STONE FOR HIGHWAYS.
This is found in immense quantities at Greenhow-hill, distant from Pateley-bridge two miles, it resembles a grey flint; the road from Pateley-bridge to Skipton is principally composed of it; it is hard but easily broken small, and after a little using almost resembles one entire stone; its use and extraordinary properties are not known to a great distance, particularly towards Ripon or Ripley; this may be accounted for in two ways—first, the hills in either direction are long and steep; and 2dly, other materials are just at hand, of a quality sufficient for a road where the forbidding ascents deny the frequent passing of heavy carriages.
This stone has been compared to that at Middleton-Tyas, near Richmond, and when analysed is found to be exactly of the same quality, although a little lighter in colour; it was compared to this merely to prove a corresponding property.
For it is a certain fact, that the Middleton-Tyas stone has been for some time, and is now, carted from the quarry to Northallerton and Brompton, distant 14 and 15 miles, for the use of their highways, at an expence of 8s. 2d. per ton to the former, and 9s. to the latter place. This fact is the more remarkable, since there has been a quarry open for many years, within 200 yards of Northallerton, but the stone is only of a common kind. From this circumstance, it is fair to expect, that provided the stone of Greenhow-hill can be delivered at Bolton-Percy for 6s. 6d. per ton, and at Cawood, Selby, Booth-Ferry, and Howden for 8s. it will both become an article of tonnage in a descending direction, and a great acquisition to that district; but as that neighbourhood has never been in the habit of paying such a high
price for highway materials, it will probably in the first instance meet with many objections, which may be replied to in two ways—1st, that whatever is worth doing, is worth well doing; and that the best materials are the cheapest;—and 2dly, if the surveyors and overseers of Northallerton and Brompton have, by their experience, established the above fact, and found this stone cheaper than that at home, it is reasonable to conclude that the surveyors and overseers of the highways in the neighbourhood of Cawood, Selby, and Howden, may do the same; for the soil of that district is equally fertile and rich as that of Northallerton; and the occupiers of it equally opulent—hence their ability to do well whatever is worth doing.
The expense of this stone at the before-mentioned places we state below:—
| £. | s. | d. | |
| One ton of stone delivered at Pateley-bridge | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 33 miles Rail dues at 1d. per ton per mile | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| 33 miles waggon dues, do. | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Cost of stone at Bolton-Percy per ton | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Removing do. into the boat, do. | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Freight of do. Selby, Cawood, or Howden | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 0 | 8 | 3 |
It is probable the expense of delivering this stone at Pateley-bridge, might be reduced by the application of a Railway from that place to the quarry; by this estimate horses are expected to be used; it is also possible to remove it from the waggon to the boat at less than is stated above.
The neighbourhood of Pateley-bridge possessing many water-falls on which more mills might be built, gave rise to an idea of cutting this last-mentioned stone by water-sawing, into scantlings for fire-places, hearths, and slabs; but upon an experiment being tried, it was found to contain what is termed the dry heads, which cause a division of the parts when brought into
service, otherwise it yields a beautiful polish, and exhibits much of the shell and feather; but notwithstanding this last attempt hath failed to augment its value, another in reserve still remains of no small moment, which is that of the most excellent