28 Geology of Massachusetts. 
penetrates the seams of the rock: but this does not injure the stone 
for mortar, and probably even makes it more valuable. ‘The bed is 
only three or four miles from the Connecticut, and on the bank of 
Fall River, a small stream that empties into the Connecticut. By go- 
ing to Cheapside, in Deerfield, (eight miles,) over a level and excel- 
“lent road, water communication with the whole valley of the Con- 
necticut, will be reached. I have iittle doubt, that if this limestone 
should be extensively burnt, it will reduce the value of quick lime in 
that valley, from twenty five to fifty per cent.: a benefit superior to 
any that could be conferred by the discovery of a gold or silver mine. 
I dissolved some of this lime, in diluted nitric acid, to see if it con- 
tained magnesia. ‘The solution was not milky, and therefore no 
magnesia was present. I also dissolved 100 grains in muriatic acid, 
and the siliceous residuum was only a single grain: the 99 grains are 
probably chiefly carbonate of lime; although whatever amount of ox- 
ide of iron was present, would also be dissolved. 
Marble. 
The limestone of Berkshire is best known for the fine marble 
which it produces. It is all of that variety denominated primitive 
marble. It is always more or less crystalline, sometimes very coarse- 
ly so. The prevailing color is white ; and this is the variety most 
extensively wrought. Some varieties are snow white, and admit of 
avery fine polish. From this pure white, the color changes by im- 
perceptible gradations to gray, and dove color. ‘These varieties form 
delicate marbles. But probably most persons would say that the 
clouded variety, where the white and the gray are fantastically mix- 
ed, is most elegant. 
More or less marble is quarried in almost every town of Berkshire 
county, except a few on its eastern side. But the towns where it is 
most extensively wrought are West Stockbridge, Lanesborough, New 
Ashford, Sheffield, New Marlborough and Adams. A few years 
since, Prof. Dewey stated the amount of marble annually furnished 
by West Stockbridge, to be sixteen thousand square feet, valued at 
$25,000 to $30,000: the amount at Lanesborough, seven thousand 
feet; value $10,000: and in Sheffield, to the value of $8,000. In 
all the county, the annual value of marble was estimated to be more 
than $40,000. Still more recently there were in operation in West 
Stockbridge for sawing marble, nine mills, movéd by water power ; 
and two hundred hands were employed. From twelve to fifteen 
quarries had been opened, and in 1827, about two thousand seven 
