Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1920-11-11
STATE CLOSES
DEAL With The
QUARRY FIRM

The state of Wisconsin has pur-
chased the property Of the American
Refractories company in Devils Lake
State park for the sum of $4,000. The
canister company removes all Of the
machinery, the state retaining all Of
the buildings.
The state receives not only the 81
acres where the plant is located but
also the eight acres near where
Shadowtown was situated There are
number of buildings on the eight
acres which may be moved nearer the
lake for park purposes.
The state owns a small tract ada
cent to the Zauft farm but not border
ing the park. This land goes to the
company in the deal.
1t has been agreed the company
will no move until a track has been
built from the foot of the hin near
DEVILS nose to the A. G. Zauft farm
east of the south end of the lake. Re-
Gently the company purchased this
farm for $4,000 and will open a large
plant there as soon as possible.
Not only will rock for fire brick be
quarried but stone for roads and
crushed material for concrete work
will be produced.
1t is thought it viii! take at least
year to build the track to the new
quarry, erect the buildings and install
the machinery. The quarry will be
opened at the east end of the ridge
on the Zauft farm just as far away
as possible from the lake. Most of the
blasting will be done, during the win
ter and this will be a. relief to the
numerous visitors to this region Be
sides, the blasts will go down the
valley toward Merrimack and not
toward the lake. At the lake but small
charges are used on account of the
close proximity to the railroad but
at the new quarry explosives will not
be used by the thimbleful, charges
great enough to blow up hill will
be discharged.
At the last legislature a bill was
passed permitting the governor and
others to make the best possible
oil olASCuI0uC Will Tic american
Refractories company in order to
close the deal. When Governor Philip
was informed the price was $4,000
he thought it was excessive. When it
was explained the company would be
placed to great expense to install a
new plant he was Of the opinion the
move was the best that could be
made. 1t will cost the company much
more than it receives from the state
TO make the new plant ready but by
increasing the output with improved
machinery the corporation hopes to
be compensated in due time.
It is thought the change will be of
mutual gain to both the state and the
company. After the removal the blast
ing will be about mile and three
fourths from the lake
Besides the $4,000, the company
is given the RICH of way across a
corner of the state park for railway
but it is thought this will never be
used, the track from the DEVILS nose
to the Zauft farm being entirely with
out the park.
The company has been exploding
the sunrise charges, opening the
eyes Of the resorters, much to their
discOmfOrture, for about twenty years.
About half a million tons of rock have
been removed leaving two ugly gashes
in quartzite escapement. Emil Winter
one of those interested in the com
pany resides in Pittsburg In that
city he has given literally for park
improvements and has informed the
commission he will cooperate to COW
er the excavated section with verdure
in order to conceal the damage that
has been done.
The commission regrets the blast
ing at the lake cannot be stopped dur
ing 1921 but it would not be possible
to cease the industry without throw
ing a number of men both at the lake
and elsewhere, out of employment. al
so resulting in considerable loss to
the company. The company has
agreed to push the preparation of the
new plant as rapidly as possible and
to vacate the property at the lake at
the earliest possible moment.