T HE father of the granite business in the United States was Solomon Willard, a native of Petersham, Massachusetts, where he was born,June 26, 1783. He worked on winter in his father's carpenter's shop. In October, 1804, he went to Boston to seek employment, and commenced to learn the carpenter's trade. The first work he did was to fit with the broad axe a set of piles for the building of a wharf, his employers being Pond & Gale. He received fifty cents per day, including board. But before the end of the first year Mr. Willard had worked for several parties, and had saved money.

He worked at this trade several years, and in the meantime he studied architecture, attended an evening drawing school and practised wood carving. His first work as a carver was when he did six capitals for a doorway for Mr. A. Dexter, in 1809. The same year he carved a set of Ionic capitals for the Brighton Meeting House, and two others for private residences. He also carved all the capitals, Ionic and Corinthian, for the steeple of Park Street Church, for which he received nearly four hundred dollars. In December he hired a room on Somerset place and employed two workmen to assist him. In 1810 he carved the colossal eagle which was placed upon the apex of the pediment of the old Custom House, where it remains still. He continued his business as carver, and in 1813 added to his architectural work that of ship carving, and in 1818 made a model of the capital at Washington for Charles Bulfinch, the architect, besides several others of a like nature. His models of the Pantheon and Parthenon made for Edward Everett, and used by that notable in a course of lectures, are in existence still in the basement room of the Boston Athenaeum.

After his return from a few months' visit to the South he made himself familiar with the different kinds of stone and their component parts, and devoted much time and labor to a practical investigation of the science, on his father's farm during the summer, and in dull weather and that he had soon added to his other pursuits that of carving in stone, or sculpture in its limited and popular sense. His first work of this kind was modelling and cutting five panels in marble for David Sears, still seen in front of his fine granite mansion house on Beacon Street, in Boston, and for which he was paid five hundred dollars.

In 1820, Mr. Willard was engaged on the stone work of Saint Paul's Church, Boston. During the following year, he, besides finishing plans, designs and models, including plans of improvement for the Second Church and Brattle Square Church (1823-'24), a plan and model for the United States Branch Bank, plans and outlines for many private houses and blocks, received pupils at his studio near Saint Paul's Church and gave lessons in architecture and drawing.

To Mr. Willard belongs the credit of originating in this country the first steps towards heating buildings with hot air, he having invented but never patented the hot air furnace. They were manufactured by Daniel Safford on Devonshire Street, between Water and Milk Streets, and were intended for consuming wood, then the common fuel of the people, and hundreds were installed in churches and other large buildings, including the Capitol at Washington.

The great work of Mr. Willard's life, for which he was prepared by circumstances, into which he threw his energy and skill, and which, for the time, was a part of himself, was the Bunker Hill Monument. The first suggestion of the monument is credited to William Tudor, who desired to see on the battleground "the noblest column in the world."

About three acres of the field was bought by Dr. John C. Warren, who held it until wanted by the Monument Association. A party who felt deeply interested in the erection of a monument on this site assembled at breakfast at Colonel T. H. Perkins' home, among them Honorable Daniel Webster, Professor George Ticknor, Doctor John C. Warren, Honorable William Sullivan, Honorable George Blake and William Tudor, Esquire. They then visited the battleground and consulted in reference to building a monument.

May 10, 1823, the first call for a public meeting was sent out, and the gentlemen who attended this meeting formed an association to procure an act of incorporation authorizing them as trustees to collect and hold subscriptions fur the purpose of erecting an enduring monument. Each one subscribed five dollars and on June 7, 1823, the Bunker Hill Monument Association was established.

Then began the work of raising money. The directors, in the spring of 1825, had secured the title to the land and purchased the slope of Breed's Hill-about fifteen acres-and made other necessary preparations, but had not matured the plan of the proposed monument.

The first committee on the design consisted of Daniel Webster, Loammi Baldwin, George Ticknor, Gilbert Stewart and Washington Allston. A premium of $100 was offered for the best design. About fifty plans were presented, either in drawing or models, but the choice was soon narrowed down to two forms, the column and the obelisk, and a new committee (H. A. S. Dearborn, Edward Everett, Seth Knowles, S. D. Harris and T. H. Perkins) was appointed to procure designs of both, with estimates of the expense of each. At the next meeting the majority voted that an obelisk should be used, and it was at this stage of the enterprise that the directors proposed to lay the corner stone of the monument.

Ground was broken June 7, 1825, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, F and A M, performing the ceremony. General Lafayette was present, and Daniel Webster delivered the address. The celebration was unequalled by anything of the kind that had been seen in New England.

At a meeting of the directors (June 24), the committee on laying the corner stone reported that a stone had been prepared to receive a box, that one containing a plate of silver with inscriptions had been deposited on the 17th, and that stones secured by iron clamps had been placed over it. This corner stone, however, was but a temporary one and was subsequently rejected.

On the commencement of the work for the monument the box was taken out, put in the hands of Doctor Warren for safe keeping, and later placed in another stone-the real corner stone-which is in the northeastern angle of the structure and which was laid by Mr. Willard. On this plate the name of Alexander Parris is given as architect, which error has since been corrected by an inscription on the monument.

The plan submitted by Solomon Willard was accepted and a building committee, consisting of Doctor J. C. Warren, Amos Lawrence, H. A. S. Dearborn, William Sullivan, and George Blake, were after many difficulties appointed, and they, on October 31, appointed Mr. Willard architect and superintendent of the monument. When asked upon what terms he would give his whole time to the work, Mr. Willard replied that he thought that "the interests of the association would be best served by having the services gratuitous," but that three dollars per day would be sufficient if payment was to be made. He finally accepted a sum "sufficient to pay his expenses."

Previous to his election, June, 1825, Mr. Willard wrote to Mr. Ticknor, giving his views as to the best manner of carrying forward the work.

"A Building Committee should be chosen who are favorably disposed to the design, and who will unite heartily in carrying it into execution. An agent may be employed to assist in making the contracts, and an architect, if his services are considered necessary. The services of the committee and agents should be gratuitous, as the honor of the employment should be a sufficient compensation. The committee should mature the designs in all their details. The form, dimension and tonnage of every block of stone in the structure should be known, and the management of the contracts should be the same as would be employed by an individual concern."

"After the dimensions and the quality and quantity of stock wanted are known it might be well to advertise for proposals for supplying it. I do not apprehend much difficulty in procuring any of the stone at a fair price, except the blocks for the outside, which being of considerable dimensions, and required to be of stock which is very valuable to those who have it, will probably be held very high. Should this be the case, it might be better for the association to buy the quarry and to employ a skilful superintendent to see the stone quarried. An experiment might also be made to ascertain the cost of dressing the stone per foot, that the committee may judge of the economy of having them done at the prison, and also to determine the probable cost of the work."

"It is estimated that the stock quarried would be worth twelve and a half cents per foot cubic measure at the quarry, dressing for twenty-five cents per foot superficial, including cost of tools, and twelve and a half cents for the beds. The transportation may cost $200 per ton delivered at the Hill or State Prison."

