The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-13
A GREAT INDUSTRY
Sketch of North Carolina
Granite Company.
Quantities of This Stone Ship
ped. The Corporation Great
Factor in Mount AirYs
Growth.
Especial to News and Observer.


Mt. Airy, N c., Nov. 12.-The peo-
pie of North Carolina do not know,
perhaps, that one of the States larg-
est Industrial plants is located at the
western terminal of the old Cape
Fear and Yadkin Valley railroad
now a part of the great Southern rail-
way system.
Sixty-nine miles northwest of
Greenboro, encircled by the eternal
hills of the Blue Ridge, is situated "a
very old Village-a comparatively
Young town-an embryo city. In the
suburbs of this mountain town is 10
Gated the great industry of which /
write and OF which. believe, the peo-
pie of the State. generally speaking,
know little--the great granite quar-
ries of the North Carolina Granite
Corporation.
In some great oSnvulsion of the pre-
historic ages and perhaps in the
Archaen period ~f the Earth's struc-
t1re an inexausEible mass of granite
was placed most conveniently Tor
mans operations and uses. If this as
sumption as to age be true, and there
are abundant evidence to warrant the
conjecture, this immediate secuoh
dates it's birtn TO remote antiquity.
Adjacent to the town and two miles
from the railroad station as the spur
track meanders among the hills is the
mammoth Disnt of which ! write. The
ouarries are visible from several points
o.; the streets of the town and, at this
distance have much the appearance
of a great snow-clad hill. We find
at the duarTies more than forty acres
of exposed granite. This huge mass
of stone whose longitudinal side faces
the railroad siding for a half mile,
rises at an angle of about thirty de-
grees to the top and there becomes
great plareau. The shape and acces-
sibi!ity or the quarries and the natural
qualities uf the stone when added to
The inexhaustible quantity make this
ore of the very finest granite proper
ties in America. In fact, in some re-
5 ects larticuiarly for irs worka bic
properties. il is said to head the list
of American GRANTEES. These quar-
ries were opened soon after the COM
pletion IF the railroad to Mount Airy
by the dount Airy Granite Company.
A few TearS later Thomas WOodrofte
& Sons. members of the original COM
pany took over the quarries and have
since Ssoked them with gedt success.
Mesgrs Thomas and George Wood
roffe mentioned as sons in the
above named firm have been connect
ed with the quarrieS since the early
days or development. These two sons
combine the finest business qualifica-
tons with a thorough knowledge of
the stone business and practical
knowledge of architecture, and l may
add, the qualities that draw and hold
men, nave built UP an immense bust
ness and introduced Mount Airy
granite into more than a dozen
States.
July first these quarries passed into
the hands of the North Carolina Gran
ite Corporation, whose authorized cap
itaIization is one million dollars. The
subscribed stock (fully paid) is $780,
900.
The president of the corporation is
Mr.. Colin Fraser with office in Phila-
delphia Mr.. Thomas Woodroffe is
the v1ce-Dresident and General man
ager. Mr.. WoOdroffe's office is at the
quarrfes and he has personal over
sight of the entire plant which is
under the immediate supervision of
the superintendent, Mr.. r. ID. Clark
late of Philadelphia. Mr.. George
Woodroffe, also an officer of the cor
poration. has charge of the finances
and the offices at the quarries. 1t is
fortunate for the new concern that the
Messrs Woodroffe whose business sa-
gacity. personal foresight and energy
have built uo such a large market
and such an enviable reputation for
Mount Airy granite, remain largely in
terestec in the quarries and identified
with their management
There are few industries in the
State, If indeed any, from which the
community in which they are located,
derives an large a part of tee earn
ingS. This is readily understood when
it is known that almost the entire
cost OF production goes into the pock-
cts of the laborers. The raw material
is all in sight, waiting only the intelli-
gent direction of mems hands.
The ,luarries give employment to
more than $50 men. Nearly 100 of
these are skilled mechanics-stone cut
ters-who receive $500 per day for
eight hours work Most of these men
have become permanent citizens, and
many have invested a part of their
savings in good homes at the quarries
and in the town. This is evidence of
the mutual good feeling existing here
between labor and capital and is due
to the absolute fairness and consid-
GRAFTON with which the Messrs. Wood
roffe have ever treated their employ
eeS.
The OUTPUT of these quarries include
every kind of material where granie
is required. A citizen of Mount Airy
would be on his native heath" in
Winston or Cincinnati. in Norfolk,
Pittsburg or Philadelphia. These are
among the many cities and towns
which have taken large quantities of
curbing and paving blocks from the
Mount Airy quarries. Stone for street
purposes. however, is only one of the
uses of this fine granite. The ease with
which ii is worked. its handsome ap-
pearance, and it's durable properties
make of 1t a desirable stone for all
structural purposes. Many of the
largest and most important structures
in the country are built of this stone.
Notable among them are the great
dry dock at Newport News which is
capable of accommodating, in its