2 PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



are the ones which determine the vahie and appearance of building 

 stones, and there is no distinction between the scientific and the prac- 

 tical. 



The microscopic study of these stones is supplemented by chemical 

 analysis, which is often necessary to determine important points. 



In the older and more developed States there are perhaps quarries 

 worked in all the different kinds of rock suitable for building and orna- 

 mental stones, and, since the special agents of the Tenth Census, who 

 were engaged on the building-stone investigation, forwarded to the 

 National Museum specimens representing all working quarries, it is 

 probable that the building stones of these States are quite fully repre- 

 sented. 



In the newer portions of the country, however, the best building iStones 

 are not always worked, and since these special agents were instructed 

 to incur no extra expense for collecting information concerning unde- 

 veloped material, many of the best stones in these portions of the coun- 

 try are not represented by specimens in the National Museum. 



The following table shows the localities from which samples of build- 

 ing stone have been received in those States and Territories in which 

 there are probably other localities which might furnish excellent build- 

 ing stone. 



It often happens in a new country that, when a costly building is to 

 be constructed, stone is brought from a great distance at great expense, 

 even if in the immediate vicinity there is an abundance of stone equally 

 good. The home product is not rejected because of prejudice, but 

 because it has not been tried, and because there are no adequate means 

 at hand for examining the material and comi)aring it with the stones 

 that have been tried. 



The collection of specimens of all regularly quarried stones has been 

 most comi)lete and successful. Quite a large number of specimens of 

 stones, but little or not at all quarried, have also been obtained through 

 the special agents of the Census, or through parties interested in the 

 development of the resources of their respective neighborhoods; but 

 there are undoubtedly a very large number of localities which have 

 excellent building stones, and from which no specimens have been sent 

 to the National Museum, and concerning which we possess no informa- 

 tion. 



That a thorough knowledge of the building stones of any country is 

 of great economic value is unquestionable, and in a rapidly growing 

 country like ours such knowledge is of incalculable value. 



It is the purpose of this circular to bring to the attention of those in- 

 terested in the development of the building-stone resources of their own 

 districts the work that is being done in this connection by the Tenth 

 Census in co-oi^eration with the National Museum, and it is hoped that 

 specimens and information may be received from most, if not all, the 

 localities having valuable undeveloped building stones, in time, that this 



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