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used. It is possible that they may not be known to our 
architects, but most probably the reason why the soft free- 
stones of the coal measures are in such general use is that 
they are cheap and easily worked. My own impression is, 
that cheapness is more looked at both by architects and 
owners of buildings in selecting stone than durability of 
character. 
Some years since a good collection of the building stones 
of Lancashire was got together and placed in the museum of 
the Geological Society of Manchester, where they are open 
to public inspection without charge. This might be increased 
with stones from the adjoining counties, and then if the 
architects and builders of Manchester would associate together 
and devote a little time to the subject, we might expect to 
find a greater variety of building stones and building stones 
of great durability than are at present to be met with in 
Manchester. In conclusion, the Author of these hasty 
remarks begs to state that it would give him much pleasure 
to afford such an association all the assistance in his power to 
discover the most suitable building stone for Manchester. 
