Luther — Economic Geology of Onondaga County. 



on Dry hill, there is a large area where the rock is bare or but slightly 

 covered; also northwest from Jamesville, in the vicinity of the Green lakes, 

 and about Split Rock. 



The Corniferons limestone is of great economic value as a building stone. 

 It is strong and durable, can be quarried without difficulty and dressed into 

 any desired shape, as it is soft and tough under the chisel and dressing 

 hammer. It is capable of receiving a high polish. It is bright looking, 

 clean and handsome, and does not fade or change color on exposure, and 

 is abundant without limit. Many large buildings in the county are con- 

 structed of this stone, and it is used very extensively for trimming and 

 ornamenting brick buildings. Large slabs of it are used for flagging on the 

 principal business streets of Syracuse. It is much used in monumental 

 work in the cemeteries, and for curbings, hitching posts, horse blocks and 

 the like. 



Quarries near Manlius and at Split Rock supplied large quantities of 

 heavy cut stone for locks and culverts along the Erie canal, as far west as 

 Rochester, where it was used in the construction of the aqueduct across the 

 Genesee river, and from these and the numerous other quarries which have 

 been opened all along the ledge, has been taken the material for the bridge 

 abutments,- culverts and other stone work required in the building of the 

 several railroads which intersect the county, and also the highways in the 

 vicinity. 



Operations have practically ceased in a large number of the grey lime 

 quarries, and the business is confined to a few of those most favorably located 

 in regard to accessibility and cheapness of transportation into Syracuse. The 

 manner of quarrying the Corniferons limestone differs somewhat from that 

 employed in the blue limestone quarries, and is substantially as follows: 



The soil and shale or undesirable rock is "stripped" or cleared away 

 over the surface of the layer to be used. Lines are then drawn which 

 indicate the size and shape of the block or slab required. Along these lines 

 a row of holes one inch in diameter, and four to six inches deep are drilled, 

 a foot or less apart, a "wedge and feathers,' 1 two half-round pieces of iron, are 

 then inserted in each hole, and the wedges carefully driven so that the strain 

 shall be uniform for the entire length of the line and until it is sufficient to 

 cause a fracture. The slab is then removed by the use of large derricks, and the 

 process is repeated. The blocks and slabs are generally, but not always, hauled 

 from the quarries in the rough state; the smaller ones to stone yards where 

 they are dressed and the heavier ones to the places where they are to be used. 



