Year: 1871

profession and have, for several years, had


charge of marble yard in this State. /


learn that there is a government building


soon to be put up at your place of Tennes-
see marble.


Any information in the marble line


either quarrying or building, will be CRATE
fully received. Respectfully yours


A. H. GRAY.
We would assure our correspondent that


we shall endeavor to answer his interoga-


tories, concerning East Tennessee marble,


with the utmost pleasure. There are many


in like fix with himself, who are anxious


to know more about our section and its


vast resources. We have long been con-


vinced that, could the outside world OBJ


tain more definite information, relative to


our advantages, there would be an en-


couraging augmentation of population in


our midst and a more rapid and suhstan
| tial development of our power. Take East
| Tennessee, all in all, and we seriously doubt


if there is a better section anywhere in the


United States. We wish we had the space,
| in this brief article, to enumerate our re-
| sources, as we have no doubt it would be
gratifying to our respected correspondent
but, as he seeksspecific information touch
ing our marble, we shall confne these re-
marks to this question alone.


First, let us say to our correspondent
that we have no wish to mislead him with
regard to the marble under consideration.
We shall deal with it in the utmost fair
ness and frankness, so much so in fact that
he msy rely upon our statements with the
most implicit confidence. There is no
reason why we should resort to any species
of eXaggeration with regard to our coun-
try since there are so many corroborating
facts abundantly sustaining any assertions
we may make upon the subject.


Perhaps there is no territory of the same
dimensions in the world containing as
much marble as East Tennessee. East
Tennessee is about $50 miles in length, and
about fifty in width. If our correspond
ent will examine his map he will find that
it commences at Bristol, on the Virginia
line, and sweeps westward some thirty
miles beyond Chattanooga. The East
Tennessee and the Virginia, and the East
Tennessee and Georgia Railroad splits it
in two. Now throughout this territory, east
and, Westand north and south, the whole |
country is underlaid with marble, some |
portions abOunding in more, some in less. |
Go in whatever direction you may, this |
valuable rock you will find almost at every |
step.


Nature has been exceedingly munifcent |
in her favors in this regard, and for what |
purpose time will unfold after awhile.
One thing is certainly true, there are pre-
cious few of our own citizens who appre
ciate this inexhauStble mine Of wealth at
our own doors We have been so long ac-
customed to it, and meet with it in such
vast quantities, that it has failed to impress
us with its value andimportance. Recent
ly, however, there has been q change for
the better in our estimation of its intrinsic
worth, and the prospect now is, that we
will turn our marble to a good account.
Several considerations have combined to
bring about this favorable result, and
among these which have eXerted con-
trolling influence is the fact that, when it
became known that we were to have
Custom House in this city, the most rigid
investigation was made with regard to the
exact quality of our marble, and as to its
fitness for such building. Our CORES
pondent is aware that our government
buildings, in every instance, are made of
the very best material. No other sort is
allowed to be used. In the instance before
us an architect of great skill and ability
was sent out by the authorities specifically
for the purpose of not only submitting
his plan for the building, but also to ascer-
tain if we had suitable marble to construct
it with He set about the work with the
utmost care, and prosecuted it with be-
coming perseverance and patience. He
had no difficulty i'll finding the marble.
That was everywhere, but whether he
could find just the kind ne wanted, was
the question. To convince you how pien-
tiful it was, he was not twcnty-four hours
in discovering enough to supply the United
States. He found it upon site where an
old church had stood for the last half CEN
tury or more. This marble is only about
five miles from the city OF Knoxville
and Immediately upon the banks of the
Holston river, upon whose bosom 1t Is
floated at nominal cost to the city.


But what about the quality of the mar
hleq Mr.. Mullet, the Architect, pro-
nounced it equal to any he had ever seen. I
That used in the bulldogs at Washington
CITY was no better, if as good. This opin-
ion has been borne out by number of in
telligent and well-informed stone cutters,
now at work on the building, and who
have worked in the best marble of the i,
Union Indeed, there can be no doubt
touching this matter. 1t is here to speak
for itself, both in its rough and polished
state. 1t is exceedingly white, and can be
brought, as it has been, to the finest and
smoothest polish. The operators inform