"Is anybody still out there?"

["Ted Schaghy" <ted@zzzzzzzz>]

Judy B, slate researcher:

"I agree with John that Arizona is an unlikely source of slate."...

As it turns out, I spoke with the dispatcher's office and they told me the
slate in question probably comes to them from Arizona, but comes to Arizona
 from somewhere else.  Where?  They are reluctant to say.  I got the feeling
they thought I was from another bone yard trying to steal their slate
source.  I also got the feeling that they just plain didn't know what they
were talking about and didn't care.  Everyone was passing the buck and
avoiding my questions (a way of life here in Las Vegas).  Won't be dealing
with them anymore.  Good news: I spoke with another bone yard employee from
another bone yard who seemed very enthusiastic about his work.  He claims to
have several different kinds of slate on hand and knows all about them.
Slates from, "out east, Wisconsin and Washington", he said.  I will see him
sometime in the coming week.  Looking forward to it.

Pictures?  I'd love to send some.  Old digital camera ist kaput.  Haven't
got around to buying a new one yet.  Soon.

John VanCamp:

"Mostly the patio stone from Arizona that I'm familiar with is
some real hard sandstone.  Red, Pink, and buff colors."

Right.  I am familiar with the very stones you are talking about.  One
particular red sandstone from Arizona is very popular here.  Nicknames for
it are, "Indian Red" and, "Cheyenne Red."  I've laid up a few patios and
accents with it and my customers just love it. It is perhaps even more
popular than the metaquartzite ("Vegas Rock") quarried just south of the
city of Las Vegas.  The metaquartzite is very beautiful and unusual, coming
to the customer in many colors and patterns.  Sugary and fine grained, you
can rub bruises and tool marks out of it easily.  I capped a couple of
masonry columns with it recently.  Another satisfied customer.  Some of the
bone yards here are making patio/garden furniture out of it as well.  Those
ghastly three piece benches are all over the place.  More often than not
however, the "Vegas Rock" is used for decorative boulders.  It isn't easy to
cut.

John A. Klassen:

"I wouldn't be doing the work that I do today if I didn't try that one out."

I hear you.  Thanks for the tips and encouragement.

Ted