The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-12-05
ASBESTOS IN VERMONT
Industry That Has a Future in this
State

Industry That Has a Future in this
In a pamphlet on the production of
asbestos in 1909, written for the in
terror department by J. S. Diller re-
ference is made to this growing Yer
mont industry. Mr.. Diller says:
The fact that the great belt Of an
cient crystalline rocks which contain
the extensive deposits of asbestos SO
probably mined In Canada. stretches
sourhwestward from the Province Of
Quebec with many variations through
New England, the middle and the
south Atlantic states into Alabama,
naturally leads to the expectation of
finding similar deposits in the United
States They have been sought for
all along the line, but as yet, with
the exception OF one lacality in Geor-
gia and another in Vermont, the sue
cessful mining Of asbestos is contin-
ed to Canada. Asbestos has been
found and prospected at many locali-
ties from Massachusetts to Georgia,
inclusive. but in quality 1t is gener-
ally of the amphiole type and In guam
tity so irregularly distributed so far
as known as to afford but little prom
Use of a successful basis for the de-
velopment of an industry. The
search should continue. The better
grade of material, chrysotile, is asso-
ciated with serpentine, derived from
peridotite, a rock OF which Divine
was originally the chief constituent.
West of the Great Appalachian
belt in the United States similar
rocks containing more or less ashes
tos reappear in portions of the Rocky
mountains in Wyoming and Idaho
and in the ranges along the Pacific
coast.
In Vermont, the Lowell Lumber &
Asbestos Co., on the property former
Ily known as the Tucker property, has
made decided progress in the develop
lment of its mine and the output OF
It's mill. and gives to Vermont the
first rank among the states in the pro
duction of asbestos.
The mine is being developed at the
same level on both sides of a prom
lutAl HttltHllllt lEuHt anu Itlll lCdul
ly be made tributary to the mill by
the same tramway. The fresh expos,
ures brought to light at greater depth
in the mass of serpentine by the pro
gress OF the mining show large
mass of fair milling rock, more OF
less abundantly veined with a good
grade of cross-fiber chrysotile and 10
cally crushed and filled with slip fib
er Of the same character. The mine
is located on the edge OF a large mass
OF serpentine, which forms prominent
bluffs along the lower slope of Bel
videre mountain and renders eco
nomical mining possible.
The mill. which was described
briefly In the report for 1908, has
been somewhat extended and improv
ed by the introduction of a double
cylinder rotary drier of great eff
cheney, and by the extension and sub
division OF the air separation.
A new road is completed to tn,
mill. and the plant is well equipped
having a traction engine and severa
trusks to haul the potion loads o
asbestos - miles TO Hyde Park OF
I the railroad and return with fuel oil
for the engine which furnishes powe
4 for the mine and the mill
As the development of the min
advances and its production in
: creases, 1t is OF special interest L
note the testimony OF manufacturer
who use the fiber. The president O
one of the largest manufacturin
companies writes. I'VE have use
many carloads OF the two or tire
grades produced by Mr. Gallagher
or course, this property has not We
produced any grades such as No. O
2 crude. but what they do produce 1
the way OF paper stock and long flbe
is perfectly satisfactory and con
pares very fayorably with simila
/ grades from Canada"