APPENDIX. 121 



[G.] 



Stone Buildings. 

 Extract from a letter to Commissioner of Agricultural Survey. 



" Topsi'iELD, Jan. 1, 1838. 



" In answer to yours of the 29th December : the stone house is 40 

 feet long and 34 wide ; a cellar under the whole ; the cellar wall laid 

 in mortar about 3 1-2 feet thick ; the first stone laid in mortar 16 inch- 

 es thick; second stone 14 inches thick; the gable ends the same as 

 the second stone ; the corner stones and all the cap stones, which 

 cover the windows and doors, came from Lynn — cost 10 cents per foot 

 in Lynn; the under-pinning stones came from Lynn half dressed — cost 

 34 cents per foot there; the residue were slate rock from Boxford, cost 25 

 cents per cord — teaming, 83 per cord. The chimneys are brick inside. 

 Two stone arches in the cellar nine feet long, and a stone partition in 

 the cellar. The chimneys are topped with stone. It takes a little 

 more lime to lay these slate rocks, than to lay bricks. This house is 

 intended for two families, but the rooms are small. 



The mason's labor in laying all the rocks from the bottom of the cellar 

 to the ridge pole, two chimneys, two ovens, and setting two boilers, lay- 

 ing the hearths, and doing all the plastering to the house, they boarding 

 themselves, cost 8500 — the rocks, lime and sand were hauled to the spot 

 for them. The quantity of rocks for the cellars is unknown. The 

 rough slate rock from Boxford was about fifty cords. 



This house was built by contract, viz. : the contractor to find all the 

 materials for the mason, carpenter and joiner, and white oak timber to 

 cover the cellar — good seasoned and suitable stock for all the residue, 

 and no saplin boards to be worked in the doors or floors; no pale burnt 

 bricks to be used ; in fine, every thing to be procured and done in a 

 workmanlike manner for 82300, including two sheds." 



I subjoin on this subject an extract from the letter of another re- 

 spected correspondent in West Stockbridge, Berkshire Co. The ma- 

 terials here are abundant and beautiful. 



" With regard to stone buildings, I can say that here thev can 

 be built cheaper than what are called good wood houses. The price 

 of laying the walls is from 3 cents to 3 1-2 cents per cubic foot ; the 

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