Mineral Industries and Geology of Certain Areas - Vermont Agency ...
Mineral Industries and Geology of Certain Areas - Vermont Agency ...
Mineral Industries and Geology of Certain Areas - Vermont Agency ...
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40 REPORT OF THE VERMONT STATE GEOLOGIST.<br />
<strong>of</strong> twenty rods. At the highest portion it is about two<br />
hundred <strong>and</strong> fifty feet above the main road which passes Mr.<br />
Somerville's house. The outcrop occurs on the farm <strong>of</strong> Mr.<br />
Somerville <strong>and</strong> that <strong>of</strong> Mr. Bruce, which adjoins it on the south.<br />
There is some talcose schist in the ledge, but by far the greater<br />
part is asbestos-bearing serpentine.<br />
Talc is also found on both farms, <strong>and</strong> on the Bruce property<br />
there is a bed <strong>of</strong> very good steatite or soapstone.<br />
BUILDING AND ORNAMENTAL STONE.<br />
MARBLE.—As is well known, the great mineral industries <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Vermont</strong> are found in the quarries. Although one <strong>of</strong> the smallest<br />
<strong>of</strong> the States, <strong>Vermont</strong> is second only to Pennsylvania in the<br />
value <strong>of</strong> rock products sold. According to the latest returns,<br />
the total value <strong>of</strong> the btiilding <strong>and</strong> ornamental stone sold in<br />
\ermont during 1901 amounted to five <strong>and</strong> a half millions <strong>of</strong><br />
(lollars <strong>and</strong> the amount for the present year will undoubtedly<br />
be illore.<br />
<strong>Vermont</strong> marble, granite <strong>and</strong> slate are sold not only in<br />
America, but are sent to the most distant parts <strong>of</strong> the world,<br />
so that there is probably not a civilized country in which Ver -<br />
mont stone can not be found.<br />
From the earliest days in the settlement <strong>of</strong> the country Ver -<br />
mont has been pre-eminent for the quantity, quality <strong>and</strong> beauty<br />
<strong>of</strong> the marble produced from the ledges <strong>of</strong> the State, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
fame <strong>of</strong> \ermont marble is now greater than ever. To meet<br />
the growing clen<strong>and</strong> new companies have been formed <strong>of</strong> late,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the future will undoubtedly be greater than the past. At<br />
llresent not less than $8,000,000 in capital is invested in the<br />
marble business in <strong>Vermont</strong>. Over 3,000 men are in the employ<br />
<strong>of</strong> the companies, <strong>and</strong> the sales for 1901 were $2,753,583,<br />
<strong>and</strong> as several large companies have not yet begun to put<br />
marble Oil the nlarket, but will do so soon, the sales for 1902<br />
will probably be not less than $3,000,000.<br />
Some fourteen or fifteen States are now producing <strong>and</strong> selling<br />
marble, but none <strong>of</strong> tllem can approach <strong>Vermont</strong> in tile<br />
REPORT OF THE VERMONT STATE GEOLOGIST. 41<br />
quality <strong>of</strong> the product, so that more than five-sixths <strong>of</strong> the filler<br />
grades <strong>of</strong> marble, such as is alone suitable for ornamental <strong>and</strong>.<br />
monumental work, comes from this little State.<br />
Since the account <strong>of</strong> the marble industry given in the last report<br />
was published, there has been a marked increase in the<br />
production <strong>and</strong> sale <strong>of</strong> marble, <strong>and</strong> several new companies have<br />
been formed, largely by the consolidation <strong>of</strong> those already<br />
existing.<br />
It is unnecessary to say much concerning a companY so long<br />
known <strong>and</strong> so highly esteemed as the \errnont Marble Cornpanv.<br />
This company, which is probably the largest marble<br />
concern in the world, has increased its business <strong>and</strong> acquired<br />
new property.<br />
Early in 1901 a new <strong>and</strong> strong company with a capital <strong>of</strong><br />
known as the Rutl<strong>and</strong>-Florence Marble Company,<br />
$1 1 000,000,<br />
was formed.<br />
This new company bought the quarries <strong>and</strong> property <strong>of</strong> the<br />
True Blue, Beldens Falls <strong>and</strong> several other con panics. An<br />
article in the Rutl<strong>and</strong> Herald thus describes the property:<br />
It includes 5oo acres at \\hipple Hollow, which was the<br />
original True Blue property, <strong>and</strong> property at Florence, in Pittsford,<br />
consisting <strong>of</strong> the Central <strong>Vermont</strong> quarry, the Tennien<br />
farm, the Newbury estate <strong>and</strong> what is known as the Hall lot,<br />
making a total <strong>of</strong> 800 acres, running along a ledge <strong>of</strong> marbleabout<br />
a mile <strong>and</strong> a quarter long. This notably rich marble<br />
deposit lies in the west part <strong>of</strong> the town <strong>of</strong> Pittsford, <strong>and</strong> is<br />
connected with the Florence station on the Rutl<strong>and</strong> railroad by<br />
a branch spur two miles long. The transfer, which was made<br />
at the Bardwell house last evening, also carries with it the<br />
Corona marble mill at Br<strong>and</strong>on.<br />
"The marble deposit at Florence, we are informed by experts,<br />
contains about a dozen varieties <strong>of</strong> marble well known to the<br />
trade, runnillg from deeply clouded stone to pure statuary<br />
marble. It is thought by those who have exaniined the property<br />
that it contains the largest bed <strong>of</strong> absolutely white marble<br />
that has yet been discovered in this country. Its tension <strong>and</strong>