TIIK GEOLOGY OF MINNESOTA. 



[Building stow* Lime. Uriel' 



There are several quarries in the bluffs at Faribault, -but the most of the stone used at Fari- 

 bauit is derived from the extensive quarry of Mr. Philip Cromer, situated about three miles east 

 of Faribault, in the valley of Fall creek. The principal mass of rock here is about ten feet thick, 

 and is nearly f r. e from the objectionable shaly impurities seen at St. Paul and Minneapolis. It 

 is compact and uniform in structure, though slightly clouded in color by fossiliferous bands and 

 by a slight dissemination of shale. The layers are thick and persistent, but can be split into 

 blocks from six to ten inches thick. The lowest layer is very similar to the lowest layer at Min- 

 neapolis, being somewhat vesicular, and darker colored. In the midst of the quarry also is a 

 thickness of about a foot of very dark limestone, containing much carbonaceous sediment. The 

 marble, so-called, which was once used somewhat in making table-tops and mantels, is the top 

 layer, and really is embraced under and over shale, the upper shale being seen to be at least six 

 feet thick, and containing thin bands of impure limerock, but non-fossiliferous. This marble 

 layer is a little less than a foot thick. It is susceptible of a flue polish, and has a gray color. On 

 a polished surface are shown numerous sections of fossils peculiar to the rock. This layer is not 

 now quarried for its peculiar product, but is involved with the general quarry. Beneath the 

 whole quarry are three or four feet of shale which separate it from the St. Peter sandstone. Mr. 

 Cromer sells undressed stone for prices ranging from $2.50 to $5 .00 per cord. The greater part of 

 his business however is in the best varieties which he sells by the cubic fool at prices ranging 

 from 25 cents to 75 cents. Cut stone is sold from 20 to 30 cents per surface foot. The quarry is 

 overlain by 2J-4 feet of loose stone mingled with loam. It was opened first about the year 1805. 

 but was not continuously wrought till 1867, since which time it has furnished a very large amount 

 of stone, which may be seen in Faribault in such buildings as the asylum for deaf and mute, the 

 Shattuck school and the surrounding buildings, the public schools, Episcopal church and many 

 of the business blocks. Willis Hall, at NorthQeld, is also partly constructed of stone from this 

 quarry. 



Other quarries are owned by Michael Doyle and Frank Berry, the latter tjwo miles south of 

 Faribault on the west side of the river. Mr. Doyle's quarry is in the bank of the Straight river 

 near the center of section 31, Faribault, on the west side, and was opened in 1856. The stone 

 here is all changed in color to yellowish drab. It is a durable stone, superior in that respect to 

 Cramer's. Common stone here sells for $3.50 per cord of 128 feet. Mr. Doyle states that about 

 10 feet of shale underlies the limerock. 



In the vicinity of Northfleld, quarries are owned, near St. Olaf college, by H. II. White, 

 John Lanpher, and Saul Stewart. This stone is hauled fifteen and even twenty miles further 

 west. Other quarrymen are J. Leonhart, A. Revere and D. Ferguson. In Wheeling township, 

 in the valley of Prairie creek, quarries are owned by J. Thompson, A. Knapp, and S. Aslagson. 

 In Richland township, bordering on Goodhue county, are quarries owned by Ilalver Johnson, and 

 Peter Halverson. 



Lime. The upper four strata of the Lower Trenton formation, as exposed in this county. 

 furnish tolerably good material for quicklime, though in some places they are too siliceous and 

 aluminous. Lime has been made from this formation in every township of the county east of 

 Cannon river, but this is not now a regular and paying business except at Philip Cramer's kiln, 

 near Faribault. Mr. Cromer uses a patent kiln and burns from 3.000 to 3,500 barrels per year. 

 Other kilns near Faribault produce in the aggregate about 1,000 barrels per year. There is a 

 kiln one mile north of Northfield, which burns lime from the Shakopee formation, and supplies 

 Northlield and vicinity. It is owned by Michael Tram no. He burns 30 barrels in 2t hours. 

 when running, and sells for seventy cents per barrel delivered in Northfleld. 



Brick have been made at numerous places in Rice county, and they are uniformly of a red 

 color. They sell from six to eight dollars per thousand. One yard at Faribault has produced 

 sometimes a million brick per year. 



Sorghum. Among the important industries of the county should be mentioned the sugar 

 and sorghum establishment of Mr. Seth II. Kenney, situated in the N. W. 2 of sec. 6, Morristown. 

 This is the pioneer establishment of the state, and it is equipped with the latest improved methods 

 and machinery for the manufacture of sugar. 



Lumber. The steam saw-mills at Morristown cut five or six hundred thousand feet of lum- 

 ber, or its equivalent in "head-lining", annually. The head-lining, which is the narrow stripping 

 placed round the heads of flour barrels to secure the heads of the barrels, is made of "water elm" 



