Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-14

kAGLZ
 The entire Pacific Northwest is talk 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 . 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 ble lakes with banks and bottoms which rival the beauties of many fla 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 perfect picture of tinted beauty as can be seen in no other place. Around one of these exquisite marble lakes-Eagle lake 1t is called-not more than three miles from the town of Bossburg a large marble company has perfected plans for the construc- tion of marble town. It is planned to make the entire town and the flu ture city of solid marble, polished and tinted in such a manner as to make a 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 cssl 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- posits 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 2,500 years.
 It was not until 1893 that the discov- cry 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. 50 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 a comparatively recent date was it de- termined that the marble deposits were of such inexhaustible character. 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 gre largely responsible for this. F. H. Sammis of Chicago is now 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 $ to SIP per cubic foot. It costs but 50 cents per cubic foot to quarry the marble. and it can be delivered at New York et an expense of s1.40 and at Chicago for sl per cubic foot. From this it can he seen that it pays to own a good marble quarry. The Stevens county marble is in position to compete sue cessfully with the Italian and with the Vermont marble in every market There are several good reasons for this this. The main reasons are the superiority of quality and the cheap ness of quarrying Most marbles are ,uarried beneath the surface and 1oisted out. The Washington marble
 re quarried and then skidded down the mountain side to the cars. Other mar ,le industries lease land and build -ailroads in order to get rid of their waste material The Stevens county marble man simply dumps his waste town the mountain side. upon which
 here is an abundant supply of lumber.