"Taking a block of stone of mean dimensions of ten feet long, three feet wide and one foot six inches thick, it will contain forty-five cubic feet, which at twelve and a half cents per foot will amount to $562.

Thirty feet of face dressing, at 25 cents		7.50
Thirty feet of beds, at 12 1/2 cents		375.00
Transportation of 3 1/2 tons at $200		650.00
Total cost per block		$2337

"A stone of the given dimensions, according to the foregoing estimate, will cost $2337, if it is transported in the usual way, but should a railway be constructed, as has been suggested, it may save much expense in so large an undertaking."

"The quarry which I mentioned the other day has been purchased expressly for the work, but if on examination the directors should not think it the most eligible, it will be no loss."

While the Board of Directors was engaged in devising plans to obtain the means wherewith to build the monument, Mr. Willard was seeking for a suitable material of which to construct it. He took care to inform himself on the subject of monuments generally, and especially of their peculiar characteristics, the nature of the material used and the manner of construction. Before the design of the monument had been decided he had been actively occupied in exploring the country in pursuit of a quarry from which could be obtained blocks of sufficient size for the purpose, and in a location to be made available with existing means of transportation. This was one of his most laborious undertakings in connection with the monument, and he was indefatigable in its accomplishment. Mr. Lawrence, secretary of the Building Committee, wrote in a blank leaf preceding the records of the committee, the following.

"Solomon Willard walked 300 miles to examine granite quarries (Hallowell, Maine, and other places), gave a thousand dollars to the Monument Association, and worked like a dog for the association for years for merely his necessary expenses (which were very small), and is now at work at Quincy Boston, August, 1849."

The result of these journeyings was the selection of what was subsequently known as the "Bunker Hill" quarry in Quincy-a most fortunate selection, and one manifestly made with a wise judgment. A quarry was also purchased at Rockport, Massachusetts, by Mr. Amos Lawrence, where it was supposed peculiar facilities would be secured in shipping the blocks to Charlestown, but this was not considered as desirable as the quarry at Quincy, and was never owned by the association.

The quarry discovered by Mr. Willard was purchased in June, 1825, by Gridley Bryant of Frederick Hardwick and conveyed to him by deed dated the ninth of that month. The conveyance was of "all the rocks or stones on and in a certain piece of woodland, lying in the town of Quincy aforesaid, in the-lot, so called, and was part of the estate of Nathaniel Savil, containing four acres, more or less, and is bounded and butted as follows, viz Southerly on woodland formerly owned by Captain John Hall, deceased, now owned by said Hardwick, Ebenezer Crane and George Nightingdale; westerly, northwardly and eastwardly, on woodland of Honorable John Quincy Adams, and however bounded, or reputed to be bounded, together with the privilege of taking away or removing said rocks or stones at any time hereafter, to suit said Bryant's convenience-and further it being understood by the parties that the said Bryant shall have the right to cut, clear off any of the wood, or remove any other obstacle that may hinder or prevent the said Bryant from taking and carting off the rocks or stone whenever he pleases on or in said lot, and it is hereby agreed between said parties that all the wood that said Bryant shall cut on said lot shall belong to said Frederick Hardwick."

The consideration paid by Mr. Bryant was $250. The quarry was a little more than twelve miles from Bunker Hill.

In November, immediately after the selection of Mr. Willard, and upon his recommendation, the quarry was purchased, and Mr. Bryant conveyed to the Bunker Hill Monument Association "the privilege of quarrying any quantity of stone which may be wanted in erecting said monument from a quarry which said Bryant purchased of Frederick Hardwick, in June last, the same lying in Quincy-in consideration of the sum of $325."

The following advertisement was inserted in the Columbian Sentinel of November 16, 1825, by the chairman.

"Proposals will be received for furnishing the granite for an obelisk to be erected in Bunker Hill. The quantity required will be about 9,000 tons, and must be delivered at the prison in Charlestown or at a wharf near the navy yard, as may be required. The dimensions of the blocks to be about 2 feet 6 inches wide and 12 feet long. The granite for the foundation may be of a coarse kind, and it will require about 1,400 tons. The outside curves of the obelisk must be of the best Quincy granite, of uniform color, of which about 2,600 tons will be required. Proposals will be received for Chelmsford granite for the outer courses. Those who estimate may furnish any quantity to suit their convenience."

In commenting on the offer of the committee Mr. Willard said

"Most of the persons who furnish stone in this vicinity examined the designs accordingly, but offered no proposals. All wished to have the construction so altered as to use small stone. One offered verbally to furnish a part at 62 cents per cubic foot The majority, however, entered into a combination to compel the association to change the construction, and to come to their terms, as respect the price (as I was informed at the time, by one who had been initiated into the mysteries of the combination)." The Building Committee, in their first report, speak of the purchase of this quarry as follows.

