48 Report on Building Stone of New York. 



The Potsdam Eed Sandstone Company Quarry. — This quarry 

 is on the east side or the right bank of the Raquette river, about one- 

 eighth of a mile above Clarkson's, and at a point where there is a 

 bend in the river. The earth covering on the stone at this quarry is 

 of an average thickness of 10 feet — in places amounting to as much 

 as 15 feet. The length of the quarry face is not more than 100 yards 

 from north-north-west to south-south-east, and the total thickness of 

 the quarry beds averages 25 feet. The dip is 22° N., 80° to 85° W. 

 One system of joints, or " cut-offs," runs north and south, and dips 

 easterly ; another system courses north-west and dips 65° in a south- 

 westerly direction. The first of these " cut-offs " is close, or what is 

 known as a " tight joint." They assist greatly in the work of quar- 

 rying the stone. The beds in this quarry vary in thickness from four 

 inches up to a maximum of six feet. Slabs four inches and upwards 

 can be split off from these beds. The lamination is not as plain or 

 as marked as it is in Clarkson's quarry, and hence the stone has a 

 more homogeneous texture and appearance. It is lighter in shade, 

 and nearly salmon color, varying to a faint pink shade, which is 

 pleasing to the eye. It splits readily in planes parallel to the beds. 

 It is hard ; hence difficult to dress, and its hardness is shown by the 

 frequent necessity of sharpening the drills used in cutting up the 

 stone. Very little powder and dynamite are used in breaking up the 

 larger blocks. There are two derricks and four steam drills. On an 

 average, forty men are employed in this quarry, and the working 

 season continues until freezing weather. In winter the Avork of cut- 

 ting and dressing the stone is carried on in the sheds, which are on the 

 river bank at the quarry. 



About a quarter of a mile north of this quarry, and on the same 

 side of the river, stone was formerly obtained for local uses, but this 

 locality is no longer worked. 



All of the stone from these Potsdam quarries has to be hauled by 

 teams to Potsdam for shipment. On account of its hardness and the 

 increased expense of dressing, and its liability to split on the lines of 

 lamination, parallel to the beds, it is not so well adapted for fine cut- 

 ting, but it is easily wrought and handsome for rock-ashlar. And for 

 dwellings, its use is increasing rapidly. 



The Potsdam sandstone can be seen in the Florence Flats, Syra- 

 cuse ; All Saints' Cathedral, Albany ; the Reid buildings, Seventh 

 avenue and Sterling street, Brooklyn ; and in the Columbia College 

 buildings, New York city. In the town of Potsdam the Normal 



