The Nebraska Advertiser

CUT WITH WIRE ROPE.
How Stone Is to Be Taken Out of an Eastern Quarry.

Those who have indulged in deep sea fishing know how the fish line cuts deeply into the hard wood of the gunwale as it is hauled in while taut. Even an iron protection, after a time, shows the wear of the rope, which is comparatively soft. This, says the Detroit Free Press, gives a clew to the invention of an Albany quarryman for cutting stone. Instead, however, of hemp, he proposes to use wire rope, and with this he will carve the marble and stone right out of its native bed.

The wire is wound in strands, and has a very rough surface. Powerful machinery gives a strong and steady strain, and the stone, yielding to the constant wear, parts, with smooth edges. It would be easy enough to cut the blocks after they are removed from the quarry, but where the cleverness of the inventor comes in is devising mechanism that can be applied to the stone while in the quarry. This is effected by sinking two parallel channels in the quarry to a depth of little greater than that of the lowest level of the stone to be cut. The channels may be from 2 to 100 feet, or more, apart. At the bottom of each is made a small hole to receive the foot ends of the shafts of the machine. This is the only preparation of the quarry that is necessary. The ropes, which are coiled on huge drums, are then passed around the channels, and as the drums revolve the cutting proceeds. Suitable brakes are provided for the regulation of the speed and pressure. The ordinary speed of the strand is 500 feet a minute, so that a mile length of it passes in six minutes. While the strand is moving, crushed stone or chilled shot and water can be introduced to increase the attrition. Far better, however, than either of these is a composition obtained from the tailings of a magnetic iron separator, which costs about one-tenth as much as the chilled shot. It does not leave the lines caused by the shot, and it can be used over and over again.