The Viagraph. 47 



some of the road engineers, if present, will say why a similar 

 smooth and good road for moderate traffic has not been made 

 here from the abundance of flint now thrown aside as a waste 

 product in our limestone quarries. 



As to cleanness of metal, it would appear from the descrip- 

 tion of the practice on the Prescot Road, given by its Sur- 

 veyor (Mr. Gt)ldsworth), and also from a very well-considered 

 opinion kindly given Ly the Surveyor of County Down, that a 

 little road scrapings judiciously applied after the first rolling 

 may be requisite. Too much mud, Mr. Cowan remarks, is a 

 real fault. If, however, the local authorities do not consider that 

 the above are the causes of the defects, or if they doubt the 

 applicability of the English methods to this country, might I 

 suggest that these be at least tried. Let an experiment on the 

 most approved lines be earnestly and faithfully carried out, 

 say, upon 100 yards of the Lisburn, the Malone, or any other 

 of our wretched leading thoroughfares. Once it was understood 

 what a road might be, we should never permit the present 

 state of things to occur again. 



The Prfsidhnt said he was sure they were all pleased highly 

 with Mr. Brown's exceedingly interesting lecture. It was 

 remarkably lucid and clear, and they owed a great deal to Mr. 

 Brown for the way in which he had brought the subject before 

 us. 



Professor Dougan said he had been much impressed with 

 the ingenuity and usefulness of Mr. Brown's invention. The 

 viagraph gave a very convincing test for any road which anyone 

 might wish to examine, and it came at a very opportune 

 moment and should be forced upon the attention of everyone 

 responsible for the care of our roads. Cyclists took a great 

 interest in the condition of the roads. It might be supposed 

 by non-cychsts, who were still a considerable body, that the 

 cyclist is fastidious ; his tendency to go to the footpath might 

 blind non-cyclists as to his real character. When the history 

 of cychng comes to be written it will be seen that the cyclist 

 is not fastidious, and that the qualities which will be forced 