"On recommendation of the Superintendent, they then proceeded to examine a ledge of rocks discovered by him in the town of Quincy, and found there a magnificent range of granite containing materials inexhaustible, the use of which they immediately, for a trifling sum, secured for the benefit of the corporation. "The design of the committee in making this purchase was to quarry the stone on account of the corporation, instead of buying it, and this mode they have the strongest reason to believe, will put it in their power to make a great saving of expense. Their inten tion at the time of the purchase was to have begun the cutting of the stone immediately, and they expected to have been able to convey it by land, a distance of two miles only, with greatest economy in the winter season, so that by spring a sufficient quantity may be ready at the water's edge, in Quincy, to be transported by water to Charles town and afford materials for beginning the work and carrying it forward with rapidity. The quarry was accordingly opened and its excellence fully answered the expectations that had been formed". It appears by later records and papers that Mr. Willard retained an interest in this quarry. When it was proposed to take the stone wanted from Pine Hill Ledge, in order to save distance and expense in the building of the railway, one of the conditions of the change required by Mr. Willard was the following "First, it will be requisite that the railway company should refund the money which has been expended at Bunker Hill Ledge and pay me the fair value of my right in that ledge". The change was not made The quarry was opened and worked, and at the end of six months, with all the preliminary preparations, the committee say, "under the eye of the indefatigable Superintend ent, more than 3,000 tons of stone have been split from the bed in form, and lie ready to roll down the railway as soon as it is open to them". The purchase of this quarry, according to Mr. Willard's calculations, fixed the cost of the material for the monument in the ledge at about a quarter of a cent per cubic foot. The construction of this railway-the first in the United States was due solely to the needs of the Bunker Hill Monument Association. Gridley Bryant, who planned and built the famous Granite Rail way, was born at Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1798 "Having," as he said, "a mechanical and inventive turn of mind," his mother appren ticed him at the age of 15 to a prominent builder in the city of Bos ton. He commenced business on his own account when he was 21 years of age, and from that time met with every success-his skill and industry securing for him many important contracts with the United States Government and private concerns. With plans and drawings he, in the fall of 1825, consulted Messrs Thomas Handasyd Perkins, David Moody, Amos Lawrence, William Sullivan, Solomon Willard and Isaac T. Davis, citizens of Boston, as to its completion. These gentlemen were not very enthu siastic over the idea, but being anxious to aid in the completion of the monument, consented to his seeing what could be done. After innumerable delays, during which many obstructions were placed in the way of their securing a charter by the legislature, the desired document was obtained March 4, 1826, the bill being passed by a small majority. How completely uninformed the public mind then was on the subject of railways is well illustrated by the questions asked by the members of the legislature. "What do we know about railroads?" "Who ever heard of such a thing?" "Is it right to take peoples' land for a project that no one knows anything about?" These and similar objections were made to the projectors of the railway, and various severe restrictions were attached to it, in fact it probably would never have been built were it not for the munificence and public spirit of Colonel Perkins, as none of the first named gentle men associated with him in the enterprise ever paid any assessments, and the entire stock of the company finally fell into his hands. But the charter, and subsequent events connected with it, gave the death blow to the great Massachusetts canal project, backed as it was by surveys and estimates, the reports of commissioners and the rec ommendations of the executive itself. A railroad party had now sprung up as opposed to the canal party, and Bryant's success in obtaining his charter for the smaller enterprise set a number of the members of the General Court to work planning more ambitious railway schemes. Many of the inhabitants of Quincy, as well as individual owners of quarries, desired that the railway should run through the town to Brackett's Wharf in the "Point". This route they endeavored to have appear more feasible, as its construction would be attended with much less cost, and would be more favorable to the interests of those who were in possession of valuable quarries in the North Com mons, where stone had been taken for years. They anticipated that this enterprise might enable the railway to absorb all the business by their facilities in cheapening the transportation of stone, and they would have to give up their business or construct a railway at their own expense, which, with their limited means, was too great an undertaking for them to accomplish. This, like another imaginary trouble, soon came to an end. Those who carried on the stone busi ness in the North Commons were as successful as were those who transacted the same business with the railway. At the time Bryant's work excited an almost unequalled interest throughout the country, and it is still mentioned in every school his tory of the United States as the commencement of an epoch. It was, in fact, a pioneer American undertaking, the originator of which had closely studied that English railway literature which was then coming into existence. Although Stephenson had already, in a rude way, introduced locomotive steam power in the Stockton and Darl ington railroad, Bryant made no attempt at anything of that sort Indeed, had he done so he would have ruined his enterprise. Ground was broken for the Granite Railway, April 1, 1826, and on October 7 the first car passed over the whole length of the rail way. The following contract is of value and interest, being the one that brought into existence this railway. "This agreement made and concluded this 27th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1827, by and between the Granite Railway Company, herein acting by Thomas H. Perkins, their president, on the one part, and the building committee of the Bunker Hill Monu ment Association, herein acting by John C. Warren, chairman of said committee, on the other part, witnesseth, that the said Granite Railway Company hereby promise the said John C. Warren, chair the same hewn stone from the place where the same shall be deliv ered on the railway, to the wharf of the said company, and thence by water to Deven's Wharf, in the town of Charlestown, and there de liver the same onto the said wharf, the said Warren, or the Super- intendent, or other agent of the said building committee, furnishing a crane, at the building committee's expense, properly prepared for oisting the said stone from the said company's boats, onto the wharf, the said company in themselves to pay the expense of trans portation from the place of delivery, which is to be on the Railway, and actually between the sides thereof, until the delivery on the said Devens' Wharf, with the use of the crane, to be by said company furnished. And the said company hereby promise to do the said carrying, with all reasonable care and fidelity, and without doing any injury to the stone, which can be avoided with due care and reasonable diligence. "And the said company further promises, and assumes upon themselves to take, carry and deliver any quantity of stone daily, which the said Warren or the agent employed under him, or said committee may require, not exceeding 30 tons of stone in any one day. "And the said John C. Warren, chairman of the said building committee, hereby promises and assumes upon himself, to pay the said company at the expiration of each successive three months, from the commencement of the delivery, at said Deven's Wharf, in Charlestown, the sum of 75 cents for each and every ton which shall have been delivered, in full, for the transportation from the place of receiving aforesaid, to the place of delivery aforesaid. "Provided, Always that in case the weather shall render it impossible on any day, or days, to effect a delivery, it shall be a suf- ficient performance of the contract to make the delivery as soon thereafter as can be done, and, provided, also, that the said com- pany may deliver more than 30 tons in a day, if it shall suit the con- venience of the said company or deliver more than 30 tons in any one day. "In witness whereof the said Thomas H. Perkins, President, as aforesaid, and the said John C. Warren, chairman, as aforesaid, have interchangeably signed this instrument, on the day first aforesaid.

T. H. PERKINS,
President

JOHN C. WARREN,
Chairman

The first proposition of the railway company was to transport the stone from the quarry to the tidewater at 50 cents per ton, and from thence by lighters to the wharf at Charlestown, at 40 cents, but the contract fixed the price at 75 cents per ton for the whole distance. The contract was not a paying one for the railway com pany, as it cost them twice what they received for the work.

