Page:A protest against the extension of railways in the Lake District - Somervell (1876).djvu/31

 them occasional and hurried glimpses of strange beauty, but by dignifying the labour, and adorning the surroundings of their daily life.

But the question assumes, on both sides, a more serious aspect if it can be shewn that there are minerals worth working in the Lake District. On the one hand the arguments for making a railway will appear to many persons more cogent; while it must be admitted on the other, that, in such an event, the destruction of the beauty of the district would be more sudden and complete. Although, therefore, there are good reasons for doubting the existence of valuable mineral deposits, it will be well to look the question fairly in the face.

At a subsequent page will be found reprinted an article from the Daily News, in which the editor, accepting Wordsworth's authority as to the non-existence of any mineral wealth, urges the importance of preserving the district from further railway intrusion.

For much that the article contains, and for the firm stand it takes on this ground, we have every reason