Geology of Massachusetts. 15 
to Andover ; particularly along its northwestern limits. But most of 
the granite in the eastern part of the State, is of so fine a texture, as to 
answer admirably for architecture and other economical purposes. 
Along with sienite, it extends around Boston, running in a curvilinear 
direction at the distance of fifteen or twenty miles. From Cohasset 
to Quincy, at the southern extremity of the curve, and from the end of 
Cape Ann to Salem, on the north, the formation is most fully devel- 
oped, and is there quarried extensively. The Quincy quarries are 
probably the best and most generally known; and few citizens of the 
State are unacquainted with the rock thence obtained, now so exten- 
sively used in Boston and elsewhere. The quantities which those 
quarries (or rather mountains) will furnish, are incaleulably great. 
One railroad, as is well known, has been used for several years to 
convey the granite from the quarry to Neponset river, a distance of 
three miles. It is thought, however, that the granite has not reached 
its minimum price. Yet.even now, Boston is almost as much dis- 
tinguished for its granite structures, as the metropolis of the Russian 
Empire. 
Some of the granite obtained on the north of Boston, cannot be 
distinguished from that of Quincy. I observed the resemblance most 
strongly in Danvers and Lynnfield. At the former place it is quar- 
ried, and fine blocks are obtained. Extensive quarries are also open- 
ed in the north side of Cape Ann, in Gloucester. The rock here 
resembles that of Quincy ; but it is generally harder and of a lighter 
color. At these quarries no railroad (except one of a few rods in 
length) is necessary to transport the rock to the sea-side; since ves- 
sels can approach very near the spot. And, since the demand for 
this rock must increase, in our country, for many years to come, and 
Cape Ann is little else than a vast block of it, it seems to me that it must 
be regarded as a substantial treasure to that part of the State,—far 
more valuable than a mine of the precious metals. At Squam, in 
Gloucester, I was informed that blocks of granite had sometimes been 
split out sixty feet in length; indeed, I saw the face of a ledge from 
which they had been detached. 
At Fall'river, in Troy, which lies upon Taunton river, are other 
extensive and interesting granite quarries. This granite, as the Ma 
will show, is connected with the Quincy range above described. 
Yet the greater part of the granite in Plymouth and Bristol is coarser 
than that of Quincy and Gloucester, and more liable to decomposition. 
ut no rock can be finer for architectural purposes than the granite 
