The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1915-12-03
LFAVFNWORTH MARBLE
FOR STATE CAPITOL
Strong Probability that Product of Local
Quarry viii Be Used for New
Structures at Olympia

sion are now endeavoring to sell the
"a, 600, 900 bond issue authorized by
the last legislature for the erection oil
new state capitol buildings at Olympia.
These bonds, which will no doubt soon
be sold, are to provide funds for group
of probably five elegant structures, in
accordance with plans already drawn
BY the architect and approved by the
state capitol commission. When COM
pleted they will probably cost nearer
six million dollars than the four million
already granted. This bond issue runs
against the state capitol land grant,
which consists Of about 100000 acres,
mostly timber lands in Jefferson, Clal-
lam and other counties OF Western
Washington, and is estimated to be
worth from ten to twelve million dollars.
The law requires that all these capi-
toll buildings be constructed OF the
same kind Of exterior material and that
all the materials, inside and out, shall
come from the state OF Washington and
not elsewhere. It also provides that
the exterior material shall be either
marble, granite or sandstone. 1t is
presumed that the capitol commission,
as we'll as the people Of the state, wish
these buildings to be Of marble, if pos
sible to get good marble in the state.
Sandstone is not wanted, because it is
homely In appearance and soon black
ems and streaks in the damp climate OF
Puget Sound. Granite has the same
fault and is very hard to work. There
are no marble deposits other than our
Chikamin creek marble near Leaven-
worth, owned by John D. Atkinson, to
be found in the state, possibly fit for
these capitol buildings, or any CONNER
cial marble uses. All other marble
quarried in the state contains magnesia
and will not weather in buildings, in
side or out-such as those in Stevens
county, which have been classed by
the state geologist in his first annual
report as sort OF serpentine. Besides,
the state architects have informally re-
ported upon this Leavenworth marble
as being perfectly suitable and the only
marble found in the state fit for these
buildings.
Consequently it would seem to be a
practical certainty that Mr.. Atkinson's
Leavenworth marble will be used for
the purpose-for the interior, at least.
And for buildings we'll marbled in the
halls and rooms, as the architects have
designated, the interior cost at current
prices would amount to approximately
$500, 900. The cost for exteriors would
be from two to three times that sum,
which may possibly be too expensive
in the minds Of the commission. They
may be inclined, 1t is rumored, to use
for exteriors a sandstone from Pierce
county, as people Of Tacoma are max
ing hard pull for the use Of that stone.
Yet the people Of the state would not
take kindly TO the use OF common
colorado stone, which Is bound to look
shabby for ages 10 come, II it is posi-
BILE to procure an aristocratic, fine,
white, westhering marble, which would
be A monument to the state for centu-
RES 10 come, like the marble capitols
Of New York, Pennsylvania, Massachu-
sets, Minnesota and some other east
srn states, which are liable to stand for
a thousand years. And this Leaven-
worth marble has been tested and pro-
nounced by some Of the best marble
men in the United States to be harder,
better weathering and better all-around
marble than that in any Of the capitol
buildings or other buildings Of eastern
states.
Mr. Atkinson, who is in Seattle at
present, is arranging plans and expects
to have finances in shape by early
spring to begin quarying operations.
He also purposes to utilize all waste
products for ground limestone and in
the manufacture OF nitrogen OF lime for
fertilizers, for which there is a good de-
mand. For the making Of nitrate Of
lime there are four different processes
used in Europe. and the industry is
new to America, but it is being urged
and encouraged by government author
tiles. 1t requires high class marble