HYDRAULIC LIMESTONE. 81 



Tlie cement manufactured at this place was used in the construction of the aqueduct at 

 Syracuse, and in that of several of the locks on the enlarged canal. 



The water limestone from this quarry has the following composition : 



Carbonic acid, 39.80 



Lime, 25.24 



Magnesia, 1 8 . 80 



Silica and alumina, 13-50 



Peroxide of iron, 1.25 



Moisture and loss, 1.41 



According to Mr. Hall, the formations from which water limestone has been selected, ex- 

 tend across Monroe County from east to west; the one tlirough the towns of Penfield, 

 Brighton, Gates, Ogden and Sweden ; the other through Mendon, Rush and Wheatland. At 

 one locality in Ogden, this limestone has been burned and used for cement in the locks of the 

 Erie canal, and is said to have been of good quality. The same kind of stone may be found 

 at the upper falls of the Genesee at Rochester.* 



In Orleans County, some of the upper layers of the rock at the falls of Oak-orchard 

 creek are used for the manufacture of water cement. A stratum of hydraulic limestone also 

 occurs at Lockport in Niagara County, which has been used in the public works at that 

 place ; but some doubts have been entertained in regard to the goodness of the material. 



Erie County. Water limestone has been found on Grand Island, and at Williamsville in 

 this county. The specimens which I received have a dark drab colour, and the usual con- 

 choidal fracture. The following are the results of their analysis — No. I. from Grand Island; 

 No. II. from Williamsville : 



I. II. 



Carbonic acid, 41.01 37.66 



Lime, 28.79 26.11 



Magnesia, 17.70 16.48 



Silica and alumina, 12.25 18.45 



Bituminous matter, moisture, &c. 0.25 1.30 



Finall)', water limestone occurs near Depeauville in Jefferson County ; and also near 

 Waddington in St. Lawrence County, where it forms an extensive stratum. It is said that 

 the value of the water lime annually manufactured in the latter county is $40,000.1 



Such are some of the more important localities of this valuable mineral product. The 

 number of these will no doubt hereafter be much increased ; and perhaps many ((uarrics, now 

 little valued, will be found upon examination and trial to furnish cements equal to those at 

 present so generally employed. 



» j\rw-York Geological Rc-porls, 183B. t Report of the St. Lawrence Railroad Committee. December, 1338. 



Part I. 11 



