82 THE COACHING AGE. 



corroded and worn under the influence of the weather ;. 

 so that they have long ceased to be of the slightest 

 assistance to persons travelling along the road. 

 Those distance-indicators constructed of iron, with 

 raised letters, are in a different condition, still , being 

 of service ; but many of them would be much im- 

 proved if painted white, with the letters and figures 

 black. 



It seems a pity that these landmarks should be 

 allowed to drift into a state of entire decay and 

 uselessness, haying originally been set up after 

 considerable trouble and expense incurred in order 

 to ascertain accurately the relative positions in which 

 they were to be placed. Although so much of the 

 traflS.c has gone off the main turnpike-roads, they 

 are still used to a considerable extent in many parts, 

 and the want of legible milestones is a source of 

 much inconvenience to the travellers of the present 

 time, albeit they are not so numerous a body as 

 formerly. 



The expense of the maintenance of what, under the 

 present management of highways, are designated 

 ' main-roads ' being partly thrown upon Government 

 funds, a sufficient sum could surely be provided to 

 meet the trifling expenditure necessary to restore the 

 milestones to a condition of utility. Not long since 

 I saw two lying by the roadside, one bearing the date 



