Remarks on the Present System of Road Making: With Observations, Deduced from Practice and Experience, With a View to a Revision of the Existing Laws, and the Introduction of Improvement in the Method of Making, Repairing, and Preserving Roads, and Defending the Road Funds from Misapplication. Seventh Edition, Carefully Revised, With an Appendix, and Report from the Select Committee of the House of Commons, June 1823, with Extracts from the EvidenceMcAdam, John Loudon
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Remarks on the Present System of Road Making: With Observations, Deduced from Practice and Experience, With a View to a Revision of the Existing Laws, and the Introduction of Improvement in the Method of Making, Repairing, and Preserving Roads, and Defending the Road Funds from Misapplication. Seventh Edition, Carefully Revised, With an Appendix, and Report from the Select Committee of the House of Commons, June 1823, with Extracts from the Evidence
McAdam, John Loudon
Macadam roads; Roads -- Great Britain
Looking to the result of these services as affecting the community at
large; the increase of comfort, convenience and safety to the Public
generally; the diminution of expense in the wear and tear of carriages
of all descriptions; the reduction of horse-labour, and consequent
expense of horses; the relief the oppressive burthen of the poor rates,
by the additional means created for employing the surplus labouring
population of the encumbered parishes; the abolition in many instances
of a great part, and in some, of the whole of the statute duty
complained of by the agriculturists, and the very essential benefit to
the agricultural, commercial and manufacturing classes, by the more easy
and equal diffusion of the produce of the soil over the various parts of
the kingdom; the free as well as rapid circulation of commercial
capital, thereby adding greatly to the national wealth and prosperity
which this system has materially contributed to effect; the Committee
cannot hesitate to express their opinion, in concurrence with that
already pronounced by the Heads of the Department of the Post Office,
that the sum of 2,000_l._ or 2,500_l._, in addition to his expenses, to
be calculated after the same rate of allowance as is granted by that
office to the Surveyor or Superintendent of Mailcoaches, will be but a
moderate compensation to Mr. MᶜAdam for his great exertions and very
valuable services.
The Committee, with a view to abridge the Appendix, have omitted to
include several testimonials forwarded to them from different innkeepers
and postmasters, stating the advantages they have derived from the
improvement of the roads under Mr. MᶜAdam’s system; but which tend to
confirm the general opinion favourable to the system.
It appears that Mr. MᶜAdam has held, from the year 1816 to the present
time, and now holds, the situation of general surveyor of the Bristol
Turnpike Roads at a salary, the first year, of 400_l._ and each
subsequent year, of 500_l._; but taking into consideration, that out of
his annual salary 200_l._ is for expenses incident to his Office, the
remaining sum of 300_l._ is, in the opinion of this Committee, not more
than an adequate payment for the constant and laborious duties attached
to the situation, and cannot, or ought not, to be considered as
constituting any remuneration to Mr. MᶜAdam for his other distinct and
important services.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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