ON I'liK r^i". or si«>\i-: i\ crriKs 295 



elusion of otlicrs of (-(jiial, or cvi^n superior, quality. '1 h<^ 

 tide of fashion in buiKlin^, also, has been a powerful factor 

 in creating a deniand for certain kinds of sandstone. Archi- 

 tectural considerations and inherrnt \alual)le properties ap- 

 pear to ha\e been ignored in the case of sandstones of 

 many localities and (piarry districts. 



Of all the sandstones uschI in Xcw \'ork. the Connecticut 

 brownstone has had the longest and most (extensive use. 

 The decades 1840 to i860 witnessed the culmination of the 

 brownstone period. It is so common and well known, that 

 examples need not be here particularK' mentioned. sa\e to 

 illustrate some general statements as to its use and \alue. 

 It has been employed very extensiveU' in trimmings with 

 red brick, in all [Kirts of the city, most largely in thin 

 blocks, set on edge, as a front facing — as it were, a \eneer 

 of stone — and more recenth', to a lesser extent, in rock-face 

 blocks, in course work, and for fronts. And it is this |)rac- 

 tice of setting it on edge which has in so man\' cases occa- 

 sioned its rapid scaling, and brought it into disrepute with 

 many builders and architects. No other stone has suffered 

 so much in the hands of its friends. A similar treatment 

 of nian\' of our ^'ranites, marljles and other sandstones 

 would have developed their inherent weakness and justified 

 like criticism. In spite of defects, due to a laniinated struc- 

 ture, in some cases to a loosely aggregated texture, and al- 

 most universally faulty position, this sandstone finds a good 

 demand, and its use is not actually decreasing, although, 

 relativel}', its sales in the cit\' arc said to be less than for- 

 merly. Its rich brown color is well suited to cities, inasmuch 

 as it cannot grow dingy-looking nor is it discolored, as the 

 white niarbles. the l/l'^l^■ U'ranites, and the Dorchester and 

 Ohio sandstones. It is not so o-larincr to the eye as the 

 latter, nor so dull and liot as red brick. Wdien sawed, the 

 structural figures sometimes are so developed as to look like 

 faint tracery on the surface, and add to its beaut)-. These 

 even surfaces always keep clean-looking as they have no 

 14 



