Report on the projected Survey of the State of Maryland. 17 



the search after limestone is, at this time, anxiously kept up in many 

 places, where it is possible, but barely possible, that it may be found ; 

 and it is also pursued in other localities, where it is not at all likely to 

 occur. The aid of science is therefore required to hasten the frui- 

 tion of any well founded hopes of this kind, as well as to remove the in- 

 jurious tendency of fallacious expectations that ought no longer to be 

 cherished. Already, but only within a short lime, limestone has been 

 found near Bell-air in Harford county. The excavations for the 

 Baltimore and Ohio rail-road have exposed it in some parts of Bal- 

 timore county, where previously its existence was only suspected ; 

 and in some portions of Anne-Arundel and Mountgomery counties, 

 on the Patuxent, the inhabitants have lately enjoyed the means, by 

 its discovery in their neighborhood, of supplying themselves with a 

 subtance long earnestly desired, whose anticipated benefits they are 

 now realizing. It is in this way, that by bringing to light new re- 

 sources, new incentives to industry are created, the happy effects of 

 which become in a short time apparent in the generally ameliorated 

 condition of a large tract of surrounding country. 



Before leaving this subject it may be stated, that the amount of 

 lime, according to the inspections for the year 1832, which is annu- 

 ally brought to the city of Baltimore and applied to various purposes, 

 is one hundred and sixty one thousand and one hundred bushels, to 

 which, if there be added about an equal amount consumed in the 

 country principally for the use of the soil, it may be made out, that 

 this formation of limestone actually yields to the commercial and ag- 

 ricultural interests of Maryland, a yearly income of one hundred 

 thousand dollars. 



The other formations in this district would be found to yield, in 

 proportion to their extent, perhaps larger returns. This is the case 

 with ihe granite formations ; whilst on the other hand, the soapstone 

 formations, although not so extensively employed, are known to fur- 

 nish a material of great value for the construction of hearths for fur- 

 naces and fire places, for the making of stoves, &c. 



The next step in the progress of inquiry, which the undersigned 

 beg leave to recommend, would be, to indicate the localities of min- 

 eral deposites that are already known, or which in the course of 

 examination might be discovered, to furnish materials for our manu- 

 factures. It would be necessary also to indicate the value of these 

 materials in reference not only to their comparaive quahties, but like- 

 wise to their precise nature. As an instance of the importance of 



Vol. XXVII.— No. 1. 3 



