New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-11

Large appropriations nave been maze,
and will continue TO be made, by Congress, fer the
construction of Custom. Houses Marine Hospitals,
Lisht- Houses MiQt and other public buildings and
works in California and 1t has been a subject OF
ar xious solictpde and inquiry, whether sufficient
and suitable building materials could be obtained In
the limits of that auriierous State.
A geological exploration has been made OF the
mountains in the coastrange, and about the Sierra
Nevada, by MAX. Jos. GRIBzsER, who has made
Report to the Secretary OF the Treasury, which will
be communicated to Congress This report, besides
containing much interesting and valuable informa-
tion in scie nfc point of view also establishes the
important fact that the Pacific State abouRds In lime
stone granite MARBLE clay, white stone green stone
and other resources for the construction OF public
and private structures.
LIMESTONE, which is an Indispensable requisite for
solid buildings, was, at first. shipped from the Allan.
tic States to California and at great expense but
is found to exist In exhaustless quantities In the
Mount Diablo Valley. 1t is the "massy limestone
and the very best for lasting mortar. An excellent
level road leads from these limestone bedsto the Mt
Disbo River from thence, 1t is taken by steam, In
three hours, to San Francisco. This limestone con-
taiLs 90 per cent of pure carbonate Of lime.
Large beds of Hydraulic lime "a most useful
material--aYe found between Stockton and the Stan
islaus River, and there are extensive beds OF car
Donate of lime twelve miles from Pueblo San Jose.
There is elllimestone near the Mission San Jose,
and beds OF carbonate of lime at Victor Castro's
Ranchos and four miles from Carguines Strait, but
not as pure as the Mount Diablo.
BUILDING STONES were first brought 10 California
from abroad-Granite from China, Sandstone from
Australia, and Coral-Rocks from the Sandwich
Islands. But it 10 ascertained that the hills and
valleys about Sonora are full OF WHITE MARBLE, and
that no better material can anywhere DO found, for
architectural decorations and for elegant and durable
buildings. 1t is easily sawed and polished, and is
very similar to the marble used in the construction
Of Post Office buildings in Washington City. This
marble, it il said, could be obtained for the pub
lilo buildings at San Francisco, at reasonable
price a. hundreds Of teams constantly going from
Stockton to the mines, returning without loads that
could "haul back f" this marble.
Huge BOuiders, in extended layers, are found at
Victor Castro's Ranches, and severel kinds of Sand
stone, all good for ordinary buildings, are found at
Benicis, in abundance. The new building at Army
point Of these stones and also many buildings in
San Francisco. They are found TO harden In tho air
The stone pits are the landing and the stones
taken to San Francisco at small cost,
ADVERTISEMENTS
along the valleys and coast-range ravines, south
west from San Jose and tho Quicksilver works At
New Almaden. These marbles are sufficient for
call time" and admirably adapted to solid and
splendid buildings.
White stone, an excellent building material, 10
found In inexhaustible beds in the vicinity of
"ysllego City" about four miles from the Bay of
San Pablos, on Nappa River. This stone can be
hewn out on good and level road, and shipped
"any where" at small expense.
Gretnish Sandstone, good article for buildings,
is found on the Bay, one mile from Vallego City
Green Stone 10 found IN two hills near Benicia and
in the islands Of the Bay. This stone s very dura.
be- but hard to work. There are several buildings
Of ii in San Francisco and it 10 good for foundations
and all kinds of constructions.
Granite, in immense ridges, forms the submits Of
hs.sntire length Of the Sierra
Gray Sand stones abound on the coast and islands
in and around San Francisco Bay, but their rapid
decomposition renders them unfit for buildings OF
solid construction.
Clsy in abundance 10 obtained on the bay Eve miles
from Benicia, and . great many bricks are made
thersffom, but 1t is poor and the brick, of course
poor alse.
Extensive Clay-beds arc also found ON the Bay of
San Francicco, near the Preside. A large number
OF brick kilns have been established and any guam.
uty" Of excellent brick can be furnished.
Bitrminoss Coal tlignitic) has been found about
ten miles back of Benicia. According to this Re-
port, therefore, California abounds in the best OF
building materials, Granite boulders, gray and
green sandstones white and varieea,sd marble. lime
stone. CLAW, DC.