River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-01-10


Ing about the discovery in Stevens
county, Washington, of the most won
derful marble deposits in the world,
deposits which rival those of the
famed Cararra mines of Italy and
make the great marble beds of Yer
mont mere side show.
In this most wonderful country of
a wonderful inland empire are noun
tains of marble rising abruptly from
the banks of the Columbia river to
height of from 200 to 800 feet and ex-
tending back from the river for more
than one mile-solid mountains of
marble containing all of the finest
varieties manufactured in any coun-
try and sold at fancy prices. In con-
nection with these almost unlimited
and unestimated marble deposits there
have been discovered several of the
most beautiful lakes imaginable, mar
BILE lakes with banks and bottoms
which rival the beauties of many ia
nous collections of marble statuary in
the museums and in the homes of mil
lionaireS.
These lakes are huge marble basins
filled with crystalline water of pur-
ity which gives back to the surface
such a perfect picture of tinted beauty
as can be seen in no other place.
Around one of these exquisite marble
lakes-Eagle lake it is called-not
more than three miles from the town
of Bossburg large marble company
has perfected plans for the construc-
ton of marble town. 1t is planned
to make the entire town and the fu-
ture city of solid marble, polished and
tinted in such a manner as to make
fairylike place read of in story
books and seen in the dreams of child
hood.
The beauties of the lake around
which the marble town is to be built
are indescribable. The shores are
prettily wooded and the oval marble
banks slope gently down to the sur
face of the water Every portion of
the bottom of this wonderful lake can
be clearly seen through the opalescent
waters and the tinting and coloring
of the marble are easily distinguished.
Around this lake and around this fu-
ture city it is likely that the greatest
marble industry in the world will, in
time, center. The only marble de-
posts which compare with those in
Stevens county in extent are those Of
the Caharra mountain in Italy, from
which marble has been quarried for
the past $500 years.
Tt was not until 1898 that the discov-
ery was made. Prior to that time ev-
cry one supposed that the great white
mountain-like formations Skirting the
bank of the Columbia was limestone,
so white had it weathered in the ages
that have passed. Not until then did
any one take the trouble to ascertain
that the purest and best quality OF
marble had been thrown up there by
the hand of nature in exactly the most
natural spot to quarry. Not until
comparatively recent date was it de-
termined that the marble deposits
we're of such inexhaustible characteE
Since then marble mills have been
erected in Spokane and the develop
ment of the marble quarries has been
rapid. Chicago capital and Chicago
enterprise are largely responsible fer
this. f. H. Sammis of Chicago is nov
in charge of the Spokane mills, which
are cutting and polishing ten car
loads of marble daily for the market.
The serpentine marble from these
quarters is the greenest ever discov-
cred. is of ivory-like texture and sells
for SIS per cubic foot Many of the
less fine grades sell from Sc to $12
per cubic foot. 1t costs but 30 cents
per cubic foot to quarry the marble,
and it can be delivered at New York
at an expense of $1.40 and at Chicago
for 81 per cubic foot. From this it can
be seen that it pays to own good
marble quarry. The Stevens county
marble is in position to compete sue
cessfully with the Italian and with the