The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-09-26
VERMONT INDUSTRIES
New Book Gotten Out BY Publicity
Department

| ume of 800 pages, entitled "'lnduStrl-
al Vermont" which is the third book
of considerable size to be issued by
| that department, and like the other
two is from tho pen OF Walter IL.
Crockett OF Montpelier. The book is
printed by the Capital City Press.
The first book, "yeincnt, the Land
of Green Mountains" Il second edi-
| ton of which was published earlier
this year, dealt with Vermont as a
summer tourist State; the second
publication, Vermont Farms" was
devoted TO the exploitation of Yer
mont's agricultural resources and OPP
portunities; the third volume, just is
sued, sets forth th, mineral manufac
turing. and water power resources of
he State. The purpose of this latest
volume is expressed in the Foreword
as follows: 1T is the earnest desire
of this department that this book
may call tho attention of the gener-
al public to Vermonts wealth of I'M
developed and partly developed re-
sources, which are sufficient If deyel.
oped as they deserve to be, to make
il as importsn: as industrial! common
wealth as any of its sister states Of
southern New England"
The mineral resources of the State.
its most important industrial feature
at the present time. are given first
place. Much space is devoted TO
grants, marble. slate, asbestos, tale
and soapstone, and mention also is
made of the States mineral products
of less Importance. Attention is call
ed to the fact that although Vermont
contains less than 10000 square miles
only six of the forty-eight States of
the Union being smaller. it contains
the most valuable deposits of granite,
marble and asbestos of any State in
the country, and ranks second in the
production of slate, tale and soap
stone Vermont's output of marble
is almost half that of the entire coun-
try. Although in 1911 fourteen States
produced granite valued at more than
FpNNtNbV tuNlit t<llu oGN0H olQlCo HiO-
duced granite valued at more than
S1,000,000 each, Vermont maintained
its lead and continues to maintain it.
In the production of the finer grades
CT granite and marble this State is
far ahead of all others.
The last Geological Report showed
that there were about 140 companies
quarrying or manufacturing granite
on a considerable scale in Vermont
There is an extended description of
the larger .centers Of granite produc-
ton. The city of Barre is said to be
the center of the monumental granite
business OF the world, and about 1000
men are employed in connection with
the quarrying and cutting of granite
in Barre the annual payroll amount
ing approximately to S3,725, 600.
The Barre stone is of very high
grade, contains very little iron, and
is free from knots, streaks and dis
colorations. The supply seems to be
inexhaustible, and there is hardly
limit TO the dimensions of blocks that
can be quarried One block detach-
ed from a granite ledge was 200 feet
long. so feet wide, and "a feet thick.
and was estimated to weigh 69,120,-
600 pounds.
When the stone was obtained from
the Harrington quarry, in 1888, for
the Vermont State House, it was pre-
dicted that this is the last structure
that will ever be built of Barre gran
tie and the last load that will ever
be drawn from Harrington HILL" In
1872 a State report said: The de
mand for Barre granite is increasing
every year; not far from one thou
sand tons, or 10000 cubuc feet have
been quarried the past season. Last
year more than 100000 tons were
quarried at Barre Recently there
has been q considerable increase in
the sale of granite paving blocks
Hardwick is called the center of
tho worlds building granite trade.
and the home Of what is probably the
largest single granite corporation.
The Woodbury. Granite Company has
a maximum OF 1900 men on its pay
rolls. and the yearly payroll exceeds
$1,000 coo. Some of the men are en-
ployed at Woodbury., Bethel and
Mortified
The greater part OF the granite cut
at Hardwick is quarried on Robson
mountain, in Woodbury.. The summit
of the mountain was sold out many
years ago. it is said, for fifty dollars.
Stone OF very large size may be tax
en- from the Woodbury. quarries, and
blocks 200 feet long. 20 feet wide and
20 feet thick may be traced without
seam or flaw. There are other impor
tant granite plants at Hardwick.
The white granite OF Bethel has be
come famous for its color and dur
ability. The English University of
Cambridge. which has collected speci
mems OF granite from all parts of the
world, finds the Bethel stone the
whitest in its collection. The granite
industry at Mortified employs about
525 men and pays annually in wages
approximately $4,000. The granite
works and granite deposits OF many
other towns are described. and long
list is given of important monuments
and buildings constructed Of Ftr
mont granite.