THE MINING AND QUARRY INDUSTRY I90Q. 85 



county. In the Hudson river and Delaware river areas, the 

 industry affords no inconsiderable income to the farmers living 

 in the hilly country, where other resources are rather limited. 

 The stone is quarried the year round except in severe winter 

 weather, and in the spring is hauled down the hillsides to the 

 railway sidings or river docks where it is purchased by whole- 

 sale dealers and shippers. From thence it is shipped by barges 

 on the Hudson river or by rail in other districts, to New York 

 city, Philadelphia, and other coast cities, or inland to New York 

 State cities. 



In Wyoming county, the rock varies slightly in its jointed 

 character and is of more value as a building stone. Quarries 

 are operated on a larger scale and large quantities of dressed 

 building stone are turned out. 



The total production of sandstone in 1909 was $1,839,798 

 against $1,711,585 in 1908 or an increase of 7 per cent. This 

 total, however, falls short of that for 1907 which was $1,998,417. 



Bluestone contributed toward the above total $1,301,959 or 

 70 per cent, as against $1,151,386 in 1908. The increase seems 

 to have been general over all the bluestone districts but among 

 the products the increase was shown only in the building and 

 crushed stone, the curbing and flagging, showing a decreased 

 production. This is no doubt due to the large use of cement in 

 the construction of sidewalk and curb. In the table of pro- 

 duction, the increase in the building stone is not apparent 

 because of the fact that the stone used for sills and coping is 

 included under " all other," as is also the Belgian bridge. 



Sandstone, other than bluestone, showed a total production 

 of $537,839 against $570,229 in 1908. The decrease was due to 

 the small production of building stone in Orleans county and 

 a large decrease in the production of crushed stone. The pro- 

 duction of paving blocks which are obtained almost entirely 

 from Orleans county, increased, the value being $248,751 against 

 $239,239 in 1908. 