Delays followed delays, and Mr. Willard and his contractor, James S. Savage, wanted to carry the stone by ox teams. But as the use of the railway was continued for years after by Mr. Willard himself, it was evidently found to be of value and a paying proposition. At first the stones were conveyed by the railway to tidewater by horse power, when they were put on flat bottom boats, towed by steam power to Deven's Wharf, Charlestown, and thence carried to the hill on teams. But this repeated transfer defaced the stones so much that after a few courses of the monument had been raised they were teamed directly from the quarry to the hill. It was not until April 25, 1827, that a contract for teaming the stone from Deven's Wharf to the hill had been made with Thomas O. Nichols and John Pierce, the price paid being 43 cents per ton. To complete their contract, that of carrying the stone from Milton to Charlestown, the company bought the little steamer Robin Hood for $6,500, and two tow boats for $1,000 each. This led the proprietors in time to branch out, and in the same year they pur chased one of the granite ledges. This was extended until the rail way enterprise became altogether subordinate to the quarrying in terests of the company, as will be learned by reading an account of their business printed in another part of this history. Writing to a friend regarding the road, Mr. Bryant said. "The deepest cutting was 15 feet, and the highest elevation above the sur face of the ground was 12 feet. The several grades were as fol lows. The first, commencing at the wharf or landing, was 26 feet to the mile; the second, 13 feet, and the third 36 feet. This brought us to the foot of the table-lands that ran around the main quarry, here an elevation of 84 feet vertical was to be overcome. This was done by an inclined plane, 315 feet long, at an angle of about 15 degrees. It had an endless chain, to which the cars were attached in ascending or descending. At the head of this inclined plane, I constructed a swing platform to receive the loaded cars as they came from the quarry. This platform was balanced by weights, and had gearing attached to it in such a manner that it would always return (after having dumped) to a horizontal position, being firmly sup ported on the periphery of an eccentric cam. When the cars were out on the platform there was danger of their running entirely over, and I constructed a self-acting guard, that would rise above the surface of the rail upon the platform as it rose from its connection with the inclined plane, or receded out of the way when the loaded car passed on to the track, the weight of the car depressed the plat- form as it was lowered down. "I also constructed a turn-table at the foot of the quarry, which is still in use (1859) as originally constructed. The railroad was continued at different grades around the quarry, the highest part of which was 93 feet above the general level, on the top of this was erected an obelisk or monument 45 feet high". The first cost of the road's construction was $50,000. It was built thus. Stone sleepers eight feet apart were laid across the track, and upon these wooden rails, six inches high, were placed. Upon the top of these rails, iron plates, three inches wide and one fourth of an inch thick, were fastened with spikes, but at all the crossings of public roads and driftways, stone rails were used in stead of wood. On the top of these were placed iron plates four inches wide and half an inch thick, being firmly bolted to the stone. The incline plane was built in the same permanent manner and had a double track. The gauge of the track was five feet. As the traffic was all in the direction of these grades, single horses would, of course, move with ease just as heavy loads as the structure could bear, the only difficulty being to retard the loaded cars going down and draw the unloaded cars back. The first car built by Mr. Bryant cost $600. It had a frame for a body, which consisted of three timbers extending longitudi nally, and resting with each end on a cross bolster, to which they were firmly bolted. There being two of these bolsters, each resting upon and across a four-wheel carriage or truck, having centre plates and side bearings of iron, and secured in the middle to each truck by a verticle king bolt, to allow a horizontal swivelling motion be tween them and the bolsters, similar to the king bolt and bolster of a road wagon. Each car had wheels six and one-half feet in diam eter, the load being suspended on a platform by chains under the axles. The platform was let down at any convenient place and loaded, the car was then run over the load, and the chains attached to it being inserted in eye-bolts in the platform, and raised a little above the track by machinery on the top of the car. The loads aver- aged about six tons each. Following the car came the trucks or four-wheel carriages, which were constructed with two heavy timbers, to each of which was bolted an iron axle-tree. The wheels were made of cast iron, with inside flanges and treads running upon edge rails. These wheels were about 18 inches in diameter, and revolved separately upon the fixed axles, and not in pairs with the axles, as in the cars now in use. The distance between the bearing points of the wheels was five feet in each truck, and about five feet between the trucks. Each truck had a platform covering of plank fastened to its frame. They had no pedestals or springs and could be used separately when needed as four-wheel cars. When stones of 8 or 10 tons weight were to be transported two of these trucks were attached by a plat form and a king bolt, thereby making an eight-wheel car. When longer stones were to be carried the number of trucks was increased, by which arrangement a 16-wheel car was made. This was used to transport the columns for the Old Court House in Boston, each one weighing 64 tons in the rough. The main body or frame to connect the trucks, when used as an eight-wheel car, terminated about 18 inches beyond the middle of each truck. They had no projecting platform or bumper, and in the use of two such cars together their trucks would collide. These cars exhibited the swivelling principle of two trucks connected to one carrying body, adapted to transport ing granite or other heavy bodies, and not suited to any other pur pose. They were continued in use on this road for over a quarter of a century. Stone substituted wood as sleepers throughout the entire railway after a few years' use, the stone transverse sleepers that had originally been used were utilized, and they were in perfect condition up to within a short period. No attempt was made by Mr. Bryant to adopt his road to steam, he depending entirely upon horse power, so that in reality his was an improved tramway and not a railroad, but in this were embodied several inventions indispensable to the construction of railroads to day. They were the switch, or gate (as it was termed), portable derrick, movable truck (for eight-wheel cars), turn-table and snow plow. In the suit of Ross Winans vs the New York & Erie Rail road Co, the Bryant car was put in evidence against the validity of the Winans' patent, granted for the eight-wheel car on October 1, 1834. No railroad invention ever gave rise to more controversy than this device, and in none was greater talent employed on both sides. About five years of time and $250,000 were expended in the litiga- tion before a final decision was obtained against the patent, and the immense claims, which would aggregate several millions of dollars, advanced under it. This decision, while it did not benefit Mr. Bryant pecuniarily, sustained his claim as the inventor of the eight-wheel truck. He died at his home in Scituate, Mass, June 13, 1867, aged 77 years. July 25, 1832, the first railroad accident in the United States happened. Four gentlemen left the Tremont House, Boston, to go to Quincy to view the new railroad enterprise. After having ex amined the process of transporting large loads of stone they were invited to ascend the incline plane in one of the vacant returning cars. While the car was ascending, the chain gave way and they were precipitated over the precipice, a distance of 20 or 30 feet. Thomas B. Achus, of Cuba, was killed. J. Gibson, of Boston, had both legs broken. W. G. Bend, of Baltimore, was severely injured and Andrew E. Belknap, of Boston, slightly injured. On April 16, 1846, the Granite Railway Company was em- powered to extend its road beyond the terminus near the Neponset River, also to construct branches not exceeding one mile and one quarter each from any part of its railroad within half a mile of its own quarry to any of the neighboring quarries. It was also given a permit to transport freight and passengers and to increase its capital $50,000, and was further allowed to sell its entire plant to the Old Colony Railroad Company. The road was purchased on March 31, 1847, by the Quincy Branch Railroad Company and incorporated on that day by Messrs. Octavius G. Rogers, George Penniman and Joshua Emerson, the capital stock being $300,000. The first year of Mr. Willard's services for the Monument As sociation was devoted mostly to preliminary matters. In reporting upon the work done, he says: "From a recent examination of the accounts kept at the ledge, it is ascertained that the whole sum paid out of the funds of association from November 15, 1825, to Decem ber 15, 1826, little exceeds $10,000, of which $348 has been paid for digging out the foundation in Bunker Hill; $195 for four acres of land near the quarry, and $712 for building a hoarding house for the workmen. The quarrying apparatus has cost $2,000, and is now on hand partly worn, but is probably worth two-thirds its first cost. It consists of lumber, iron, steel, hammers, bars, wedges, etc. JOHN C. BALLOW,
Quincy, Mass.
PLANT OF DEACON BROTHERS, QUINCY, MASS.
