REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR AND STATE GEOLOGIST 1902 r5l 



Crushed stone 



The market for crushed stone has been active all through 

 western New York. The new steel plant at South Buffalo has 

 used large quantities for concrete construction; the breakwater 

 has also consumed an enormous amount ; and it is in great de- 

 mand also for asphalt work and railroad ballast. 



This season Erie county has begun the use of convict labor 

 for the purpose of making better roads. The plan originated 

 with Supervisor William H. Conboy, of Grand Island, who 

 urged that the employment of convicts in quarrying and crush- 

 ing stone would lessen the cost of maintaining the penitentiary 

 and would give the mem needed physical exercise, thus con- 

 ducing- to their better health and morals. Short term prisoners 

 dig the stone at the almshouse quarry on Main street and wheel 

 it to the crusher, which is a double one operated by a 50 horse 

 power engine. From 25 to 50 prisoners have been employed 

 in this work continuously for four months, with an average 

 daily output of about 300 cubic yards. The cost of quarrying 

 and crushing is about 20c a yard, and the stone is sold for 60c a 

 yard. The county has taken the contract for the construction 

 of good roads within its limits from the State and sublets the 

 contract under the condition that the stone shall be purchased 

 of the county at 60c a yard. 



The stone crashed this season has been used in surfacing the 

 road between the city line and Williamsville and also two sec- 

 tions of the Transit road in Amherst and Clarence. It requires 

 about 2700 cubic yards of stone for a mile of road, the average 

 cost a mile being, in 1902, f 9688.75, of which the county pays half. 

 The county has nearly 22 miles of road under contract this year. 



