PREFATORY NOTE 



A report on the quarry districts of New York, tind on the location, 

 extent, geological relations, statistics and ownership of the quarries of 

 building stone, Ayas published by the State Museum as bulletin No. 3, 

 March, 1888. 



The scope of the work, as planned originally, included a series of com- 

 parative physical tests, chemical analyses and microscopic examinations 

 of representative stones, but owing to the incompleteness of the collec- 

 tions, these investigations were not made, and the preparation of a sec- 

 ond bulletin on the building stone of the state was then announced. 

 Soon after the issue of bulletin No. S, a circular letter was sent out, 

 calling attention to it, and requesting the correction of any errors in it, 

 and soliciting additional information on the extent, location and statis- 

 tics of the quarries^ and on the markets and use of the stone in cities. 

 Answers were received from many of the quarry owners and superintend- 

 ents, affording valuable data for a second report. 



The additional information thus obtained has been incorporated in 

 the descriptive notes of the quarries, so far as space would permit. 



The work of collecting proper specimens, which should be typical and 

 represent the leading classes and varieties of bnilding stone quarried in 

 the state, was done by Professor Francis A. AYilber, of Eutgers college, 

 New Brunswick, New Jersey, who was employed to make the chemical 

 analyses and the comparative physical tests. This collection was made 

 in the summer of 1889. The work in the laboratory was done in the 

 following autumn and in the winter of 3 889-90. For purposes of com- 

 parison a few extra-limital stones were put in the series. 



The desirability of a larger number of tests and of stones from all of 

 our leading quarries is so evident that reference to the fact is here 

 sufficient. Want of time and the cost of making such tests prevented 

 their extension. The results show that the state is possessed of great 

 wealth in the variety and superior character of its building stones. They • 

 are as good as the best of any state or country. The use of stone, in 

 construction, in our cities, was suggested by the numerous references of 



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