THE COLLECTION OF BUILDING AND ORNAMENTAL STONES IN THE 

 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUxM: A HAND-BOOK AND CATALOGUE. 



By George P. Merrill, Curator, Department Lithology and Physical 



Geology. 



PREFATORY NOTE. 



The coUection of building and ornamental stones in the National Mu- 

 seum is made up very largely from materials received from the Centen- 

 nial Exposition at Philadelphia in 187G, and from the Tenth Census at 

 the close of the investigation of the quarrying industries of the United 

 States in 1880. By far the greater part and more systematic portion of 

 the collection is from the latter source, and as the late Dr. George W. 

 Hawes, then curator of this Department, was also in charge of that 

 branch of the census work, it may be said to be due to his eflbrts more 

 than to those of any other individual that the collection has been gotten 

 together. Having once assumed such proportions as to attract national 

 attention, it has been a matter of comparative ease to obtain materials 

 from localities that were but poorly, if at all, represented at the time of 

 Dr. Hawes' death. The present collection comprises upward of 2,900 

 specimens, a large part of which are from quarries in the United States, 

 though very many foreign varieties are represented. It is the inten- 

 tion to add to it from time to time such new materials as shall be dis- 

 covered in this country, and also the principal varieties from foreign 

 sources, particular attention being paid to such as are imported into 

 the United States. 



In preparing the exhibit the stones have been arranged by States, 

 and under States by kind ; this method seeming best adapted to the 

 wants of the general public. 



The specimens are as a rule dressed in the form of 4-iuch cubes, the 

 various faces of which are finished as follows : Polished in front, drafted 

 and pointed on the left side, drafted rock face on the right side, rock 

 face behind, and smooth-sanded on the top and bottom. Stones that 

 do not polish have the face simply rubbed smooth. When of any other 

 size or shape than that of a I-inch cube the approximate size is here 

 stated in inches. Each specimen is accompanied by a printed label, 

 giving, so far as obtainable, its scientific name, geological age, color, and 



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