house and land are probably worth what they cost. If we deduct the above from the sum stated, there will be left $6,745, total ex pended in opening the quarry, making roads, quarrying and rough dressing 20,000 feet of foundation stone and 10,000 feet of fine hammering, to which must be added the cost of transporting 125 tons of stone to Charlestown. "Much time has been necessarily spent in clearing and opening the ledge, making roads and much unnecessarily wasted by the de linquency of the railway company. The 20,000 feet of foundation, although but a small part of the work executed within the thirteen months, would come to more, at the prices charged for similar work at the prison, than the whole sum paid out". After the blocks were split off from the ledge, means were re- quired to raise them and transport them, and these had to be in- vented and constructed, as no machinery equal to the purpose and otherwise reliable, was then in use. The hoisting apparatus which was first required was provided by Almoran Holmes, and respecting him and if we may safely adopt the honest, generous and feeling language of Mr. Willard who knew and appreciated him. Holmes' Hoisting Apparatus. "This was used for set- ting the first 55,000 feet of granite in the obelisk. (All the remaining stone was hoisted by steam power, and the same power was used for more than a year after the completion of the monument to carry visitors to the top, passing up through the cone). This apparatus, with various modifications to adapt it to difficult purposes, appears to have been the original invention of Almoran Holmes, of Boston. He was a practical seaman, and a bold and skilful hand in this department of engineering. He had recently given his attention to the different kinds of machinery required for the hoisting of heavy weights, and from his early training was well prepared to direct in all difficult cases, and particularly where rope purchases were required. He finally lost his life by a casualty which occurred at Long Wharf, in Boston, in lowering a diving bell. He had the entire charge of contriving the apparatus and hoisting the first 36,000 feet of granite in the obelisk; but previous to the recom mencement of the work in 1834, the fatal accident occurred, which deprived the association and the public of his invaluable services. "The Hoisting Apparatus is remarkable for its compass, and the ease and grace with which it performs its work. With a gaff or arm, of 50 feet, it will command a circle of 100 feet in diameter "It was considered important that the best of materials should be used, in order to obtain the greatest strength with the least weight. And, consequently, the whole was made of the best of wrought iron and cast steel, except the boxes, which were of bronze or composi- tion. The rack and the wheels were of wrought iron, and the pinions of cast steel. "The Pulling Jack is constructed much like that for lifting, but is always in a horizontal position. The crank pinion is two or three feet, and turned by four arms about three feet long. The rack has a claw at the end to receive a chain, which may be led to places in accessible and dangerous for using the common jack. It is a power ful and convenient purchase for carting and hauling out heavy blocks of stone. "The power of the one used is about 10 tons, but by the addi tion of a shieve the power is nearly doubled, amounting to nearly 20 tons. If more is necessary it is obtained by adding another jack. This machine was contrived and first used at the Bunker Hill quarry. "The Hoisting Apparatus was contrived at the Bunker Hill quarry, and first used in loading a large mass of the granite for the obelisk. It is calculated for raising weight too heavy for shears or derricks, and has been found convenient for loading any stone from 5 to 50, or even 60 tons in weight. A horse, or timber frame, is set over the stone to be raised, supporting a screw and nut. A chain from the weight leads to a shackle, which is connected with the screw. The nut is then turned round by long arms, and the weight raised to a proper height for the carriage to pass under it, and when properly adjusted the weight is lowered to its bearings. "For blocks of granite of great length, such as columns and pilasters, etc, two horses and screws were used. In unloading the same the apparatus was placed over them, and the weight raised sufficiently to clear the carriage. The carriage was then drawn out and the weight then lowered to the ground. Many hundreds of loads have been raised in this way without accident and with facility and economy." These several machines were continued to be used for many years in Quincy, and Holmes' derricks towering over the ledge were the most conspicuous objects in that section. The wagon was constructed to carry columns from the Mer- chants' Exchange in New York, and later the pilasters for the new exchange in Boston, and a part of the columns at the Custom House. It will take a weight at the point of the gaff and land the same at any point of the outer circle, or on any point of a concentric circle, until it arrives at the foot of the derrick, and vice versa. It is con sequently well adapted to buildings of magnitude in setting the stone work, and for wharves and other places of deposit, in stowing the material in the most compact manner and reloading them when wanted. This apparatus, with some variations, has come into gen- eral use, and is so well contrived for the purpose intended as to leave little to be wished for in regard to apparatus for hoisting. "Something of the kind is said to have been used at the Bell Rock Lighthouse for setting the stone work, and it is quite possible that the apparatus, and indeed every other modern invention for the purpose of hoisting may have been in use before. The great works of the ancients that have come down to us prove that they must have had an apparatus of great power of some kind, and it seems quite probable that this, as well as other inventions of modern times, may have been repeatedly invented and lost within the last 4,000 years." Other machinery was required for the handling, lifting and hauling of the large blocks of granite from the Bunker Hill ledge for the monument, and the still heavier blocks which were subse- quently required, from 10 tons to 100 tons, or even of 150 tons measurement. The machinery was furnished by Mr. Willard, and we copy his drawings and his brief and modest account of them. "The Lifting Jack has been found to be a useful machine for turning heavy blocks of stone. It is a compact and powerful ma- chine, calculated for hard service, and for some purposes seems to be better adapted than any other power. It consists of a rack, and one or more wheels and pinions, according to the power required. "Something of the kind had been in use from the earliest times, but was not used in the granite business until the work on the monu ment was commenced. These in use were constructed for other pur poses and not adapted to hard service. They were generally made of thin plates of iron, bolted to a large stock of wood, having a feeble rack and without proper boxes for gudgeons. They were also weak and of rude workmanship, and when put to hard service either broke or were down and out of gear in a short time. "In order to adopt it to hard service, thicker plates were used, and these plates were screwed to a hoop of iron. This iron hoop extended to the foot of the Jack, and the foot was bolted on, giving the whole a firm bearing on the ground, a piece of wood was bolted between the sides, leaving a groove for the sliding of the rack. Compromise was made and the legislature gave $7,000 in cash to the association. Therefore it is a satisfaction to say that this mon ument to freedom was not cut by men in bondage. After vexatious delays work was begun, and the following re- port of Mr. Willard, July 18, 1827, is of particular interest. "The work is now in favorable course of prosecution, the daily expenses at the quarry are for 27 men, $4298; for tools, including the steel, coal and time of the blacksmith, $833, together $51.31. This gang of men will get out one course of the monument in twelve days. The first course of stone will contain 124 tons, the blocks being four feet and four inches, in which are 1,619 feet 3 inches of hammering, including the hollow cone. The average con- tents of the first eight courses is 120 tons, and the expense of a course may be calculated thus. Say for 12 days' work at the quarry at $51.31 per day is $615.72 Transportation to Deven's Wharf at 75 cents
Transportation from wharf to the hill at 48 cents
Expense of laying, including everything, at 662-3 cents per ton
Mr. Willard was paid for his services from November 9, 1825, to June 17, 1827, $800, and he subscribed to the funds of the asso ciation $1,000, the amount he received from the railway company for his right in the quarry, which sum was expended by him in his explorations for a quarry. At the close of the work for the year, November, 1827, Mr. Willard sends this interesting report. "It may be seen by the roll which I wish the committee to ex amine, that the number of working days, from the 16th of July to the 17th of November, inclusive, amounts to 108. The whole num ber of days of labor, done in the hammerers' department at the ledge during that time is 2,257-equal to 20 and 97-108 day's work each day. If the time spent in fitting the stone on Bunker Hill, viz, 181 days, be taken into the account, it will increase the average per day to 22 and 62-108. "By the roll it will be seen that the average labor on the ledge during the same period of time has been only 6 and 38-108 days' work, having been performed by three splitters and three capstan men. In the 108 days referred to these six men have split and run down 180 blocks of stone, which will average over six tons each after having been dressed; and they have also split and run down 180 blocks for skirting and hollow cone, which will average two- thirds of a ton each, besides clearing away the cellar and wharf stone, which though valuable to those who come after, is waste to us. In the description of the work that has been quarried at our ledge, there is much greater difference in the tonnage, before and after being dressed, than usual. I should think that the difference, including the cellar stone, would amount to one-third of the whole. "The large and small blocks together amount to 787 tons, to which if we add 393 for loss of tonnage in dressing and for cellar stone, the whole number of tons will be 790, quarried and delivered by six men in 108 days; equal to eleven tons per day for 108 days in succession. The expenses of the six men to the association were $10.45 per day, which sum, divided by eleven, the number of tons got out daily, gives 95 cents per ton. Then the cost per ton divided by 13, the number of cubic feet in the ton, gives 7 cents and 3 mills for the cost per cubic foot for the rough stone. "Our stock, according to the last experiment, costs us 10 cents per cubic foot, measured after it is dressed. Then if we add 9 l-2 cents for carrying, it will amount to 19 1-2 cents per cubic foot de- livered on Bunker Hill. I do not know that stock as good could now be obtained at any other place within 20 miles of Boston for four times this sum. The original estimate was 16 1-4 cents and with the facilities anticipated I have no doubt the actual expense would have corresponded with the first estimate". From another item contained in the same report we get some idea of the kind of workmen the superintendent had with him at the ledge. "For executing the work I have thought it the best policy to hire good men, to pay them fair wages and to see that their labor is well divided.

