174 Report on the Geological Survey of Connecticut. 
and canals ; and it is even possible that it may prove useful in the 
roofing of small buildings. It is a fortunate circumstance that the 
supply of this stone is unlimited, and that it is favorably situated in 
the quarries for working. Excellent stone, essentially of this kind, 
has been obtained at various places on one and the same range, for 
several miles in extent. ‘The most important opening made at pre- 
sent however, is that of Botues and Tyuer. It is about three 
hundred and fifty feet long, fifty feet wide (of uncovered rock), and 
twenty-five above a narrow valley separating it from a higher ledge 
on the west. The direction of the strata is north by east, and the dip 
northwesterly 40 or 45°. The rock is almost without cross-seams, 
which renders the quarrying somewhat difficult. ‘Those which do 
occur, are from ten to thirty feet apart, and have a direction north- 
west by west. The rock is singularly striated in the direction of the 
edges of stratification. The average thickness of the ee is he- 
tween two and four inches.” 
Slate for tiling exists in the Woodbridge hills near New Haven, 
and was formerly quarried ; it is firm and does not exfoliate, and is 
easily pierced by a nail. 
Excellent paving stones are found on the sea shores—often inland 
and upon the river banks, and the trap regions abound with them. 
The mineral springs of Connecticut are almost universally mild 
chalybeates—carbonate of iron being suspended by carbonic acid 
gas. ‘The most important are those of Stafford. Ample accom- 
modations here exist for invalids, and during the warm season they 
are a favorite resort. No perceptible escape of gas from the water 
is observed. The sides of the reservoir are lined with a thick floc- 
culent precipitate of the oxide of iron, occasioned by the decompo- 
sition of the carbonate of iron from the access of air.” It is a mis- 
‘take that some of these springs are sulphureous : from examination 
on the spot we know that they do not tarnish muriate of bismuth 
or acetate of lead.* 
The soils of Connecticut are such as might be expected from 
the nature of its rocks, and are generally deficient in the important 
ingredient of lime. Lime may doubtless be used with advantage, 
and Mr. Shepard informs us that Mr. Platt, of Danbury, is about 
preparing it for farmers. We much doubt however the validity of 
‘the caution as to the use of the magnesian limestone, provided the 
quantity be diminished or be mixed with other manuring materials. 
* Editor. 
