"The year 1886 opened with encouraging prospects for the building industry generally throughout the country, but scarcely were active operations fairly under way when the widely-spread labor disturbances which have made the year memorable began, making themselves felt in a number of the largest cities, both in the east and west.  As soon as the labor troubles were inaugurated, many building enterprises were abandoned, and many more were postponed until the differences between labor and capital should be smoothed over.  The building operations which were carried on during the period of disturbance were in most cases attended by small margins of profit to all concerned, and in some instances by disaster to contractors and to those who supplied material.  Business was dull for all branches of trade connected with the building industry; demand for material was low and irregular, and values fell off quite considerably.

"This period of general depression was, however, followed by one of the greatest activity, and while it is true that many building enterprises contemplated at the beginning of the year were abandoned and not taken up again in 1886, still the fact remains that at the close of the year the showing made by the principal cities of the country was a large increase in the amount of building done, as compared with 1885.

"The kind of buildings most extensively erected during this period of activity consisted of residences, the demand for which, in view of our rapidly increasing population, is naturally at all times imperative.

"Only a few cities show positive evidence to the effect that building operations for the entire year were curtailed owing to the influence of labor troubles, although, of course, the frequently-propounded question, "What would have been the amount and value of building done in 1886 had there been no serious interruption?" is one which no one can satisfactorily answer."

"The building stones most used (in Atlanta, Georgia) are:  granite taken from quarries 16 miles from the city; limestone from Indiana, Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Dickson, Alabama; brown sandstone from North Carolina, and marble from the vicinity of Marietta, Georgia.  Frame buildings are mostly in demand."

"The stone now used (in Savannah, Georgia) for building purposes is chiefly Alabama limestone; Connecticut brown stone and Georgia granite have been driven out of use almost entirely."

"The building stone chiefly used (in Memphis, Tennessee) includes limestone from Dickson, Alabama, sandstone from Mount Sterling, Kentucky, granite from quarries near Little Rock, Arkansas.."

"In this city (Little Rock, Arkansas) limestone from Dickson, Alabama, and oolitic limestone from Kentucky are used chiefly; granite from quarries near the city is also employed, but not to a great extent, owing to cost of cutting.."

New Discoveries and developments of marble quarries: 

"Alabama.-Toward the close of 1886, a company known as the Alabama Marble Company, with a capital stock of $100,000 was organized to develop and operate a quarry situated 16 miles from Florence and 1 mile from the Nashville and Florence railroad, in Lauderdale county.  The officers of this company are W. J. Kernachan, president; C. B. Eldred, vice-president; J. B. White, secretary and treasurer."

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