The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-06-20
Lime Deposits Will
Be Developed

Joseph Sweeny. of Seattle, the
we'll known pioneer of this county
and for many years its leading mer-
chant. was in town the first of the
week to visit his son and brother
and attend to some matters of busi-
ness. in which he seems as keen and
active as he was twenty-five years
ago. He is always an enthusiastic
booster for San Juan county and no
man is better able to speak "as one
having authority concerning it's re-
sources. industries. scenic beauties
and climatic and social advantages.
He is the principal owner of the big
sandstone deposits on Waldron ISL
and and is well posted concerning
the extent and value of undeveloped
limestone Lodges. Asked if he could
give any further information about
the extensive project for the devel-
opment of the Turtleback mountain
ledges and the construction of big
cement works at Seattle to be sup
piled with limestone from these
lodges as recently outlined in the
press, he said that he understood
that agents of the company had
gone east to endeavor to sell bonds
from which it is hoped that ample
funds may be realized to insure the
success of the ertaking.
The property which the Seattle
company controls does not include
what is said to be the most extern
sive and valuable undeveloped lime
stone property on Orcas island, now
known as the McGraw & Kittinger
ledge. formerly owned by the Hen
ry Cowell Lime and Cement Co., of
San Francisco. Mr.. Sweeney had
with him copy of a report which
has recently been made upon this
ledge by a member of the American
Institute of Chemical Engineers,
from which we are permitted to
quote. After describing the Ioca-
iont, surface extent and trend of
the ledge, the lense formation and
the cnarcater of the country rock
in which it lies, the report says:
"We estimate that the ledge con-
tains at least 100000 tons of alb
solutely perfect limestone. In this
figure we have not counted the low
grade stone one the south end Of
the ledge nor the stone in the three
exposures lying to the S. W.of the
main ledge. Moreover. we have
not included that part of the ledge
that may lie below the surface.
If the shape of the lense holds true
to the usual form, at least 5000, 900
tons will lie below the surface
After giving the results of analy-
ses of five different samples Of lime
stone, taken from as many different
parts of the ledge, the report con-
cludes:
"The stone is of remarkable (for
this region) purity and uniformity.
"The entire absence of overbur-
den makes quarrying easy.
'The available tonnage (G.OOO,
OOO) tons of high grade rock makes
this ledge one of the few undevel-
oped limestone properties of COM
mercial value still remaining in this
district.
"The position of the ledge on
deep water and on sheltered har-
Dor gives transportation to any part
of the coast.
81 have visited nearly all the
known deposits of limestone in this
part of the country and am famil-
lar with the quality of the rock and
with the operating and transporta-
ton cost of several quarries in this
district. On the points OF avail
ability and quality | consider this
ledge the best Of the undeveloped
properties and superior to all but
one or two of the properties that
are now being worked
Mr.. Sweeney hopes that the am
bilious plans of the promoters OF
the 1urtleback mountain project
will be realized, but whether they
are or not. he is confident that the
bio ledge near Dolphin bay will ere
long be developed to become the
scene Of an important industry and
the source Of supply for large guam
@;x;r. of limo and lime rock for ce-