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:--
Pounds _s._ _d._
One ton of 0 1 3
stone delivered
at
Pateley-bridge
33 miles Rail 0 2 9
dues at 1d. per
ton per mile
33 miles waggon 0 2 9
dues, do.
Cost of stone 0 6 9
at Bolton-Percy
per ton
Removing do. 0 0 6
into the boat,
do.
Freight of do. 0 1 0
Selby, Cawood,
or Howden
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