SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. 



253 



near the west end of the main street ; Miller's'quarry, north-east 

 from the State's Prison ; the Beechwoods quarries, which are still 

 further north-east ; the Fulling Mill or Mill Eiver quarries, just 

 north of the east end of the street ; a large number of small open- 

 ings between and in the vicinity of the last two quarries ; and the 

 Kouthern part of the Meadows quarries, which lie partly in Rock- 

 land to the east of Mill river. These are worked the most. In 

 Rockland there is Ingraham's quarry on Marsh's mountain, with 

 Rankins' and the Blackington Corners quarries on the eastern belt. 

 In South Thomaston is the Marsh quarry. The history of all 

 these quarries would be extremely interesting. 



The limestone common to this group is of a bluish or bluish gray 

 cast generally, coarse in its appearance, but nearly pure carbonate 

 of lime, having about two per cent, of impurities. Several differ- 

 ent qualities are known among the quarrymen, such as the "birds- 

 eye" and the "lump." 



We regret very much not having prepared in season a wood cut to 

 illustrate the geographical distribution of those bands of the lime- 

 . stone which are the most highly esteemed for the manufacture of 

 lime ; since we think the study of them would show all interested 

 parties in what direction to look for further discoveries of the most 

 valuable portions. Such a chart was prepared for private study 

 with the assistance of J. 0. Robinson, Esq., of Thomaston, and 

 from it we glean an important suggestion. From the State's Prison 

 quarry a belt of the most valuable layers extends in a straight line 

 to the Beechwoods quarries, and then turns easterly to the Fulling 

 Mill. Thus far the quarries and openings are numerous. But 

 from this point to the south end of the Meadows quarries, nearly a 

 mile in distance, we could not ascertain that a single opening had 

 ever been made. To be sure the ledges are concealed. But let 

 any one consider the relations of these two lines of quarries, and 

 we think he will begin to see the probability of the existence of 

 other beds of limestone over this space of equal value with those 

 now being wrought. A reference to the geological map will show 

 that the belt of limestone, at this gap in the line of quarries, is 

 wider than anywhere else in its whole extent. 



A glance at this chart shows us also that there are really two 

 lines of quarries in the Meadows ; while often between them the 

 rock is of an inferior quality. This may be due to folding, proba- 

 bly a synclinal. It is of course implied in these remarks that it is 



