The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-12-01
Looks Like Big Industry.
Rockland Lime and Marble Co. Organized
to Develop Valuable Properties in Warren
and Union.

to Develop Valuable Properties in Warren
and Union.
[Rockland Courier-G azette.]
A corporation known as the Rockland
Marble and Lime Co., was organized at
c. M. Walkers Office in Rockland Nov.
18th for the announced purpose of de-
veloping lime and marble properties in
Warren and adjoining towns of the
Georges Valley district. That region is
known to richly abound in deposits of
magnesium lime and marble. The new
company plans to build 10 kilns at West
Warren and to open up marble quarries
in Union. The necessary options have
been secured, and with favorable reports
to act upon the promoters will place
their stock upon the market.
The deal may eventually include the
valuable property formerly known as the
McLoon & Slower lime plant in Warren,
which is now under the ownership of ex-
Gov. W. T. Cobb and Hon. A. S. Little
field of Rockland. Although the kilns are
idle at present the plant has been operat-
ed during the summer on an extensive
basis. Negotiations for the purchase of
the property are pending.
The new corporation has the following
officers: President, Joseph B. Carper,
Portland treasurer, Hon. Morrill, N.
Drew, Portland; clerk, Fred H. King,
Portland. The other incorporators are
Hon. George M. Hanson, Calais; Joseph
Wyman, Milbridge; N. M. Jones, Ban
gor; Cyrus F. Stackpole, Bangor. These
are all men of high standing in Names
business and financial circle, and the fact
that they are behind the proposed indus
try is one of the very best auguries Of
its success. A Portland newspaper has
the following to say about the PROPOSE
ton:
An Argus representative has visited
the property and has seen the visible
signs of such lime lodges as exist no.
where else in the country in any such ex-
tent. The Starrett farm, for instance,
at West Warren is practically one great
ledge, partially covered, partially bare.
1t extends over one great field, the pas
ture and into the wood lot of this farm.
The company has taken over the deposit.
Alongside the precipitous wall of ledge
close to the Georges river runs the
Georges Valley railroad, not IS feet from
the base of this ledge.
A small quantity of stone was taken
out of this ledge, many years ago and it
merely uncovered a small area, not the
entire vein. Three other small pits show,
much as caved in cellars where the build
ings disappeared half century ago, are
to be seen in the pasture. The surface
stone is weather beaten. Break off
section and it is as white as sugar, some
times finer and sometimes coarser in the
component crystals. This farm alone
would furnish field of operation for
century continuously on large scale.
This assays as first quality magnesium
lime rock. 1t is from deposits like this
that the highest priced lime is extracted,
used in pulp and paper mills and in brew
cries. The only other deposit in New
England is at Lee, Mass, limited area
only showing, and from which quarry the
mills of Maine and New Hampshire Sc
cure the major portion of their annual
supply of 100000 tons. The remainder is
imported from the Provinces.
An advantage in freight alone favors
this Maine proposition, as rates run half
to third lower than from Lee, with
maximum Of seven cents hundred as
compared with 16 from Lee, and mini
mum of as as low as four cents. This is
to any Maine or New Hampshire pulp
mill quite an object.
This has to do with lime. 1t speaks
nothing of the marble possibilities,
sample of which was shown the Argus
man, white and clear, polished beauti-
fully. 1t was produced from sample of
the surface stone on the Starrett farm.
Across the Georges river is the plant
of the Warren Lime Co., of which for
mer Governor William r. Cobb is an ex-
tensive owner. Seven kilns are oper-
ataa nrpCr1ciucr biCrb oloce
stone that is identical with that on the
Starrett farm. The quarries are in
lodges that are continuation of those
on the farm a few rods north. The rail
road runs alongside the plant so that
casks are rolled directly from the store
house to the cars. Economy in handling
the product is established here as the dis
lance from the kilns to the tracks does
not exceed 40 yards.
The quarries are above and behind the
kilns and the loads of rock are hauled
either on a level or down grade. A dozen
quarry pits are to be seen on this prop
erty, several with deep pools of water in
the bottom and impossible to be worked
until engineering experience is applied to
drain them and keep them dry.
Stone is being taken from one big
quarry that presents a beautiful appear
ance as one gazes at vertical wall more
than 100 feet deep, dazzling in its white
ness and with sections of many square
yards free from seams. While this is at
tractive it is not unique as the entire hill
of many acres is subject to like develop
ment with like results.
A by-product is lime for agricultural
purposes. The refuse lime is worth Sc
ton on the cars and can be produced in
immense quantity at low cost. Thou
sands of tons of stone that has been
thrown out can be disposed of in this
way, enough to earn a handsome sum,
especially as there is ready market. 1t
rids the surface of debris and affords op-
portunity to open other quarries advan-
tageously situated with relation to the
kilns and the grade on which the rock
must be handled.
Mr.. Stackpole, an experienced geolo-
gist, familiar with mineral formations in
Maine, and Mr.. Carper, for 20 years
actively engaged as mining engineer
nine years in South Africa, learned of
these deposits and began an investigation
last summer. They recognized the i'm
mense wealth and the vast possibilities
contained in those silent lodges that dot
the surface of the land for ten miles in
the Georges valley. Their Investigations
have been systematic and the results