452 KEPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



Sioux Falls, Dak. At Dresbacb, in Winona County, there occurs a 

 fine grained rather soft-light gray stone which bears a close resem- 

 blance to the Berea stone of Ohio. It is quarried to some extent and 

 is regarded by Professor Winchell as promising of future usefulness. 

 We have received also specimens of a fine light-pink sandstone from 

 Pine County, which is stated to occur in heavy beds and to be easy to 

 quarry. It is regarded by Professor Winchell as fully equal to the Cleve- 

 land, Ohio, freestone. The sandstone occurring at Jordan, Scott County, 

 is of a light color, and while suitable for general building purposes is 

 not regarded as fitted for first-class structures. 



Missouri. — So far as the author has had opportunity of examining, the 

 fine light buff subcarboniferous sandstone quarried within a few miles 

 of the town of Saint Genevieve is the most important sandstone in the 

 State. 



The quarry face shows a bed 25 feet in thickness of good uniform 

 rock, and blocks 150 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 10 feet thick are said 

 to be obtainable if desired. The stone weathers well in the climate of 

 Saint Louis, but is stated to discolor by smoke. 



Near Miami Station, in Carroll County, a fine gray sandstone is quar- 

 ried, the better grades of which make good building material; but it 

 must be selected with care, as it frequently contains concretionary 

 masses which weather out on exposure. 



The Johnson County sandstone is stated to be of good quality in 

 certain situations. It has been used in several important structures 

 in the State, and stands the test of time without scaling, only becoming 

 stained and darkened with age. It' is quite light, weighing only 140 

 pounds per cubic foot when seasoned, or 145-150 when freshly quarried. 



.Mississippi. — Sandstones of gray and light buff color occur in Jeffer- 

 son, Bankin, and Tishomingo Counties, in this State. Samples of these 

 were on exhibition at the exposition at New Orleans in the winter of 

 18S4-'S5, and from thence were transferred to the national collection at 

 Washington. As shown by these specimens the stones are fine-grained 

 but rather soft and friable, and in no way remarkable for their beauty. 

 Their durability would depend apparently altogether on climatic in- 

 fluences. The writer has no information regarding the uses to which 

 the stones have been put, if, indeed, they have as yet been used at all. 



Montana. — A fine light gray Cretaceous sandstone somewhat resem- 

 bling the well-known stone of Berea, Ohio, occurs in considerable abun- 

 dance in Rocky Canon, G-allatin County, and is coming into general use in 

 Boseman. The writer is informed* that it can be obtained in blocks 

 of large dimensions and that it works readily when first quarried, but 

 hardens on exposure, though, like the Ohio stone, it stains with red- 

 dish streaks from oxidation of pyrite. A compact red quartzite from 

 near Salesville, west of the west Gallatin, is also coming into use to 

 some extent. A line, very light stone of uncertain age is also quarried 

 * By Dr. A. C. Peale, U. S. Geol. Survey. ~ 



