270 BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Flag-stone Is obtained along the lines of the New York, 

 Ontario and Western railroad, and of the Ulster and Dela- 

 ware railroad at Westfield Flats, Trout Brook, East Branch, 

 Margaretvllle, Roxbury and Grand Gorge. All of these 

 quarries are In the Catsklll group of rocks, and the stone 

 from them Is more generally a reddish or brown-tinted 

 sandstone. 



It Is more open-grained and not so dense and strong as 

 the best Ulster county stone. It reaches the market with 

 the product of the Ulster county quarry and Is Included In 

 the blue-stone production. The principal shipping points 

 whence blue-stone comes to market are Maiden, Saugertles, 

 Kingston (Including Wilbur and Rondout). A great deal 

 of stone Is cut for house trimmings. In mills In Maiden, 

 Broadhead's Bridge, West Hurley, Wilbur, Kingston and 

 Rondout, but the larger number of feet is sent Into market 

 simply quarry-dressed, for flagging and curbing. Its superi- 

 ority as a flagging-stone Is recognized generally by residents 

 of New York city and adjacent towns where It has been so 

 extensively used. 



'' It Is so compact as not to absorb moisture to any ex- 

 tent, and hence soon dries after rain or Ice ; It has the hard- 

 ness to resist abrasion and wears well ; It Is even-bedded, 

 and thus presents a good and smooth natural surface ; and 

 It has a grain which prevents It becoming smooth and slip- 

 pery as some of our granites, our slates and our limestones, 

 when so used In walks. It Is strong, and is not apt to get 

 broken. But owing to the many thin beds and the use of 

 too thin stones, sidewalks often become unsightly and bad 

 because of breaks, a fault common to all flag-stone when laid 

 in such thin beds or blocks. 



" For use in houses and business buildings Hudson river 

 blue-stone Is having an increasing market. It Is admirably 

 adapted for lintels, window-caps, sills, door-steps, water- 

 tables, etc., with brick, both because of Its strength and Its 

 durability. None of our sandstones from other districts, 



