26 



Economical Geology. 



3. White crystalline, from Boxborough ; carbonate of lime, 99 

 parts ; residuum 1 part. 



It is my decided opinion that the limestone, described above, in the 

 primitive region of the Connecticut valley, may be usefully employed 

 either for mortar, or for spreading upon the soil. The beds of it are 

 quite numerous in all the towns where they are occasionally marked. 

 I think, however, that the best variety occurs in Whately, where, 

 should it ever come into use, on the north line of the town, is a hill 

 large enough to supply the whole valley of the Connecticut for cen- 

 turies. This locality is favorably situated for working, so as to fur- 

 nish that valley ; being not more than two or three miles from the 

 Connecticut, and the whole distance nearly level. I cannot but hope 

 that the attention of some enterprising gentleman may be directed to 

 this subject ; and should he succeed in preparing even tolerable lime 

 from this rock, he would confer a great favor upon the inhabitants of 

 that section of the State. 



A large portion of the limestone in Berkshire is excellent for burn- 

 ing into quick lime : and even in several towns where none of the 

 rock occurs in ledges, so abundant are the loose masses, transported 

 thither by a current of water in early times, that it is burnt in consid- 

 erable quantities. This is the case in Windsor, Peru, &c, from 

 whence lime is transported in wagons to the valley of the Connecti- 

 cut. 



Probably, however, a still larger proportion of the lime used in 

 hat valley, particularly in its northern part, is brought from Whit- 

 ingham, Vt, a town lying directly north of Rowe in Franklin coun- 

 ty. This limestone is white and crystalline, and it exists in large 

 quantities. It approaches within a few rods of the Massachusetts 

 line, and may even pass over it in some places. 



Two interesting beds of limestone of a peculiar character, have 

 been discovered, within a few years, in the valley of the Connecticut, 

 at West Springfield, a few miles south of Mount Tom. It is chiefly 

 the fetid limestone, though mixed with various impurities. But it 

 answers well, and that too on account of its impurity, for water proof 

 cement, or mortar that will harden under water. It was used on the 

 Farming ton canal, particularly in the construction of the aqueduct 

 across Westfield river. The same rock occurs at Southington and 

 Middletown, Ct, and I doubt not may be found in many other places, 

 along the river, associated with the new red sand stone. I am not 

 aware that fetid limestone has ever before been used as a water proof 



