12 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



looked and a potent factor in the success of a quarryman. 

 It seems to be a general impression among a great many users- 

 and perhaps a few of the producers of this most useful and 

 durable stone, that a man needs only to find a deposit of salable 

 quality of bluestone, no more than usual proportion of top to 

 bed, with the usual shipping facilities, and success is assured. 

 But for any one who has been closely connected with this- 

 especially interesting business, it is easy to find the reason why 

 a quarry has not paid. The causes are usually radical, and one 

 of the first flaws after ascertaining that the quarry contains^ 

 stone in fair quantity will be found by looking into the system 

 of quarrying, and here is frequently a drawback to the pros- 

 perity of the quarry. 



As a rule, the best quarrymen have worked in the quarries 

 from the time they have been able to do anything, and, as that 

 is usually pretty early in life, many of them have gained such 

 knowledge of the work that they know to a certainty how the 

 stone will work, as soon as they see the bed, without raising 

 a lift. It is only after long work that a quarryman becomes 

 expert. 



Dressing 



After the stone is lifted from the bed, it is handed over to 

 the stonecutter, who prepares it for market. If it is flagstone, 

 it is cut into commercial sizes 2, 3 or 4 feet wide, and the irregu- 

 larities are chiseled down. Flag, as a rule, requires little 

 dressing. If the stone is to be cut into curb or other "edge-" 

 stone, the block must be split, if too thick, and then broken to 

 the proper width. Curb is usually '^axed" 12 inches to 14 inches 

 on the face, and the top edge is pitched at the proper angle. 

 " Rock " and platform require no dressing in the quarry. The 

 dressing of the stone in the quarry is usually of the roughest 

 kind and is done as quickly as possible. For the finer grades 

 of axed and cut stone, the work is done on the docks. 



At many of the docks stone mills are in operation. The mill 

 treatment consists of sawing large blocks, planing and rubbing 

 the house trimmings, platforms, steps etc., and boring sewer 

 heads. 



There is a great difference in the stone in regard to its action 

 under a saw or planer. Some stone will chip or check under 

 a planer and not give the smooth surface desired, while other 



