31 



should state that most of the hogs kept by INIr. Robertson and jNIr. 

 Eaton, have been bought at l^righton Market ; but Mr. Robertson 

 is makuig the experiment of rearing some. His mode of feeding 

 stock is similar to that followed by Mr. Eaton, except that he uses 

 Indian corn meal instead of cotton-seed. His premises, like those 

 of his neighbor, Mr. Eaton, present an attractive appearance in 

 regard to the character and good condition of the buildings, fences, 

 and the general neatness observed in all parts. 



Before dismissing the town of Quincy, it is proper that we should 

 notice another product for which it is somewhat famous. When a 

 gentleman belonging to one of the Southern States inquired Avhat 

 were the export articles of Massachusetts, he was answered by a 

 distinguished member of this Society — " Granite and Ice." It is 

 not our purpose to enter at large on the value of either of these 

 products, but the prominence which this town has ahvays main- 

 tained in the granite business, justify a few remarks in regard to 

 its importance. 



By the kindness of Messrs Thomas HoUis and George Penni- 

 man, Ave are enabled to give some interesting facts in regard to 

 the origin and importance of the quarrying of granite in this 

 neighborhood. The first building of note for which the Quincy 

 granite Avas used, Avas King's Chapel, in Boston, erected in 1749, 

 the stone of which it Avas built having been " picked up " in the 

 AA^oods. It Avas not quarried, — the splitting of stone by wedges 

 being then unknoAvn or not practised here. Boulders Avere bro- 

 ken by hammers to such an extent as Avas practicable for obtaining 

 pieces of the desired size. The first quarrying Avas in procuring 

 the stone of Avhich the State Prison at Charlestown Avas built, in 

 1815 (?) About this time the light-colored granite from Chelms- 

 ford, Concord, N. H., &c-. began to be used for building in Boston 

 to considerable extent. In 1817 the old Dedham jail Avas built of 

 Quincy granite, and this may be taken as the date of the com- 

 mencement of the quarrying business. Fashion turned from the 

 light-colored in favor of Avhat is called the blue granite. The 

 Leverett Street Jail, Boston, Avas built of it in 1820, and a large 

 demand for the article soon sprung up. In 1825 the Granite 

 Railway Company, Col. Thomas II. Perkins, President, Avas in- 

 corporated. This association built, in 1826, the railroad leading 

 from the quarry to tide Avater, for the purpose of taking stone to 

 boats and larger craft. This Avas the first railroad in New Eng- 

 land, and probably the first on Avhich iron rails Avere laid in the 

 United States. The Buid<er Hill Monument Association owned 

 Avhat Avas called the ]>unker Hill (Quarry, to Avhich the railroad 

 Avas extended, and from Avhich the stone for the first forty feet of 

 the monument was taken. This quarry is now owned by the 

 Granite Railway Company, Avhich is still extensively engaged in 

 quarrying and dressing stone. No less than eight other com- 



