Ill [23] 



Two and a half miles from Aquia creek, and distant about half a mile 

 to aq^uarter of a mile from Captain Tovvson's house, is another quarry of 

 freestone belonging to that gentleman. The beds here are free to work, 

 but much more mterlaminated or leafy in structure, tlian any of the quar- 

 ries examined, and certainly less durable; (see specimen JNo, 32.) The 

 face of this specimen on which the number stands, gives a good idea 

 of the tint which this rock acquires by time and exposure. 



On Jackson's branch of Rocky run, from a mile to a mile and a half 

 south from the island, is a bold quarry, owned by Peggy Norman. The rock 

 here is no doubt durable, but exceedingly indurated, and would be nearly 

 as expensive to cut as granite; (see specimen No. 33.) 



Besides the quarries liere enumerated, various others have been opened 

 on both sides of Rocky run, of similar quality and appearance to those 

 already described. In fact, every hill for many miles in this neighbor- 

 hood IS composed of solid beds of freestone, varying in texture from a 

 conglomerate and even pudding stone, to a fine grained rock sinnlar to 

 number 2*5, and varying in shade from a yellowish brown and a buff 

 color, to a nearly pure wliite. It is probable enough, that as new quar- 

 ries are opened a Letter material may be found than any yet disclosed. 



In none of the quarries visited in Stafibrd county did I observe red 

 and pink freestones like those of Seneca creek. JXeilher did 1 see there 

 any of those schistose beds, with green cupreous incrustations, such as 

 occur in the sandstone formation of the upper Potomac, in the cupfer- 

 schiefer of Germany, the copper States of England, and the Permian 

 system of Russia. On the geological charts of this region, these free- 

 stones are designated as of the same age as the red sandstones of the 

 Connecticut valley and New Jersey. They differ from these materially 

 in litliological character, and apparently in associated minerals, so far as I 

 have had opportunity of judging; nevertheless, they may be cotempora- 

 neous; this can be ascertained only by a careful search after organic re- 

 mains, whicli time did not permit. 



On my return to the watering station on Accokeek, I stopped at Major 

 Brook's lor the purpose of seeing a quarryman who has ha^long experi- 

 ence not only in the quarries of Aquia and Accokeek creeks, but also in 

 the marble and granite quarries of the eastern States. 



He informed uie that at seven miles from the mouth of Aquia creek, 

 close to the railroad, at the high bridg;e on Potomac run, there are solid 

 ledges of freestone in an escarpment of 90 feet ; and according to his state- 

 ment, there is at that locality a bed very similar in texture and color to 

 that previou.sly described as owned by Symington. Unfortunately, it lies 

 deep seated, and would require a stripping of about 15 feet to get at it ; 

 but he says that the strata rise, as you proceed up the Potomac run, to the 

 west, and that there is reason to believe that the ledge in question can 

 be found near the surface about a quarter of a mile from the railroad. If 

 it remains of uniform texture for that distance, a material not inferior in 

 quality to the best rock on the island might be quarried there more conve- 

 nient to transportation, and in a much more healthy situation, than on the 

 island, surrounded, as that locality is on aH sides, by low marshy plains. 



On questioning this man with regard to the comparative expense of 

 quarrying freestone there and on Seneca creek, he confidently asserted 

 that by a judicious mode of drilling and very careful blasting, rock migtit 

 be quarried even cheaper here than on Seneca creek, although at the latter 



