174 



and, in at least one case, attaching to a long pole, what 

 might pass as the "old oaken bucket" that was to draw 

 water from the well near by. Rocks are plentifully scat- 

 tered all over the cape, and the huge boulders and pro- 

 jecting ledges indicated a section prolific in sienitic granite. 



Col. French's estate is spacious and elegant. He threw 

 open his house to the visitors, his extensive lawns were 

 at their disposal, and his hospitality was unbounded. 

 Col. French's house and that of Gen. Butler are in one 

 lawn enclosure. Both houses are built of stone, but Col. 

 French has obviously made far the greater outlay in im- 

 provements upon his estate, and appears to be permanently 

 identified by association, residence, and business with this 

 part of the city upon Cape Ann. 



A visit was made to the stone-works and granite quar- 

 ries, and Col. French and those holding responsible posi- 

 tions at the works were attentive in showing the visitors 

 the many interesting things that are to be seen. In the 

 sheds along the road and upon the pier built with the 

 debris of the quarries, the finishing and ornamenting of 

 the stone are carried on, by the usual process of the stone 

 cutters, with mallet and chisel. The work now in pro- 

 gress is for the Boston Post Office extension. The quarry, 

 from which the granite (or sienite, more properly) is 

 taken, is about half of a mile from the road, and the party 

 were conveyed thither on the open platform cars used 

 in transporting the stone, the same being pushed over 

 the ascending grade by the locomotive employed at the 

 works. The company comprised three train loads. Here 

 in the quarries the process of drilling was going on by 

 large numbers of men, and in one place was noticed the 

 tireless and rapid working of the Ingersol steam drill, 

 boring with great rapidity into the solid rock. The stone 

 was lifted from the quarries by large derricks operated by 



