Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/256

 252 CONNECTICUT necticut, sometimes continuous, and sometimes in broken elevations, with mural fronts on their western sides, and gentle declivities on the eastern. In some instances small elevations of trap rock are found, which have broken through the granitic rocks, at short distances E. and W. of this secondary valley. They are arranged in dikes and ridges, mostly in one general range, with collateral branches, run- ning centrally through the secondary forma- tion, dividing it into two portions. The eastern commences at New Haven, passes easterly of East rock to Middletown, and thence follows the Connecticut river into Massachusetts. The western portion runs from New Haven through Farmington, to Northampton. This secondary region, with its borders, embraces valuable mineral resources. The rocks on the E. and W. borders, and underlying the trap, are the red sandstone, or freestone, so useful for build- ing purposes; immense quantities of it are quarried at Portland, on the Connecticut, and shipped to New York. In Bolton, near the E. border of this section, is the celebrated quarry of Bolton stone, a micaceous slate, which splits smoothly and beautifully in thin strata, and is extensively used for flagging and other pur- poses. Copper is found in various parts of the trap range. The Simsbury mines, in the pres- ent town of Granby, which was once a part of Simsbury, were worked early in the history of the colony, and were rendered famous by being converted into a state prison, the first in the state. The Bristol copper mines are in the N. E. borders of Bristol, a short distance W. of the secondary section, and within two miles of the railroad. Lead mines, with a large per- centage of silver, have at various times been worked in Middletown, especially during the revolutionary war, but as yet to little profit. Veins of sulphate of barytes (heavy spar) are found in the E. parts of Cheshire and South- ington, and large quantities are quarried and used in the composition of paints. Between the trap ridges on the borders of Southington and Berlin is found hydraulic lime, from which are manufactured large quantities of water ce- ment. There is a cobalt mine in Chatham. The country watered by the Thames and its tributaries is granitic and metamorphic in gen- tle swelling hills, capable of cultivation to their summits. The quarries and mines of the Housatonic valley form valuable sources of wealth. Extensive beds of hematite iron ore are found, especially in Salisbury and Kent ; and the heavy iron works at the former place have long been celebrated. The valleys of the Housatonic and branches, especially N. of New Milford, contain immense beds of limestone of the best quality, for ornamental and useful pur- poses, for buildings and monuments, and for burnt lime. The mountains furnish cheap fuel for burning, and the quarries of limestone are easily worked. The quarries of New Preston in Washington furnish large blocks of pure white marble, of fine grain and firm texture, which is suitable for buildings, monuments, and ornamental purposes. The whole seacoast, except across New Haven harbor, is of primi- tive formation, and difficult of cultivation. Much of it is suitable for grazing, but it is the most valuable for the production of fruit and vegetables. Granite in great variety, with gneiss and mica slate, is extensively quarried for use as building materials, flagging, &c. The quarries in Haddam on the Connecticut, and in other places, are extensively worked. The mineral resources of the state have been but partially developed. Slate for tiling pre- vails, but to what extent or excellence is not yet well tested. A beautiful marble, some portions resembling the verd antique, is found in Milford and North Milford. Clay for the manufacture of bricks and pottery abounds, especially in the secondary region ; and bricks are extensively manufactured through the val- leys, and pottery in Hartford and vicinity. Materials for the manufacture of porcelain and crockery have been discovered. Fire-brick furnaces and crucibles are extensively manu- factured in New Milford. The feldspar quarry of Middletown furnishes a pure material for porcelain ware. Mineral chalybeate springs, some of them slightly sulphurous, are found in various parts of the state, but the only one of note is in Stafford, which formerly was much resorted to. The climate, though changeable, is remarkably mild and healthful. The seasons are more uniform than in the northern parts of New England, the temperature in winter and summer being less extreme. Observations covering a period of 20 years show the mean temperature in winter to be 29-92, spring 46-41, summer 69-27, and autumn 52-86; whole year, 49*62 ; highest mean for any month, 75-80; lowest, 19-97; range, 55-83. In 1870 the lowest temperature was 7 below zero in January ; highest, 97 in July. The fall of rain and snow during the winter was 15-60 inches; spring, 12*26; summer, 9*54; autumn, 10-21. According to the mortality statistics of 1870, the chief diseases were con- sumption, which was the cause of 15-65 per cent, of the total deaths ; cholera infantum, 7'46 per cent. ; pneumonia, 6*29 ; typhus fever, 5-49; scarlatina, 3*22; and apoplexy, 2'25. The soil is generally good ; while much of it is fitted for cereal agriculture, the greater part is better adapted to grass growing. In the allu- vial bottom lands exists a rich loam, seldom equalled for continuous tillage and productive- ness, while much of the land in the valleys is composed of -& diluvial, light sandy or gravelly soil, unproductive unless artificially fertilized. The mountain and hill sides afford excellent pasturage, and many portions of the state are noted for their dairy products. The moun- tainous regions, unfit for cultivation, furnish wood and timber for domestic uses, and for buildings and ships. A great variety of trees abound in the forests, the most common of which are oak, chestnut, walnut, butternut,