﻿78 INDIANA UNIVERSITY 



Froduct. 



Year. Cubic Feet. Value. 



1897 5,382,589 1,344,158 



1898 5,630,046 1,389,204 



1899 7,128,121 1,646,501 



1900 7,035,000 1,699,649 



190r^ 2,123,237 



1902^^ 1,813,577 



1903^^ 1,880,561 



Methods of quarrying have radically changed in the oolitic 

 stone belt within the last generation. Blasting, formerly almost 

 the only means of getting out the stone, is now used only in 

 rock stripping, i. e., in clearing off the hard limestone which may 

 overlie the oolitic, or in quarrying stone for lime and cement. 

 After the surface of the oolitic stone has been uncovered, the 

 channeler is put to work. This machine is a small locomotive 

 running back and forth on a portable track, carrying a gang of 

 chisels on one or both sides. The first block, thus channeled 

 loose on four sides, is got out in the easiest way possible. The 

 others, and they may be very long, are wedged loose at the bot- 

 tom by plugs and feathers or simple wedges driven in holes made 

 by the steam drill. The block is then pulled over on its side by 

 the derrick, and is broken into approximately the required di- 

 mensions by drilling and wedging. The blocks are then ready 

 to be sent to the mill, where they are sawed, planed, or turned, 

 as may be required. 



The machinery used in the quarries consists of channelers, 

 drills, derricks and hoists, with engines and perhaps an air com- 

 pressor. In the mills are required derricks or overhead trav- 

 elers, saw-gangs and appliances, planers, jointers and lathes. 

 The wire saw or cable channeler is used in some places. The 

 power used may be steam, compressed air, or electricity. 



Though the machinery is constantly being improved, its gen- 

 eral character has not changed" 'within recent years. The dia- 

 mond saw is the most important exception to this rule. This 

 saw may consist of a heavy steel blade, much on the order of the 

 ordinary saw, but having the edge set with black diamonds ; or 

 if of the newer pattern, it may be circular. With the old gang- 

 saw, which is still by far the most commonly used, sand and 

 water must be continuously fed ; the diamond saw requires no 

 abrasive. Its rate of cutting is much faster than that of the old 



^5 For these years the figures are for that part of the limestone produced iu 

 Indiana which is used for building stone, and are approximately correct for the 

 oolitic production. 