In this way you can obtain good men and keep them, and by using the proper means to excite emulation, they will not only be faithful but the work will go on with a spirit and econ- omy which cannot be obtained in any other way. No graduate from our penitentiary or foreigner has been employed. The workmen are Americans, natives of neighboring States. Some are relatives of those who fought on Bunker Hill and inherit a genuine spirit for the work. Thus far there has been an uncommon degree of harmony among them. In a few instances I have discovered a disposition in some to tyrannize, which I have thought proper to discountenance. It seems to me an improper place to act the Bashaw, the slave or the sycophant. The work which we are engaged in is a work of patriotism, where all should be on equal terms". The work was divided into five departments, viz., the Quarry- ing, Hammering, Carrying, Hoisting and Masons' Departments The number and cost of the men who filled the various departments were as follows Quarrymen's department, I master at $2, 5 com- mon hands at-, 3 capstan men at-, I blacksmith at $167. Hammerers' Department: 30 hammerers at $175; 2 black- smiths at $167, one patternmaker at $1.19. Hoisters' Department: One rigger-, I master at $2, I fore- man at $167, 3 common hands $450. Masons' Department One master mason at $2.50, 3 journeymen at $167, I apprentice $100, I blacksmith, I tender. The work now encountered obstacles which it took years to overcome. It would require too much space to give the dark side of its history, to detail the measures in order to raise the required funds that were suggested, attempted and abandoned. Work was stopped, Mr. Willard and his assistants discharged, and that part of the monument completed (about 37 feet) was boarded over Finally the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' Association began a cam- paign of collecting funds. Mr. Willard was employed to lay out streets bordering on the sides of the monument, which were divided into house lots and sold at auction, for which $25,000 was realized. The Mechanics' Association collected $18,07303 "The Ladies' Fund" amounted to $2,937 90 and work was again begun. Mr. Willard was employed in his former position, and Charles Pratt was engaged as master mason, although Mr. Savage was still employed by Mr. Willard. The monument was built to a height of 82 feet. Then the funds became nearly exhausted. At this time Amos Lawrence and Judah Touro of New Orleans gave $10,000 each to the fund, and the fair held by the ladies of Boston from September 5-15, 1840, netted $30,03553. Fanny Ellsler, the noted danseuse at a benefit in Tremont Theatre, also raised over $1,000, while funds from other sources swelled the total, January 14, 1841, to $55,153 27 Measures were now promptly taken to complete the monument. They contracted with James S. Savage to finish the work. The expense was paid by the contractor as follows: To D. M. C. Knox, for granite, etc To Rogers & Richards To Josiah Babcock. To Wright & Barker For superintendence. For drawings, bevels, patterns, etc Cost of setting stone $27,016.68 He was paid by the association $43,800 cash, also about $4,800 in tolls from visitors viewing the work, besides apparatus valued at $1,400, amounting in round figures to $50,000, which if the entire monument was paid for on this basis would cost $200,000 or twice that which was actually paid for the work. Work was recommenced May 2, 1841, and steadily prosecuted until its completion. The last stone was raised in the morning of July 23, 1842. Edward Carnes, Jr, waving an American flag, ac- companied the stone in its ascent, and salutes were fired from the Charlestown Artillery. A little time previously a cannon had been raised to the top and a salute fired from it. In 1843 another splen- did pageant took place and Daniel Webster delivered the masterly oration. In 1834, Mr. Willard wrote a long letter to the association in regard to costs, a part of which we quote. "The quantities of stone and dressing that have been delivered are already known by actual survey. According to Loring's meas- urement there are 57,802 feet of stone, cubic measure, already split out and a larger part delivered on Breed's Hill. The market value of such a lot of stone, I shall estimate at 75 cents per cubic foot, and the whole amount to $43,351.50 at that price. The number of feet of dressing, according to the same survey, and measured in the customary way, is 52,568 feet, superficial measure. The average price of first rate work, for 15 years past, is assumed to be 50 cents, and the whole will amount at that price to $26,284.50. The number of cubic feet laid up, according to the same survey, is 35,878, and the market price per foot is assumed to be 30 cents, including the fitting, hoisting, laying, mortar, iron cramps and scaffolding, with the wear on the machinery and every other expense connected, and would amount at the above price to $10,763.40-and the total amount of the three items at the assured prices would be $80,399.40 PLANT OF HENCRY C. SMALLEY GRANITE COMPANY, INC., QUINCY, MASS. HENRY C. SMALLEY, Firm of Henry C. Smalley Granite company, Inc., Quincy, Mass. ANDREW MCINTOSH, JR. Firm of Henry C. Smalley Granite Company, Inc., Quincy, Mass. man as aforesaid, to receive on the said company's railway, during the year 1827, 3,000 tons of hewn stone, to be used in building the monument aforesaid, at such times during the said year as the said John C. Warren is the superintendent, shall offer to be carried, and not exceeding 30 tons in a day-and that said company will carry SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, BROCKTON, MASS. Cut by Long and Saunders, Quincy, Mass. "The question to be settled is whether the assumed prices are on an average of those paid for similar work for the last 15 years, or whether they are above or below the current prices. "In order to ascertain this it will be necessary to refer to the bills paid for similar work at different places, and in relation to the cost of the stone, of the dimensions of these used at the monument we may refer to the bills paid at the Massachusetts General Hos pital for the blocks which compose the columns, and to those paid at the Branch Bank for the architrave pieces, and the blocks for the columns which were originally intended to have been in five pieces, and for which contracts were made We may also refer to the bills paid at the Tremont House for the blocks for the columns to the portico and in the cornice, and to those paid at the Washing ton Bank for the footings to the columns, and at the Arcade in Providence for similar pieces. We may refer to the bills paid at the dry docks in Charlestown and Norfolk for a large number of blocks of a corresponding size, and to those paid at the new bank now erecting on State Street for the piers that support the columns. And also those that are to be paid at the new Court House [in Bos ton, recently taken down] for a large quantity of work about to be contracted for and to any bills which may have been paid for blocks of four tons weight sold in the market within the time specified. "In order to ascertain the value of the dressing of first rate work we have only to refer to the prices paid at some of the prin- cipal buildings that have been erected, viz To those paid at Mr. Sears' house (Beacon street) for straight and circular work, to those paid at the Tremont House, at the Theatre, at Mr. Webster's house, at Mr. Cushing's, at the New Court House, at the new bank, at Astor's Hotel [Astor House, New York City], etc. The market value of the mason work may be found in a similar manner, and a bill in the form of an account current, including the three items above named at the prices found, would probably stand as follows. (We omit the form of account mentioned as being simply a recapitulation of the above statements). "Allowing the prices assumed to be the market prices, the above bill shows that the work already done would have cost the association the sum of $80,399 had they paid the current prices, a sum far exceeding the one actually paid out. "There are still nearly 34,000 feet of stone required to carry Per cubic the monument to the height proposed (221 feet 5 inches), for which the association would have to pay the market price were they excluded from the quarry they now