Box 19, Folder 7: Milwaukee Courthouse Stone 1869

List of Specimens of Building Stones sent from Milwaukee to the Smithsonian Institution to be tested; January 1869.

Lake Superior Sandstone. From the quarries of Alanson Sweet, south East part of Bass Island, one of the Apostle Group ; being the stone to be used in the facing of the walls of the new Court House at Milwaukee. Geological formation Potsdam (Lower Silurian) Sandstone.

Cleveland Sandstone. From the quarries of H. H. Clough & Co., at Independence, Ohio, and extensively used in Cleveland, New York City, Milwaukee &c. Geological formation Devonian.

Waukesha Limestone From the quarries of T. D. Cook at Waukesha Wisconsin near the Carrol College building ; used extensively at Milwaukee &c. Geological formation Niagara (Upper Silurian) Limestone.

Prairie du Chien Stone. From the Rail = road quarries a few miles East of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; used in the Capital at Madison, St James' Church Milwaukee, &c. Geological formation Lower Magnesian Limestone (or Dolomite)

I have examined the four cubes (of two inches) of Lake Superior Sandstone prepared by Mr. Meriell for the Special committee on the subject, and intended to be sent to the Smithsoniar [Smithsonian] Institution at Washington, for scientific examination, and deem them fair samples of said stone

R [Lanson?] [Swut?]

Milwaukee Jan 29

1869

Athens Limestone. From the quarries of E. Walker, at Athens, Illinois; extensively used at Chicago and Milwaukee ; material of the U.S. post office and custom house at Milwaukee. Geological formation Niagara (Upper Silurian) Limestone.

Milwaukee Pressed Brick, of which most of the houses in Milwaukee are built. Used for ornamental purposes in other cities

Four cubes of two inch sides of each specimen sent.

Jan. 1869

The sandstone quarried on Bass Island near La Pointe on Lake Superior + brought to Milwaukee to be used in facing the walls of the new Court House about to be erected is of a fine red color of pretty uniform texture, free from seams or cracks, but is too soft and weak to be used for structures where great strength is required. It is also quite porous and capable of absorbing a large amount of water. But as it is only to be used as a facing it will doubtless answer the purpose intended. It appears to be free from iron pyrites, which is a great advantage. Pebbles of quartzite are occasionally found; also small cavities filled with bright red clay - such as in some parts of England are known as "the stones liver"! No traces of fossils have been found in any of the blocks yet received.

1200 pounds put on a block 6 inches Cube - without cruslg [crushing]

4 blocks 90 pourds [pounds] Each put upon 1 cubic inch without crushing - next block making 450 pounds crushed it - but it would have borne much more under a steady pressure.

Jan 25 1869