958 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Lime. There were 40 firms that reported an output of lime- 

 stone (including marble) for lime burning, either as a main product 

 or in connection with the quarrying of other materials. The 

 greater portion of the limestone was converted by the companies 

 operating the quarries. In all 21 counties participated in the 

 production. The total quantity burned to lime amounted to 

 494,883 short tons, of which 381,974 short tons, or 77% was reported 

 by four companies in Onondaga county. Warren county made 

 32,000 tons; Westchester 28,000; Jefferson 17,403; Clinton 

 15,873; and Washington county, 9000 tons. The remaining 

 counties were small producers. 



The value given for lime in the foregoing table is considerably 

 less than the ruling commercial price for the year. This is due to 

 the fact that the Solvay Process Co., the chief producer in the State, 

 has placed a nominal valuation on its output, all of which is used 

 as a reagent in the manufacture of soda products. Disregarding 

 the quantity thus consumed, the average value of the lime made 

 during the year was $3.54 a short ton. 



Crushed stone. The use of limestone for crushing has grown 

 to enormous proportions. The total output in 1904 amounted to 

 no less than 1,471,305 cubic yards. There were 28 counties repre- 

 sented in the returns received. The principal producing counties 

 with the quantity made by each, in yards, were as follows: West- 

 chester, 302,045; Erie, 286,658; Rockland, 258,873; Genesee, 

 252,224; Albany, 80,503 and Onondaga, 61,552. The price re- 

 ceived for the material used in road making averaged 72 cents a 

 cubic yard. 



Building stone. The quarrying of building stone was less active 

 during 1904 than in the previous year. The demand showed a 

 marked decline, due principally to the labor troubles prevailing 

 in the building trades. Very few of the quarries ship any quantity 

 of stone to points without the State, so that the industry must 

 depend for its support on the local markets. An improvement in 

 the latter has already been manifested, and if continued it will 

 doubtless exert a favorable influence on quarrying operations 

 during the current year. 



Erie county is the largest producer of limestone for building 

 purposes. Its output in 1904 was valued at $108,411 and was 

 reported, for the most part, by quarries in the vicinity of Buffalo. 

 Jefferson, Onondaga and Schoharie counties each made an output 

 valued at over $20,000. 



