Area: Rosses
Started: April 1955
Finished: March 1956
Poles used: 1231
Line used (km): 109
Premises connected: 430
The figures above were sourced from our REO News magazine, to learn more about what these figures mean, visit our interactive map. The map above shows the area boundary and is from a digitised version of the original map used during the scheme.
The REO News from June 1956 reports on the amount of gelignite used in Rosses.
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Rosses Rural Area, Co. Donegal: According to the report from Mr. D. J. Herr, Rosses was not a very easy area and the gang had a problem in dealing with 80% rock holes particularly in built‑up areas. There is a natural tendency to try to get out as much rock as possible and, of course, when a hole is overcharged the danger of damage to windows in adjacent premises increases. However, with the careful use of chain mattresses we are able to record that no serious claim for damage to property arose in spite of the fact that the gang was using approximately half a ton of gelignite per month.
Mr. Herr records one piece of advice which may be of interest to some of his colleagues. The rock in his locality was a brittle granite with plenty of fissures, and he found that rock drills were breaking constantly. He got in touch with Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Co. Ltd. and at their suggestion he reduced the air pressure, following which he found that breakages are now negligible.
The consumer and revenue position in the area improved and although the report does not include final capital costs it is expected that the return for the area should also improve.
Sales by the Area Organiser, Mr. H. Dawson, reached a total of £944, mostly comprising domestic appliances as there is very little agricultural activity in the area. Prospects for further sales should be reasonably good after some time, and the same holds for the post‑development prospects."