famous Senate marble room among
. other instances about the Capitol, library
and other government buildings showing
: its adapta bility for interior work. but
in spite OF all this the crowhing monu-
: ment OF the states quarries viii be the
/ | great depot which, when completed, will
be one OF the city's most magnificent
. structures.
"That Bethel granite would be used
in building the depot has for some time
been a foregone conclusion, but it was
not definitely settled until the report of
Capt. Chester Harding, who recently
visited Vermont to inspect the quarries,
was laid before the commissioners OF
the district of Columbia and approved
by them. The commissioners did not
select the material for the building, but
under the act of Congress permitting
the erection of the structure the material
employed must be approved by the board.
| The railroad companies selected Bethel
white granite, and the commissioners,
after the inspection by Captain Harding,
were unanimous in this approval.
| 1.-THE matter came before the board in
form OF a report from Captain Harding
on his recent inspection, accompanied
| by the general report of Col. John
Biddel, the engineer commissioner. In
speaking Of the Bethel granite the latter
report says
" The railroad company has submitted
sample OF stone it desires to use in the
building. II is a white granite, fiecked
with dark spots, and is OF very hand
some texture. The cost of the building.
il constructed of this stone, would prob
ably be but little, if any, less than if |
CONSTRUCTED OF the grade OF marble or |
dinarily used for such purposes. The
architect of the building, d. II. Durham, |
OF Chicago, states that he desires this |
granite because in his opinion it is SUI
perior for such purpose. Samples OF the |
granite were submitted to the Washing /
ton Chapter of the American Institute
OF Architects and the Washington Archi-
tectural club, which bodies are believed
to be representative of the architects Of
the city,
1.-THE samples were also shown to the
supervising architect of the treasury and L
to leading architects from New York and
Philadelphia. IL is the unanimous opin-
ion that the material is prominently fit
Tor such building as the proposed union
station.
SIN the report submitted by Captain
Harding, that official tells of his recent
inspection OF the granite deposit at Bethel
and of the quarries at Barre. He states
that the Bethel quarries are situated on
hillside about three and one-half miles
from Bethel and the Central Vermont
Az 40 tar,aa Of Ifn .sast A. /
ground was covered with several inches of |,
snow, and 1t was impraeticable TO verify ,
by inspection the statements that granite ,
could be seen over the entire
deposit, but he states that he did see the
stone outeropptng at numerous points
along the hillside for distance of about =
half mule. A vertical face exposed by
the quarrying operations, says Captain
Harding, gave good indication OF the /.
uniformity OF the stone in quality and coll
or and also OF its ability to resist atmos- r
pheric influences. At about one-fourth
inch or less below the weathered surface
OF the stone no discolorations or disiute-
grafton was discernible. Continuing. ,
Captain Harding says that while the quar- =
~ is only slightly developed and the oper- =
atoms are now on small SCALE it is ap-
Darently only question of sufficiently =
multiplying the number of derrcks in or !.
Ter to obtain any desired rapidity Of out
put from the quarry. ,
1.-THE report mentions the matter of
to the railroad as an inn
)ortant one, but states that ii is under p
tood branch OF the Central Vermont :.
rom Bethel is provided for in case the ~
lnion station contract goes to the Ellis a,
luarry Continuing, Captain Harding VI
tates that while the contract calls for the
delivery OF 10000 OF dimension stone by
ulY i, 1906 or, according to his estimate y
bout 10000 cubic feet per month. Where
perations are under way, he can see no y
impossibility in filing the con- ee
ract within the time specified IL capital III
nd enterprise are rightly employed. Re i,
erring TO the Ellis sheds at Mortified. ~
here the stone is to be cut. Captain ~
iarding expresses the belief that with the =
ew shed proposed, there will be no diff ~
nlty on that score. 30
1.-The report speaks of the kindness
hown Capt Harding at Montpelier and ne
ARE and describes the excursion to the
uarries. II describes briefly the light and
ark quarries on Milestone hill and saws:
me light granite occurs in sheets and the Ra
ark IN large, Irregular masses but with
ell defined planes OF dervage. The size of
onoliths any OF these quarries can sup on
" is limited only TO the possibilities OF
The quarrfes are equipped we
18th modern machinery and the facilities
II getting out and transporting stone are lite
NceileHt. Inc stone Is perfect in uni y
rmity and quality and the supply is A.
,aetieally inexhaustible. In addition TO ua
e Milestone hill quarries a large deposit
granite exists IN hill about two miles Ch
st OF Barre. Stone from this hill was Jai
ed IN construction OF the capitol at \
ontpelier sixty years ago. Nc
rms stone has been quarried on a the
nall scale from time to time and during 7
e past year it has been considerably de- de,
loped by the Barre White Granite com. s,o
ny. The stone from this quarry Is -
inter IN color than any other Barre gram
and is excellent material for building LOT
rposes. 1t is, however, considerably prs
rker than the Bethel granite. The gran. tau
comes in sheet formation, is easily r
arried and the supply Is practically on.
thout limit. My impression of all the not
RE quarries was distinctly favorable pla
q when the conditions do not demand a aft,
lite stone the granite is in every respect n
cellent for building purposes.'n Tn,
fan
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