Gilpin observer., 1908-07-02
REASON WHY COLORADO BUILD.
ERs ARE SENDING EAST FOR
SANDSTONE.
LACK OF FACILITIES
CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL AT DEN
YER COMPELLED TO USE IN
DIANA STONE.

Denver.-Thomas Tonge, chairman
of the special committee recently APP
pointed by the Denver Real Estate Ex-
change to investigate and report on
the subject of the loyal use of Colo
rado stone in Colorado buildings and
the reason why imported stone is to
be used in building the new Catholic
cathedral, has made the following pre-
liminary report:
Colorado has number of quarries
of red sandstone, granite and marble of
high quality, prepared to deliver stone
in quantity.
"As to really first-class light col
ored sandstone of good uniform color,
free from iron stains, with fine tex
ture, requisite crushing strength and
especially good weathering qualities, it
is by no means common.
There are, however, several depoS-
it's of this kind in Colorado, with one
or more of the following disadvantages
at present:
"First-Not opened up sufficiently
to demonstrate ability to furnish stone
of necessary quality and in sufficient
quantity for comparatively large
building.
"Second-Insuficientl opened up,
inadeQuately equipped and hampered
by wagon haul to railroad practically
precludinis prompt quarrying and de-
livery of stone in ample quantity to
keep building operations going. The
undue delay in delivering the stone for
the building of the Denver public IL
brary is an example of this and has
been temporary serious injury to the
quarrying industry of the state.
The Colorado-Yule white marble
quarries near Marble, Colorado, partly
by reason of special quarrying. milling
and transportation facilities, have Sc
cured 100000 contract for a court
house at Cleveland, Ohio $175,000
contract for a court house at Youngs-
town, Ohio, and ship extensively to
New York city, all in successful compe-
ttion with Vermont marble quarries.
Your committee had a meeting
with the local architects of the Cath
olic cathedral, who placed before your
committee the result of the investiga-
tions, extending over several months.
of the building committee as to the use,
if possible, of Colorado stone for the
Catholic cathedral, which calls for TO-
900 cubic feet, or about 5000 tons OF
stone.
Your committee is satisfied that the
building committee of the Catholic ca
thedral, under all the circumstances of
the case, had practically no alternative
but to get Indiana limestone, not be-
cause Colorado has not the stone, but
because the owners of the Colorado
quarries are not able to deliver it as
required.
I'm confirmation of this, the building
committee of the new Protestant Epis-
copal cathedral are in a similar dilem-
ma to that in which the building COM
mittee of the cathedral were. After
specifying Colorado light colored sand
stone, an official inspection, on behalf
of the building committee, of the quarry
specified, raises considerable doubt as
to whether the stone can be delivered
in sufficient quantity to keep the build
ing operations going when commenced
or even within a reasonable time, and
at this time it is question whether
they, too, will not have to fall back on
Bedford limestone for the building of
the new Protestant Episcopal cathed-
ral not because Colorado has not the
stone, but because the owners of the
Colorado quarries are not able to de-
| liver 1t as required.
"If Colorado stone is to be used for
large Colorado buildings, Colorado
quarries must be prepared to furnish
the stone in competition with imported
stone, beth as to quality. quantity,
promptnos. and cost.
"Your committee is in correspond
ence with Mr.. Frank w. Taylor, super
vising architect. Washington, d. c.. as
to the stone to be used in the new fed
eral building in this city.
"Your committee will report further
as early as possible"