77 



cribed the little use which has heretofore been made of it, either in 

 agriculture or building. 



It will be seen by the following statement of results of analysis, 

 that the amount of carbonate of lime present in these limestones, is 

 in some cases large, and that in no instance can the lime be re- 

 garded as a poor one. I have annexed a column, showing the 

 proportion of lime corresponding to 100 parts of the limestone : 



Carb. Lime. Lime. 



100 of blue slaty limestone — Warminster, 81.4 45.5 



100 of blue with white veins, do. 88.4 49.5 



100 of blue slaty, Mechunk, 83.2 46.6 



The extensive exposures of limestone on both sides of the James 

 river, existing in the neighbourhood of Lynchburg, New Market and 

 Warminster, from their very favourable position as regards the 

 facilities of conveyance, are calculated to become peculiarly valu- 

 able. Indeed, no position could be found in the state in which lime- 

 burning could be conducted on a larger and more profitable scale. 

 By the introduction of the perpetual kilns now generally used in the 

 extensive lime-burning establishments of the eastern states, much 

 fuel would be saved, and all the lime which the rock is capable of 

 furnishing, would be obtained ; while, by the plan usually pursued, 

 much wood is wasted, and the limestone, particularly of the slaty 

 kind, is but imperfectly calcined. These improvements once adopt- 

 ed, and the better kinds of limestone selected for the kiln, there ap- 

 pears to be no reason why this favoured region may not be able 

 to furnish our eastern towns with lime more cheaply than it can be 

 imported from abroad, at the same time that it is imparting to the 

 surrounding country the benefits of an improved productiveness, 

 and a wiser system of cultivation. 



To what has already been said concerning the marble of this 

 region, nothing positive can be added without further investigation. 

 It may, however, be remarked, that from the specimens already seen, 

 particularly the white marble from Tye river, there is reason to 

 hope that this, likewise, may become an object of much value to the 

 district in which it occurs. The Tye river marble, and one or 

 more analogous veins, have all the characters of a statuary marble 

 of fine quality, and should not some peculiarity, as yet unperceived, 

 prevent their application to the purposes of the sculptor, they will no 

 doubt be looked upon as very valuable possessions. 



