268 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



the money expended, where good material is used, and the 

 other that the road once down is not disturbed again 

 for years, and the great inconvenience to traffic by broken 

 up roads is thus avoided. 



Thirty years ago inferior stone, some of it utterly unfit 

 for road metalling, was commonly used in many parts of 

 this and the adjoining counties. Local bodies, however, 

 have gradually learned wisdom by experience. I do not 

 say this in any satirical sense, for Boards could do no less 

 than ascertain by adequate trial which, amongst a choice 

 of several local or other stones, was the best adapted for 

 road purposes. I might venture to say that they have 

 shewn abundant enterprise in this direction, and a sound 

 discretion in the gradual introduction of Clee Hill Dhu 

 Stone. 



The opening of the Railway from Ludlow to the Clee 

 Hill gave facilities for its more extended use at a reason- 

 able cost. For traffic of the heaviest and most continuous 

 character it became increasingly used, whilst statistics 

 demonstrated in a marked manner its great economy as 

 compared with many excellent stones, the first cost of 

 wdiich was much less than that of Clee Hill Dhu Stone. 



In these and the Midland Counties, and indeed within 

 a radius of 200 miles, Clee Hill stone after long trial under 

 the most severe conditions, in London, Manchester, 

 Preston, and other large towns, at Railway Station 

 approaches of heavy and continuous traffic, has asserted 

 its supremacy, and has largely supplanted the local stones 

 formerly used, and daily continues to do so. 



With gentlemen who now fulfil the position of County 

 Surveyors, the ignorance which once prevailed as regards 

 the uses of road stone in far away rural districts has been 

 largely dispelled, and I am well satisfied that in a very 

 short time hence financial statistics will have removed 

 the prejudice of the most obdurate Highway Boards, and 

 of individuals (if such there be), against the use of 



