RED-SANDSTONE DIVISION. 
287 
Numerous quarries have been opened along the south base of the mountain on each side of 
the road, among which are those of John Smith, Jacob Green and Jonas Conklin. It is not 
known how many sets of stones are obtained at these quarries, but the probable receipts are 
from four thousand to ten thousand dollars per annum. 
Red Sandstone or Freestone. 
This rock is extensively worked for cut stone, for flagging stone, and rough stone for base¬ 
ments, along the shore of Tappan bay. The shore is skirted by quarries, from two miles 
below Nyack, to two miles above that place. Some of these quarries have been worked for 
more than fifty years. 
Gesner’s quarry is at the ship-yard, about half a mile below Nyack. It is not much worked. 
Westervelt’s quarry is one mile north of Nyack. It was visited by Mr. Cassels. The 
flagging stone, one and a half feet wide, and two to three inches thick, are delivered in New 
York at fifteen cents per foot. Rubblestone of this sandstone sells in New-York for sixty- 
two and a half cents per cart-load of 15 cwt. The transport costs about one-fifth of this 
amount. The proprietors receive one-fifth of the proceeds of sales for rent from those who 
work the quarries. Two thousand feet of slabs, besides rubble, were quarried in 1838. 
Clark’s quarry is one and a half miles north of Nyack. Specimens of the sandstone of this 
and several other quarries are in the State Collection. 
Wilkins’ quarry is one mile south of Nyack. Five thousand to six thousand feet of slabs 
were quarried here in 1838, and five hundred cart-loads of rubblestone. 
The two quarries of Daniel Onderdonk and his brother are near each other, below Nyack. 
Two thousand five hundred feet of slabs or flags were quarried in 1838 from each. 
Richard Clark’s quarry is near Onderdonk’s. 
There are sixteen quarries in operation below, and fifteen above Nyack, within two miles 
from that place, which will average about two thousand feet of slabs (as Mr. Cassels was 
informed), and five hundred loads of rubblestones each, per annum. 
This would give the product of the thirty-one quarries in the year 1838, as 62,000 feet of 
slabs, valued at.$9,300 00 
and 15,500 cart-loads of rubble, at. 8,687 50 
-$18,987 50 
It was stated that the annual amount of sales a few years ago was nearly twenty times as 
much, and this falling off in the business of quarrying has been caused by the general stagna¬ 
tion of business consequent upon the embarrassment of the currency. This stone is good for 
many purposes, but it is not as durable or strong as many others, and is being gradually 
replaced in the market by stones which are harder to dress, but which will endure the 
vicissitudes of our changeable climate for a longer time. 
