No. 275.] 
181 
Besides the regular ingredients of gneiss, it occasionally happens that 
the mica is replaced, either wholly or in part, by hornblende 5 in which 
case its colour is rendered darker, it is more compact in texture, and 
columnar in its structure. This occurs on the 4th avenue, in the rail- 
road cut at the south opening of the tunnel. 
As before stated, (page 177) the gneiss on the western side of the is- 
land so abounds with veins of granite parallel with the strata, that in 
many places they constitute the chief material of the rock; and will, I 
doubt not, at a future day, be wrought for useful purposes. This has 
indeed been the case to some extent; many sloop loads of stone cut for 
culverts and other faced work on the Croton aqueduct, have been pre- 
pared from the material furnished in opening the 10th avenue, and deli- 
vered. It is a fair granite, specimens of which I have furnished and la- 
belled " granite from 10th avenue, near 48th-street." The granite pre- 
vails more or less from 3lst-street on the west side, and from 24th- 
street in the middle, to 60th-street on the north, and most of it runs 
out southwest of Bloomingdale road. I am fully convinced that in cut- 
ting through the streets and levelling the lots, a large amount of excel- 
lent building material will be furnished, and will be a source of profit 
at a future day. 
The stone furnished for the aqueduct was delivered at the dock near 
the place of consumption, at $1 or $1.12i per cubic foot, dressed for 
the work, which, I was informed by one of the contractors, was about 
the same as it would cost to get them out and put them in shape when 
equally good materials could be furnished on the spot. This circum- 
stance is explained by the fact that those who furnish it were contractors 
with the corporation of the city for opening the avenues on the island, 
where they are paid a certain amount not exceeding $1 or $1 . 10 per cu- 
bic yard, for removing the stone out of the way, and are at liberty to 
make such use of it as they please. The cutting of the stone, there- 
fore, after it is removed from the quarry, is the chief expense to the 
furnisher; this shows why it can be furnished at so low a rate. The 
amount paid by the corporation for removing loose earth, varies from 
12 to 30 cents per cubic yard, according to the nature of the earth to 
be removed, and the distance to be carried to get it out of the way; the 
most common price is 18 cents, and the same price is paid for filling in 
valleys, whether with stone or earth; and if it is done by the load, as is 
frequently the case, nine cubic feet make a load for one horse. 
Where rough stone are furnished for basements and other rough work, 
they are delivered at $1 .00 a load, so that contractors sometimes get 
