228 Report of the Meetings for 1893. 



carrying out the arrangements. The Eev. George Gunn, 

 minister of Stichill and Hume, discharged the duties of principal 

 guide with great assiduity and ability. Though some appre- 

 hensions were felt regarding the "watery treasures" held in 

 suspension overhead, the day was favourable for outdoor pursuits. 



The route led through some interesting pieces of country, 

 most of the places of interest receiving less or more attention in 

 passing. Just after leaving the streets, the great cutting which 

 affords access to and exit from the town to the north (including 

 Edinburgh) was pointed out. This improvement was carried 

 through before the advent of the iron horse, when the stage coach 

 was the principal means of communication between the centres 

 of population and influence and the provinces. Had the time of 

 the railway been foreseen, in all likelihood this great road 

 improvement would not have been projected, and the road at 

 this part would have remained a very severe gradient indeed. 

 This considerable undertaking was executed about 1837, and 

 a very superficial glance at the amount of embanking and 

 excavating necessitated, gives a vivid idea of the labour 

 involved. Towards the right on approaching the cutting, a 

 sharp acclivity, now planted with trees, most of them noble 

 beeches, extends westwards. Local geologists see in this the 

 northern embankment of the great lake or river which at a 

 former era filled the valley on part of which the town of Kelso 

 now stands, the southern shore rising up towards Wooden — 

 the two being separated by a distance of about two miles. 

 Many of the trees in the plantation passed through were over- 

 thrown in the great wind storm of 14th October 1881, and in 

 the cavities made by the tearing up of the roots, which are 

 lying as Nature left them, a favourable chance is obtained 

 of examining the gravelly nature of the ground. 



The fine sweep of the road towards Skinlaws Toll, which 

 carries the turnpike on towards Edinburgh by way of Soutra 

 Hill — once the route of a portion of the coach, and nearly all 

 the heavy traffic from Kelso to the Scottish metropolis — was 

 pointed out in the distance ; but there must have been present 

 in many minds the comparative insignificance into which what 

 was at the time thought a great triumph in road making, has 

 been thrown by the gigantic works carried out in the formation 

 of the iron highways by which the traffic of the country is now 

 carried on. 



