288 



CEMENTS, LIMES, AND PLASTERS. 



the districts in point of age, it soon became first as a producer, and has 

 ever since maintained a high standard in both the quality and quantity 

 of its output. 



The discovery of cement rock and the commencement of manufac- 

 ture of natural cement in the Rosendale district took place apparently 

 about 1825, though there is considerable uncertainty as to the exact 

 date to be assigned. 



TABLE 141. 

 DATES OF ESTABLISHMENT OF NATURAL-CEMENT INDUSTRIES IN VARIOUS STATES. 



The industry, however, had not secured so firm a foothold in the 

 district by 1837 as might be expected, for in 1843 Mather, of the First 

 Geological Survey of New York State, referred to the immediate past 

 as follows: "When making the reconnaissance, soon after the commence- 

 ment of the geolgical survey, the business had but commenced, and there 

 was no cement manufactured on the Rondout except at Lawrenceville, 

 and there but few kilns were in operation. It was not then known to 

 the inhabitants that the cement rock was abundant except at and near 

 these quarries until some of them were then informed of its inexhausti- 



