Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-01-17
E-AGLE LARE

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 a
height Of from 200 to 500 feet and ex-
tending back from the river for more
than one mile-sold 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 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
mas 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 flu
ture city 1t 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.
It was not until 1898 that the dlscov-
cry was made. Prior to that time ev-
cry one supposed that the great white
mountain-like formations sklrting the
bank of the Columbia was limestone,
so white had 1t 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
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 are largely responsible for
this. F. II. 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 Sc to $l2
per cubic foot. 1t costs but so cents
per cubic foot to quarry the marble,
and 1t can be delivered at New York
at an expense of $1.40 and at Chicago
for 81 per cubic foot. From this 1t can
bo seen that 1t pays to own good
marble quarry. The Stevens county
marble Is In position to compete sue
oessfully 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
ouarried beneath the surface and
hoisted out The Washington marble
are quarried and then skidded down the
mountain side to the cars. Other mar
BILE Industries lease land and build
railroads in order to get rid OF their
waste material. The Stevens county
marble man simply dumps his waste
down the mountain side. upon which
there 10 An abundant supply OF LUMBER,