Geology of Seneca County. 115 



and there is a strong tendency in the stone to crack or break in 

 a ring at this line. No marked change in composition is appar- 

 ent in the rock at these points. 



Among the causes for the abandonment of "quarrying in this 

 region are the following, in order of importance : Competition 

 of cement pavement and of Ohio flags ; increased difficulty of 

 quarrying as the work progresses landward (it has been carried 

 in as far as 350 feet);, seams and burl; difficulty of drainage; 

 distance from railroad. The latter is not of prime importance, 

 perhaps, but its bearing is seen in the continuance of work at the 

 Taughannock quarries, which are directly on the line of railroad. 

 At the latter point, also, the waste is easily dumped into the 

 chasm. 



The product of the quarries of Seneca county has largely been 

 consumed locally, i. 6., within 5 '-100 miles of production. The 

 qualities of the stone are still appreciated, for sidewalks, but it 

 appears that for its production on a large scale greater facilities 

 are offered at Taughannock. I have, however, met several pro- 

 prietors who were working small quarries in connection with 

 some farming. The enterprise of the King's Ferry proprietors 

 (Cayuga county) is commendable. They are sending out picked 

 flags of large size, accompanied by their own workmen, for the 

 purpose of fitting and laying them. 



Plaster Rock. 



The report of the fourth district (1813) states that at that time 

 five or six thousand tons of rock were annually quarried as a 

 fertilizer at Seneca Falls. The memory of this once thriving 

 business has passed from the minds of this generation. I found 

 but one man who knew of its former existence, his father having 

 been engaged in quarrying 55 years ago. The industry still 

 exists at Springport (now Union Springs) and Phelps, but the 

 " phosphates " of commerce have largely superseded plaster. 



A word in regard to the uses of plaster may be here in place. 

 Only the impure article is likely to be obtained from these beds, 

 if reopened ; its only use, that of a fertilizer, in this capacity it is 

 at present mainly employed to give bulk to substances which in 

 themselves are too concentrated for use, as nitrogen compounds, 

 potash and the phosphoric acid of phosphates, which are the sub- 