possess, and from other advan- tages derived from the exertions of those who have been early engaged. "The current prices may be found as in other cases, namely, by collecting an account of sales for the time specified. With respect to ascertaining the prices which have been paid for the dressing and masons' work there will be little difficulty. The prices paid for blocks of granite of the dimensions used at the monument will not be easily ascertained, as care has generally been taken to conceal the amount paid. This has been accomplished either by a secret contract, or evasive answers, or by `lumping' the high and low-priced stone together. The prices which have been paid per cubic foot at the different places referred to are supposed to be nearly as follows; At the General Hospital, for columns At the Branch Bank, for architrave Which were to have been paid for columns At the Tremont House, for columns At the Tremont House, blocks for cornice At the Washington Bank, per footing At the Arcade in Providence, per footing At the Dry Dock, in Charlestown At Norfolk for Dry Dock At the New Bank on State street, for piers For the New Court House >Average price of these sales, 99 cents "It will be observed that the average of the above sales is higher than the one assumed in the account." In another section of the report he says. "The preparations for commencing the work of building the monument required a considerable expenditure. At Breed's Hill [Bunker Hill], the preparation consisted in sinking a foundation nearly 50 feet square and 12 feet deep, and laying an inclined plane of flagstone from the road to the monument to facilitate the drawing up of the large blocks of granite which it would have been difficult to do on the soft ground. The prosecution of the work required also an expen < sive hoisting apparatus, with substantial guy posts planted deep in the earth and ballasted. A capstan house was also necessary, with sheds and blacksmith shops, and various sets of tools, jacks and other apparatus. A hoisting apparatus was also found necessary at the wharf, where the stone was landed. "The preparation at Quincy consisted in clearing and opening the quarry, making roads, erecting a boarding house, blacksmith shop, stone cutters' sheds and other buildings, a timber run and machinery for lowering the stone. And there was a large quantity of quarrying apparatus wanted, consisting of jacks, iron bars, sledges, hammers, etc., the greater part of which are now on hand. "The cost of labor and wear of apparatus per foot for the work already performed has been found by experiment to be 73 cents, namely, cost of quarrying per foot measured after the blocks have been brought to form, 10 cents, cost of transporting from the quarry to the site of the monument, 9_ cents per foot, the cost of dressing 11-15 feet (being the quantity on each foot cubic meas- ure), was about 37 cents, and the cost of fitting, hoisting mason work, mortar, iron cramps, scaffolding, etc., per foot, has been 16_ cents. This has been ascertained by dividing the whole sum paid out by the whole number of cubic feet laid up, according to Lor ing's survey. The contingent expense per foot was 20 cents, making a total expense laid in the work of 93 cents." In his book, "Plans and Sections of the Obelisk on Bunker Hill," Mr. Willard says. "There were forty-four blocks of stone of five tons weight in the first course alone, and it was found by calculation that five tons was a little more than the average size of the stones compos- ing this structure. The average size was consequently nearly equal to the architrave pieces at the Branch Bank, and had the same price been paid for the stone in the obelisk that was paid for that at the bank, $500 per foot, the granite alone would have amounted to an enormous sum." The market prices for granite remained pretty much the same from 1810 to 1840. The following were the railway prices for 1836, for stone delivered at the landing, namely, posts and lintels, and other stone of cubic dimensions, 57 cents per cubic foot, and the price to increase one cent per foot on all stones that contain more than 25 cubic feet. Three cents were added instead of one as the cubic measure increased five feet. Therefore, the price of a block of granite of 25 cubic feet was 57 cents per foot, and a block of 26 feet, 58 cents per foot, and so on. The tariff of prices for the exterior of the Custom House, as delivered in Boston, was 50 cents per foot for a stone of 25 cubic feet in content or under, and to increase one cent per foot for each additional foot in size. For cutting first quality For cutting second quality190 per foot sup For cutting third quality110 per foot sup For cutting fourth quality<50 per foot sup For beds and builds25 per foot sup Sixteen full columns, including capitals, 32 feet high, 5 feet 4 inches in diameter at the base, delivered in Boston, cut and finished complete, $5,100 each, sixteen three-quarter columns, $3,700 each. At these prices the former would bring the cost of a block of 54 cubic feet, which is about the average size of these in the obelisk, at $101 per foot, and by the latter at 79 cents, and a mean between these prices is 90 cents, which was in 1848 about the market price for granite of such dimensions. At this price the cost of the granite blocks would have amounted to over $78,000, and the whole cost of the monument over $250,000 (The total cost of the obelisk was $101,688). And this sum would have been a reasonable estimate for the work at the time, considering the condition of the granite business and the state of the market. But had the monument been completed in the course of about three years-which would have been a reasonable time-it would have made a great difference in the final cost. "It is found by comparison that the Washington Monument in Baltimore, Md, contains but about half the number of cubic feet of material that are in this obelisk. It consists of a column of about 19 feet in diameter at the base, set on a pedestal, and alto- gether about 160 feet high. It is well executed but of cheap con- struction. The foundation is of slaty granite, in small pieces, and the body of the work is of bricks, faced with limestone, and in ashlar courses of about one foot rise. And, notwithstanding, has cost, as stated on good authority, about $220,000. And, conse- quently, has cost $20,000 more than twice as much as the obelisk. "It will be seen also that the obelisk will compare still more favorably with the work at the Custom House in Boston. It appears by the debate in Congress that this Custom House, which is pre sumed to contain about an equal quantity of granite with the obelisk, has already cost the sum of $700,000, and requires $300,000 more to complete the work. And it is presumed that the columns and pilasters along which are attached to the body of the work, have cost as much as two such obelisks." Is it any wonder then that Amos Lawrence recorded in the records of the Monument Association "that posterity is more indebted to Solomon Willard than to any other man for the monu- ment." Measurements of Bunker Hill Monument Dimensions of the Obelisk Height of obelisk to base of pyramid 208 ft 5 in. Height of the monument to the apex ft 5 in. Sides of the square first course ft. Sides of the square at base of pyramid ft. Thickness of wall at the base, one-fifth ft. Thickness of wall at the top ft. Circumference of chamber in the top ft. Height of chamber ft. Diameter of chamber ft 6in. Height of each course in the monument ft 8 in. Dimensions in each course 2_ in. Number of courses to base of pyramid Number of steps in the circular stairs Height of riser 221 30 15                      2                      36                      18                      11                      2                        78                     294  8 in. Foundation, 50 feet square, 6 courses, 2 feet each, 12 feet deep        Dimensions of the Cone Height of the cone, from the flooring       196 ft 9 in. Diameter of the first course          10 ft Diameter of the top course           6 ft 2 in. Thickness of wall, at base, one-sixth        1 ft 8 in. Thickness of wall, at top            1 ft. Height of each course             1 ft 4 in. Number of courses              147 ft. Diminish in each course         6-1 oths of an inch.        