Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-10-26
Josephine County Gra mite.

Editor Courier:
The question is often asked me as to
the value or desirability of our South
ern Oregon granite for monument
building.
This stone is one that is scattered
over this portion of the state in the
form of boulders from few pounds
weight to those of immense size and
weighing many tons. They un-
doubtedly are of far northern forma-
tion aud were brought here by icebergs
at that time in the unknown past
when the ocean rolled over this part
of the earth's crust, and were dropped
near where they now lie either by be-
coming loosened as the berg melted in
the warmer ocean currents of this lati-
tude, or were torn loose bv striking
against the higher portions of the
earth's surface as the iceberg fioated
along. A line of these boulders, ex-
tending in nearly north and south
direction and several miles in length
passes just west of our city and can
easily be traced by anyone desiring to
investigate the matter.
Having tested this granite in many
ways 1 am prepared to say most en-
phaticslly that it is not satisfactory
stone for monument construction.
have erected several pieces of ceme-
terry work made of it, but the result
has been so unsatisfactory that have
abandoned it for everything but
foundation bases.
Probably everyone who has
examined this stone closely has
noticed that it is full Of small dark
PARTICLES scattered pretty evenly
throughout the entire mass. These
PARTICLES are mica and like all mica is
easily separated or broken up. Step
up to any monument made of this
material, in any of our yards and ap-
ply the point of pocket knife to
these specks and they will prove to be
soft, and as easily dug out as so much
chalk. Good monumental granite
such as is used by Eastern shops is
found in abundance in New England
and is uniformly hard stone and
vastly different from our local variety.
Plenty of granite Of about the same
color as our local stone is also found
in New England but is in no demand
whatever for monumental purposes
except as foundation bases for reason
which will now be explained.
All granite or marble, when
brought down to a fine surface and
polished, reveals its true color; then,
when the workman proceeds to put on
ornamentation or the lettering the
blow of his tools destroys the polish
and turns the surface to a nearly
white effect.
Now, Gray Granite when polished
is still practically of gray color and
there is so little color difference be.
tween the polished aud engraved sur.
faces that the engraving, lettering,
etc, can scarcely be seen. The most
casual glance at any of these monu.
ments will show this clearly. This
brings us to the reason why gray
granite is discarded for polished
work. There must be enough color
contrast between olished and carved
surfaces, so that the inscription etc..
stands out clearly and distinctly or
the main object for which the memor.
ial was erected is lost This contrast,
our Southern Oregon granite does not
possess.
No more pointed acknowledgement
of this fact could be asked than is
seen in the monument recently /.
erected on one OF the lots in the l. o. .
o. +. cemetery, where somt one has
whitened the letters of the inscription
with some simple material (chalk,
in order to create contrast, F..
which nature failed to furnish. 1t
does look better, but the first hard
rain that beats squarely on the face of
the monument will probably transfer
all the extra contrast back to mother
earth. No more lovely spots can be
found in the older parts of the United
states than their cemeteries and every
community should constantly work to.
ward this end, that the last resting
place of our loved enes should be as
beautiful and pleasing TO the eye as
we can possibly make them. Can any
one thing more vitality effect our
efforts than the character of the ma.
terial we put in the memorials we
erect to them?