206 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



surface of the road injuring the horses and making pleasure 

 driving impossible. 



Limestone from its softness and greater binding power is more 

 easily rolled into an even surface under the wheels of vehicles, 

 and while not having the durability to support heavy traffic for 

 a long time, can be cheaply renewed if the source of supply is not 

 far distant. This fact has been recognized for a long time at 

 points within easy reach of the limestone quarries. In Onon- 

 daga county at many points a portable crusher has been used 

 to crush the blocks for road metal from the limestone fences 

 which are cheerfully donated by the residents for the improve- 

 ment of the roads. There are many other counties in which this 

 might be done as may be seen from the geologic map. In most 

 of these areas limestone will be found in the fences and may be 

 crushed for road metal at small expense. 



Many of the local stone quarries, which are scattered over the 

 state, sell for road metal the rock obtained in stripping off the 

 upper layers from their quarries, 



A few large quarries are operated for road metal alone and 

 deserve special mention. 



Many tons of material are quarried annually from the Pali- 

 sades range near Piermont. The material, which is exceedingly 

 tough, is either dressed for paving blocks or crushed for road 



metal. 



Farther up the Hudson river the limestone quarries of Tomkins 

 Cove have been in operation for a number of years and supply 

 large quantities of rock for macadam. Other quarries are at 

 South Bethlehem, Albany county, Howe's Oave, Schoharie county 

 and there are several near Syracuse and Buffalo. This magnesian 

 limestone is one of the best materials used. It is hard, packs 

 easily and makes a good surface, but the cost of maintenance is 

 considerable. 



At Iona Island a granite is quarried and crushed to five or six 

 different sizes for road metal and concrete. The fine residue or 

 dust is sold for polishing. 