Dimensions of the Pyramid Vertical height from base line to apex        13 ft. Number of courses in the pyramid           6 ft. Sides of the base                 15 ft. From the base line to apex             15 ft.   62        HISTORY OF THE GRANITE.   An art critic has this to say of the monument. "It is a work of national reputation which owes more of its prestige to its dimen- sions and the historical importance of the event it commemorates than to its artistic qualities. The real beauty of the ancient Egyptian obelisks, in which this column and many other modern ones are meant to be modelled, consisted in the purity of their proportions, the subtile and graceful curving lines of their profiles, and the decorative character of the inscriptions or hieroglyphics which covered their faces. We find none of these attributes in the lofty modern obelisks (except Mr. J. Ph. Rinn's noble Battle Monument at Bennington, Vt.), and consequently what dignity it possesses is mainly due to its height, which is becoming less wonderful since "tall buildings" came in. Its outline is straight, hard and rigid. The gray granite takes the sunlight handsomely, however, and in certain angles of light the column has a pleasant effect of buoyancy. Anyone who has seen it with a distant thunderstorm in the back- ground, and with the rays of the sun shining upon its face, may easily be pardoned for supposing that it is a satisfactory work of art. But, considered in cold blood, it is rather one of many instances of wasted opportunity, of the unintelligent adaptation of an antique motive, stripped of its most essential artistic features and magnified in bulk." The objects and purposes for which Mr. Willard avowedly engaged in the granite business naturally excited the opposition and ill-will of all his competitors, and it is not strange that they should have endeavored to keep up the price of their work to a profit standard, not by any direct "combination," as he supposed, but by a common personal interest. They looked upon his course with jeal- ousy and suspicion, and his proceedings as inimical to them, and no doubt said harsh things about him. But it probably never occurred to him that in furnishing granite to builders at the prime cost, derived from an average, he was doing a wrong to those engaged in the same business who were dependent upon a reasonable profit on their labor. Not seeing the matter in this light he continued his efforts to increase the demand for granite, expecting that all parties would find their interests ultimately in small profits upon large sales. The success of his efforts-his almost alone-in introducing the free use of granite as a building material, as seen at the time in the public and other buildings of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and other cities-all subsequent to the commencement of the monu- ment-is the incontestible evidence of his sagacity and foresight. The opening of the Bunker Hill quarry led to the discovery and opening of other quarries, and gave an impulse to business which adorned our cities with a class of splendid and substantial building and which has gradually extended in scope to the vast business it enjoys today. In a letter written in 1831, he wrote as follows: "The high price demanded for granite for fifteen years past, and particularly for blocks of large dimensions, has had a tendency to discourage the use of it, and my object in engaging in the stone business was not to make money, but to make experiment in order to remove the obstructions to the extensive use of granite as a building material, and to ascertain the lowest price at which it could be afforded with the common facilities for doing business. I left the profession of architect, which I had followed ten years in Boston, and took charge of a corps of quarrymen, at the Bunker Hill quarry in Quincy, six years ago the 15th of the present Novem- ber. The committee of that work had previously advertised for proposals for furnishing the stone required, and received but one, and that was 62 cents per cubic foot, for the raw material delivered in Charlestown. A combination had taken place among the dealers in stone to keep up the prices, as is usually the case. The quarrying of 4,000 tons was finally done by the day, by men under my charge, and cost the association but thirteen cents and three mills per cubic foot, delivered on a wharf in Charlestown. Since the work has been discontinued I have been making experiments at my own expense. While I conducted the work my services were gratuitous, and since doing business on my own account, I have merely charged my employers for their work what I suppose would be the prime cost, well managed, taking all risk on myself, without any com- pensation for the excessive labor and anxiety that I have had on their account." In 1831, application was made to him to furnish granite for two houses in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and he proposed to deliver it on a wharf in Quincy, in 8-inch ashlars, at 15 cents a foot, and he made up the account of cost as follows. For bankage, one- quarter cent; quarrying, four cents, dressing edges, seven cents; transportation, two and three-quarters cents, profit, one cent, total, fifteen cents. The cost of stone cornices, with three cubic feet of stone and seven feet of dressing, he stated at $174 per running foot. These prices were scarcely up to the prime cost of the article at that time; were manifestly too low to be a safe guide to other dealers, and however intended, were in some degree unjust to them. Granite as a building material, excepting in a few instances, and those mostly under his superintendence, had been used in small pieces, or blocks of moderate size, for cellar walls, underpinning, posts, lintels, etc., and his first measure was to introduce the mate rial in large blocks, such as were in themselves massive and durable, which as he saw at once, would absolutely necessitate changes in the style of architecture and in the character of public buildings, stores and other substantial structures. A sample of the small blocks may be seen in the front of Saint Paul's Church, Boston, and the larger ones in the Custom House, and both together, the large above the small, make an awkward appearance in the Navy Yard wall, Charlestown. A good deal of feeling was manifested when he determined that such blocks should be provided for the Bunker Hill Monu- ment, because no one of the dealers in granite was prepared to furnish them-neither to quarry them, to manipulate or to transport them. After the completion of the monument Mr. Willard wrote. "There are other important considerations connected with these experiments, however, and advantage growing out of them only secondary to the main purpose, namely, the effect they have had in improving the style of building material not before in use, and showing that it can be worked into any moulded or ornamental form required for the exteriors of the best structures, and at a reasonable rate, and thereby having supplied a desideration which had always existed until the commencement of these experiments. "In a pecuniary point of view these experiments have also been advantageous. In establishing the credit of a new building material it created a new demand, and consequently a business has grown out of them since the work commenced, and in a space of a few miles, amounting, as estimated, to $3,000,000, which would not otherwise have been done at these quarries, and of which the work on the obelisk is but about one-thirtieth part." Mr. Dearborn, in his "Boston Notions," published in 1848, mentions thirty or forty new blocks of stores and single buildings, all of granite or of granite fronts, one of which, that of Benjamin Loring, State street, was erected in 1823, and is probably the first store to be built of this material. A. J. Allen's store, State street, was erected in 1827; the Masonic Temple, afterwards United States Court House, Tremont street, and a granite block on Wash ington street, in 1831, a block on Washington street, in 1832, Amory Hall Block, 1835; Lawrence Block, Milk street, 1844, the Cruft, Oregon, Quincy and Brooks Blocks, Pearl street, 1845-6-7, Bowdoin and Morton Blocks, Milk street, 1845, Old South Block, 1845; Horticultural Hall, School street, 1844; Sewell Block, Milk street, and Sanford Block, Franklin street, 1846.