136 
[Assembly 
economical application in affording facilities for tracing out beds of va- 
luable minerals and recks, by means of their transported fragments. 
Sands and Clays, 
Sands and loams interstratified with beds of gravel, pebbles, boulders, 
and clay, form the strata of Long Island, and a large part of Staten 
Island. 
In a scientific view, these beds are extremely interesting; but in the 
annual reports the economical relations only will be discussed. Silici- 
ous, garnet and iron sands are the principal varieties. The first skirts 
the whole coast of Long Island, and the contiguous islands and beaches, 
as well as Staten Island, except along the edge of the salt marshes on 
its western shore. It is generally very white, containing particles of 
red and white feldspar, mixed with a few grains of black hornblende 
and magnetic oxide of iron. Some of it is sufficiently pure to make 
w^hite glass. Large quantities of the sand from the Great South Beach 
are shipped to New- York and from thence into the interior, where it is 
employed for sawing marble, making glass, and various other purposes, 
which, although of little importance, causes a large consumption of the 
article. 
Garnet and iron sands cover the beaches in many places, but they 
are seen more abundant after storms, when the surf separates these heavy 
sands from those which have a less specific gravity. In many places 
they may be collected in quantities after storms. Garnet sand may be 
used as an imperfect substitute for emery, and for blotting sand. The 
iron sand is extensively used for the latter purpose, and in some places 
it is employed as an iron ore. A forge in Connecticut is entirely* sup- 
plied with this ore, which. is made directly into bar iron. 
Clays are not very abundant in Queens, Kings, and Richmond coun- 
ties. White and blue clays, like those of West Neck, Loyd's Neck, 
Eaton's Neck, &c. are found on Middle Island, and the eastern shore of 
Hempstead Harbor, but they are so near the water level, where they were 
seen, that there is little probability of their being extensively useful. 
The white clay on the western side of Middle Island is very pure, ly- 
ing in view at high water mark, and perhaps extending higher in the 
bank, but covered with sand which has slidden from above. Reddish 
loamy clay was seen in the deep excavation of the streets through the 
hill between Brooklyn and Gowannus. An imperfect sandy brick earth 
occurs on the hills about one mile north of Jamaica. At this place from 
300,000 to 350,000 bricks are made per annum. Another kiln is said 
