The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-27
GRANITE QUARRIES|
PRODUCE WEALTH
st. Cloud District Is Second
Largest Producing Center
In the World.
BY C. J. HEMBERGER
Secretary, Northwestern Granite Man
ufacturers Association

secretary, Northwestern Granite Man.
ufacturers Association
The Saint Cloud, Minnesota, granite
district in recent years has developed
into the second largest granite pro-
ducing center in the world in total
amounts quarried and shipped, and
probably the best known in the world
for the quality of its famous Red and
Gray GRANTEES, now nationally mar.
keted product.
Saint Clouds fifty operating quar-
ries and numerous granite manufac.
turing plants have had a total output
for the last twenty-five years of more
than One Hundred Seventy-five Mil.
lion Dollars, which has been distrib-
uted for labor, machinery, building
and manufacturing material. 1t is esti-
mated that five thousand of the popu-
lation of Saint Cloud and vicinity
earns it's livelihood from this one in
dustry.
Rapid strides have been made in the
industry in recent years and its fu-
ture growth Is promising. For many
years the quarrying, cutting, polishing,
lettering and carving of this most en-
durable granite In the world was
slow, laborious and expensive task,
but here as in other lines of mans
endeavor his inventive genius has pro-
duced the machines and the appli-
ances that have lightened and quick
ened his work.
FIRST WORK ALL DONE BY
HAND: For years in the early his
tory of the industry nearly all of the
work was done by hand. Now giant
rotary saws costing twenty-five Thou
sand Dollars or more, operated by Is
HIP. motors cut the great blocks of
granite into merchantable slabs.
Great Lathes turn and cut and polish
pillars five and six feet in diameter.
Huge carborundum saws square and
shape the slabs cut by giant rotary.
Giant saws, their teeth kept cool by
pouring water, press steel shot against
the hard stone and make a perfect cut.
Surfacing machines driven by COM
pressed air pound into chips and dust
the uneven surfaces of the granite.
Large automatic polishing machines
grind piece of granite as large as
big room, then emery it and give it
its final mirror like polish. Carlo
rundum machines mould the corners.
Lettering and carving is now done by
sandblast machines; comparatively
recent invention, more skillfully and
artistically, tracing delicate scrolls
and other ornamentations with
beauty not possible by the genius of
the sculptor with his chisel and mall
let.
The Memorial Craftsman's Art has
become an enhancing and absorbing
study-a profession. 1t has provided
the most enduring material from
which great public buildings, stately
cathedrals and imposing mausoleums
and other beautiful Memorials have
been erected. Saint Cloud granite has
become nationally marketed pro-
duct. Today it is shipped to every
state in the Union and to foreign
countries. The possibilities of the in
dustry are very great. Sooner or later
means will be found and the way will
be shown to create State pride for this
great natural resource of Minnesota.
GREAT DURABILITY RECOG-
NIzED: While because of its ex-
treme hardness the use of granite for
building purposes is more expensive
than is that of the softer varieties of
stone, yet its durability has brought
1t into wide use in the construction of
public buildings where solidity and
strength as well as general attractive
ness in appearance are desired.
Official tests show its strength to
be, on edge, from tWenty-three thou
sand seven hundred and fifty to TWEEN
ty-six thousand two hundred and fifty
poonds per square inch, and on bed,
from twenty-five thousand to twenty
eight thousand pounds per square
inch. The weight per cubic foot is
1881 to 1854 pounds. This quality
of durability is coming more and
more to bring granite into use, not.
withstanding its higher price. Some
of the most impressive public build
ings in Minnesota have been built
wholly of granite as the Court House
and City Hall at Minneapolis, United
States Custom House and Post-office
In Saint Paul, and the new Catholic
Cathedral in the latter city. The Gov
eminent building in Saint Cloud erect
ed for the use of the Post-office and
Land Office is built of granite and it
is used largely If not wholly in the
construction Of many other public
buildings In this State and also In
other States. The granite from Saint
Cloud Is almost wholly free from any
of the minerals that show signs of
decay or erosion, and it is what is
fornod ofroshu and while hard I'm