Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-07-17
Ashland Has Great Asset in Granite
Which Rivals Barre Product

railroad crossing where the side OF
tributary canyon rises at an angle
of perhaps 40 degrees, the quarry
road branches off, skirting the can
yon slope on the west side on an up
grade of about s per cent and reach
ing the quarry in distance of 1900
feet in a. southwesterly direction.
Upon arriving at the foot of the hill
the machine was abandoned without
any apparent reason except the de-
sire for exercise and the fact that a
heavy truck blocked the way for the
time being. On the walk up the
grade the first delay was occasioned
by greetings to the Chinese cook at a
sidehill ditch where he appeared to
be after water to boil potatoes. APP
preaching the quarry, the party was
met by Walter NJ Blair, recently of
Portland, general manager, operator
and owner of practically the whole
works. He came forward with a
hearty handshake all around and q
genial smile on his face probably In
spired by the certain knowledge Of
being in possession of hard, speck-
led bonanza. He conducted the visit
ors from start to finish for a COM
plete examination of everything con-
nected with the operations.
Since February last Mr. Blair has
rebuilt ten bridges on the old Neil
creek road, besides constructing the
branch road to his quarry. This was
all done to provide good highway
for his five-ton truck, which carries
two tons up the hill and all you want
to pile. on for the down trip. To he
sure, the road is not exactly a paved
thoroughfare, but this man Blair
makes his truck do all the transport
ing both ways. Only this summer
after finishing the road work was the
actual quarrying commenced. In 81
short time an enormous ledge of the
finest granite obtainable in this coun-
try for monuments and building pur-
poses was uncovered.
To the casual observer approach
ing the works all Blair has is big
pile of sundry rocks and dirt, pro-
vided one overlooks the beautiful
stone already gotten out. On the
first level and directly south OF the.
hosting machinery is the cutting
she'd with trap doors in the roof
through which the big "back-lift"
lerrick lowers the granite blocks af-
er graphing them from where they
ire now being blasted out above the
main ledge perhaps thirty or forty
eet higher than the cutting she'd.
This derrick consists of two large
,oles about forty feet long. One
If these stands upright and is
)ne of these stands upright and is;
,uyed from the top with six one-inchl
wire cables reaching in different di-.
ections to solid anchorages. From
he base of this pole another is hinged
It the bottom in such a way that &c
'oints outward at any angle desired
md can be turned in any direction.
from the top Of the perpendicular
ole five wire cables running through
ulleys support the outward end Of
he other pole, from which hang the
eavy chain and hooks for holding
he rock.
For handling the stone two forty
orsepower and one ten-horsepower'
lotors are used. The power is fur
ished by the Oregon and California
over Company, having a line right
the quarry. The building of this
ne is one mark of confidence in Mr..
lair's prospects. The man sent by
le power company to make an fn-
)ection before building the line
rought with him a piece of granite
om the celeb ated quarries NJ
ARE, Vt. Holding this In one hand
nd piece of the Ashland granite IN
le other, he agreed on the spot to-,
1T in the power line without guaran-
e of any sort as to consumption OF
,wer. The rock itself was all the
idence he wanted that plenty Of
'wer would be required.
The trip with Mr.. Blair over his
operty and his answers to many
estions fired at him constantly by
e visitors proved to he wonderfully
teresting and revealed the follow.
g facts relatiye to this splf udid and
during asset at Ashland's door:
The party clamoered up the steep
ountain side $50 feet above the
ain ledge to second ledge OF gran
a little darker but not quite 81
and uniformly clear as IN
e lower ledge. Still farther up the
i is third ledge near the top of
e mountain. The existence Of these
tensiye INNER 1edpee is ronnIusfve