BUILDING MATERIALS. 71 
sary in this connection to make extensive use of either of these classifi- 
cations, though they will be referred to many times. 
In every part of the state the common gneiss rocks are used for stone 
walls and the underpinning of buildings. No mention can be made of 
such material, but only of those that are of superior quality, or what, on 
account of convenient situation, have been extensively employed in the 
villages. I will first mention all the facts in my possession respecting 
the quarries, their locations, proprietorship, capabilities, etc., reserving 
any generalizations to subsequent pages. The economic facts have 
been chiefly collected in the spring of 1878. 
A very large number of our quarriers operate upon a stone like that 
obtained in Concord, and hence familiarly known as the Concord granite, 
or the muscovite-biotite variety. Those of this character are known in 
Concord, Hooksett, Salem, Pelham, Nashua, Milford, Fitzwilliam, Troy, 
Marlborough, Roxbury, Swanzey, Plymouth, Manchester, Farmington, 
Sunapee, and Mason. 
Concord. The granite quarries of Concord are situated one to two miles north-west 
from the city, on the easterly slopes of Rattlesnake hill. The Concord & Claremont 
Railroad runs at the north-east foot of this hill, and the granite is loaded upon its cars 
at points one fourth mile to one mile south-east from West Concord station. Two of 
the quarries nearest to this station are beside the railroad; the distance teamed from 
others varies from one eighth to three fourths of a mile. 
The largest of these quarries are those of the Concord Granite Company and the 
Granite Railway Company. Nine other quarries are worked at the present time. The 
number was somewhat greater in 1873, which was the last of several years marked by 
unusual business prosperity ; and the number of men employed and the value of granite 
sold by the larger proprietors, all of whom still continue operations, were during these 
years two or three to ten times as great as now. 
Brief notes respecting the Concord quarries are as follows: 
Concord Granite Company: Alfred Sampson, president; E. C. Sargent, treasurer 
and agent. This quarry was first opened about twenty-five years ago; owned as now, 
with a large business, since 1860. In 1873, about 25 men were employed in quarry- 
ing, and 200 in cutting, the annual sales amounting to about $200,000; in 1877 this 
company have employed about 8 quarrymen and 30 cutters, with sales of $20,000. 
Largest block quarried, 20 tons; it is claimed that a solid block 100 by 25 by Io feet 
could be got at this quarry. Buildings from it are that of the Presbyterian Board ot 
Education, in Philadelphia; Booth’s theatre, in New York; the Advertiser and Herald 
buildings, in Boston; and the Custom House in Portland. 
Granite Railway Company: Henry E. Sheldon, agent. Quarry opened in 1861. In 
