The copper era., 1909-05-27
Another Field of Wealth in Arizona
 The Arizona Marble Company.

huOtlCT IICIu Oi WCdIln lu hIILOnd-
 The Arizona Marble Company.
 Some fifteen or more years ago it has been known that there are mar ble deposits of considerable extent in the mountains south and southeast up and relinquished over and over again. The excitement of the find" has led to the record of the claim; but for some reason or other, possibly through lack of capital, possibly through insufficient or inaccurate tests to which the rock was placed, the undoubted richness of the marble lay undiscovered for so long a time, and naturally there followed the necessary abandonment of the claim.
 Several years ago MT. Kerr, the present business manager of the Arizona Marble company, located a claim and held it down. He caused the rock to be put to the most severe tests, and did not rest satisfied until he was convinced himself that pro- vided money and good labor were to be had, there was field of wealth in opening up Arizona's first marble quarry. This led him to devote time. to convincing others, and MT. Thomp- son, an expert marble worker, quickly saw the opportunity, so backed by a few capitalists from Denver, Colo rado, the company was formed, and MT. Thompson has taken over the work of experimenting the quarries, which are composed of seven or eight claims situated in the noun tains southeast of Bowie Junction, and about seventeen miles away. At present all communication is with Bowie, and the office of the company is in the railroad town. It has been found that a better road can be con- structed towards the east, so ship ments will be made to join the South ern Pacific line about eight miles to the east of Bowie. A road sixteen feet wide is now under construction from that point on the railroad across the flat to point in the noun tains three miles below the quarries. This road will be twelve miles long and will be prepared sufficiently to admit of the quick transit of heavy loads and traction engine is already waiting. Its huge wheels are eight feet in diameter and have a twenty six inch tire. The total weight of the engine is twenty-four tons. A train of six cars is requisitioned for the work, each car having capacity and strength to carry twelve tons, so train load of seyenty-two tons of rock can be brought from quarry to railroad at one time. All the necessary machinery is being col lected in Bowie. The only machines at present in the quarries are a huge pump-supplying water for the camp and also for washing the rock and gasoline engines, the derricks for lifting the stone are to be con- structed of pine holes eighty feet long and not less than twenty inches thick at the small end. Eight of these are needed. The marble has gained for itself a great name. A New York marble expert says that it is equal to, if not exactly the same stone, as the marble shipped from Italy. There are several classes of marble in the claims, and all will make beautiful interior decorative stone. It is not difficult to work, being considerably easier than granite. At the present time there are just few men employed in the work, but possibly within the next thirty days twenty-five or more will be needed. Extensive preparations are being made and the lumber is about ready for the constr uction of houses for the manager, superintend- ent, secretary and the men. A great | future is before the new company.