170 
Crranular Limestme — Marble, 
The granular limestone of Columbia and Dutchess counties is very 
extensive, and does not yield to any other mineral deposit in those 
counties, in prospective vdue. Marble quarries are extensively wrought 
in some parts of this range of limestone, and many others will undoubt- 
edly be opened. The limestone extends through the greater part of the 
length of these counties, and crops out with a variable breadth from a 
few hundred yards to several miles. It varies much in texture and co- 
lour. It is granular and compact, white, gray, clouded, striped, and 
nearly black. In some localities it is strong and difficult to break, in 
others it is dolomitic and very friable, and crumbles to sand by expo- 
sure to the weather. The limestone beds of this range are interstrati- 
fied with talcose and micaceous slate. They dip to the east and E. S. 
E. from 20° to 90°. It is rarely used except as a wall-stone. Lime 
has been made from it in Amenia and some other places. It makes a 
strong and good lime. 
The only marble quarries which are extensively wrought in this range 
of limestone in Dutchess county, are in Dover. The principal quarries 
are those of Ebenezer Stevens, Elder Foss, John Ketchum, and Nailor 
Wing. These quarries average about 8,000 feet of white marble slabs 
per annum. Hess' quarry is three-quarters of a mile north of Stephens,' 
Ketchum and Wing's, one mile east of Stephens'. It is estimated that 
from 20,000 to 40,000 feet of marble slabs are sent from the town of 
Dover in a year, and yield an income of from $15,000 to $30,000 per 
annum. In the marble mills, a frame of 16 saws will saw out about 
200 to 250 feet per week. The Dover marble is almost a pure white, 
fine graineJ, dolomitic limestone. It works easily, and takes a medium 
polish. It is nearly all used for grave-stones, and sent to most parts of 
the United States. Quarries might undoubtedly be opened on the west 
side of the Dover valley of as good marble as those on the east. Near 
Kline Corners and Hitchcock's Corners, are extensive beds of limestone 
' which do not crumble by the action of the weather, and which would 
inake a good marble. In Hillsdale, on Mr. Palmer's land, is a white 
and clouded marble. It exists abundantly along the base of the moun- 
tain. 
In Beekman, near Doughty's mills, fine marble, in beds of a few feet 
in thickness, were observed, as also in several places in Fishkill, jnear 
Stormville and Hopewell. 
Clouded marbles were observed by Mr. Merrick, on the lands of Mr. 
Worster Wheeler and E. Merritt, in North-East. The locality on the 
