BUILDING STONES. 645 



The tract further south, which is drained by Clear Creek and Spring Creek, 

 is for the most part an extension of the great Burnetian area of Llano County, 

 but there are in it immense masses of dimension granite of very fine quality. 

 Owing to the commingling of the different areas of uplift in this region the 

 outcrops are more or less disturbed, and it is difficult to make a diagnosis 

 which will convey a clear idea of the whole area. There is great variety in 

 the mode of presentation at the different exposures, ordinary specimens thus 

 affording no criteria for determining economic values. In some places what 

 would otherwise be admirable masses are so much shattered by the joint 

 fractures or so completely checkered by vein fillings that serviceable blocks 

 can not be quarried. In other situations very satisfactory results may be 

 had, with the advantage of considerable range of selection as to color and 

 texture. The granite is abundant enough, well situated for working, and 

 with due care in selecting and testing the product there is no reason why 

 profitable quarries may not be established in this tract. Perhaps the eastern 

 edge is most favorably placed, but some very promising exposures occur down 

 near the mouth of Clear Creek and farther south. Capitol Rock and Buz- 

 zard Roost, with some other elevations, afford granites which deserve the 

 careful scrutiny of builders The Burnet Steam Granite Company has made 

 successful use of its product from quarries six miles west of Burnet. 



In the southern portion of the Burnet County area Granite Mountain and 

 similar mounds of less extent in the neighborhood have hitherto been the 

 only producers of dimension granite. This is the material of which the Texas 

 Capitol is composed. 



There are three companies at work not far from Marble Falls, all practically 

 in the same material. The Texas Capitol Granite Company is working the 

 original granite quarries on Granite Mountain, at Granite Mountain Station, 

 on the Austin and Northwestern Railway, two miles northwest of Marble 

 Falls. The Texas Mining and Improvement Company has done considerable 

 work about one mile from Marble Falls. C. O'Keefe's quarry is less than one 

 mile from Granite Mountain Station. 



Owing to the heavy expenses incident to all new enterprises, the cost of 

 mining this granite has heretofore been much above the average, and not- 

 withstanding the high value of the product as compared with that of other 

 States, the profits over all have been very light. But the capital represented 

 by lands, even at a very low valuation, forms so large a fraction of the total 

 investment, and it is so sure to carry itself with interest by the enhancement 

 from year to year, that we may properly estimate as net earnings all above 

 annual expenses, including interest on plant and deterioration. This leaves a 

 bare margin with the present business; but the returns are not fairly shown 

 without due consideration of the large amount of rock quarried which is still 

 49— #eol. 



