38 Mineral Resources of JYew York. [J^^y? 



and wherever else it thus appears high above and upon the sur- 

 face, it may always be regarded as a valuable and important de- 

 posit. It will be observed, how^ever, that it dips beneath a por- 

 tion of the Clinton group at the rate of one hundred feet to the 

 mile, and that in consequence of the thinness of the stratum it can 

 not be quarried where it is covered W'ith more than tw^enty-five or 

 thirty of rock. There is, however, an immense amount of ore ranging 

 east and w^est between Oswego and Monroe counties. This ore is 

 particularly well adapted to mix with the harder ores, such as 

 magnetic and specular, or even the hematitic, aud would, if so 

 employed in this way supercede the necessity of employing other 

 fluxes for reduction, in virtue of its containing both lime and alu- 

 mine. It yields by itself about thirty per cent of iron in the large 

 way. If this ore was used as extensively for pigs and stove cast- 

 ings as it may be, it would be sufficient to supply the Rochester 

 market with castings for its important trade in the stove business. 



From the preceding statements, in regard both to quantity and 

 location, or distribution of the important raw material for iron, it 

 will be seen that the whole of New York is remarkably well pro- 

 vided for; every section of this great state being furnished with 

 it, and in such quantities that a home supply is always at hand 

 at the least possible cost; and inasmuch as it is wndely distri- 

 buted, it performs two important functions, that of giving em- 

 ployment to manufacturing workmen, and a market to the farmer 

 for his produce, and an exchange of his grain, his butter or cheese 

 for this necessary article of the household and his farm. 



We may now proceed to speak of materials for construction, 

 which, though they may not be called for as products worthy of 

 transportation, but still as materials which possess the properties 

 required in building; and even if employed only in the immediate 

 neighborhood of their beds are of great value, which we can only 

 estimate or form a conception of their worth by supposing all the 

 materials for construction were required to be purchased at a dis- 

 tance, and then brought to all those points where they are re- 

 quired. It is an important consideration that in New York every 

 part has a supply of building materials in the formations upon 



