96 NATURAL HISTORY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF GROTON, MASS. 



in the county, the towns of Dunstable, Groton, Shirley, Pepperell, 

 Townsend, and Ashby ; and contains some of the best lands in the 

 county. Some of the farms on the slaty soils of Groton, Pepperell, 

 and Townsend are under high cultivation, and yield abundant crops 

 (pp. 162, 163). 



Under the heading of" Geology of the County" Dr. Rey- 

 nolds writes : — 



A range of mica-slate extends across the county, through the towns 

 of Shirley, Groton, Pepperell, and Townsend. It is also found in 

 Dracut and Lowell (p. 171). 



Steatite, or soapstone, is found in Groton. It has been worked to 

 some extent. But it is said not to be as easy to work as in some 

 localities, owing to the presence of silex (p. 172). 



In connection with the last extract, see an article entitled 

 "The Soapstone Quarry." Professor Edward Hitchcock, in 

 his " Report on the Geology, Mineralogy, Botany, and Zoology 

 of Massachusetts " (Amherst, 1833), says: — 



In Groton is a bed of soapstone on which considerable labor has 

 been expended. Its width appears to be 10 or 12 feet, and it descends 

 into the earth towards the southeast ; dipping about 30°, and lying 

 between layers of mica slate. It is not of the best quality, being some- 

 what too hard ; yet its proximity to Boston, Newburyport, and Salem, 

 will probably render it an object of importance (p. 32). 



HARD COAL. 



Anthracite Coal for heating a dwelling-house was first 

 used in Groton by Aaron Perkins nearly seventy years ago. 

 It was before the year 1845, at which time the Fitchburg 

 Railroad was built through the southern part of the town. 

 According to my recollection, he used it in a grate to warm 

 his keeping-room. It was brought from Boston in one of 

 the Groton baggage-wagons ; and, of course, the quantity was 

 small. Mr. Perkins lived on the east side of Hollis Street, 

 near the Brook. 



Governor Boutwell once told me that Mr. Woods had pre- 

 viously used hard coal for heating his store. 



