But though your Committee have limited their first inquiries to the actual state of the turnpike roads, and the results of recent plans for their improvement, they have by no means confined their researches to the operations or the opinions of one individual. In the evidence which they subjoin will be found, in the first place, a description of the present general defects of the turnpike roads, given by those whose employments and interest render them best acquainted with the nature and extent of the evil; and this exposition is followed not only by the detail of Mr. MᶜAdam’s system, already alluded to, but by the evidence of other eminent surveyors and civil engineers, under whose superintendence the latest and most perfect improvements have been effected. Your Committee consider that high praise is due to the superior science exhibited by Mr. Telford, in tracing and forming the new roads in North Wales; but they contented themselves with a general inquiry into his plans, aware that their merits would be particularly brought under the eye of the House in the Reports of the Committee on the Holyhead Roads. The concurrent testimony of all the witnesses examined by your Committee establishes the fact that the general state of the turnpike roads in England and Wales is extremely defective, but at the same time proves that proper management is alone wanted to effect the most desirable reformation. It is not the least interesting result of the researches of your Committee, that the most improved system is demonstrated to be the most economical; that even the first effectual repair of a bad road may be accomplished with little, if any, increase of expenditure; and that its future preservation in good order will, under judicious management, be attended with a considerable annual saving to the public. There is no point upon which a more decided coincidence of opinion exists amongst all those who profess what may now be called the science of road-making, than that the first effectual step towards general improvement must be the employment of persons of superior ability and experience as superintending surveyors. Your Committee, fully concurring in this opinion, have anxiously considered in what manner this object can be attained with the least expense to the country, and the least injurious or offensive interference with existing customs and authorities. Various are the plans which have been brought under their consideration for altering the general constitution of the laws affecting the management of Turnpike Roads, proposing either to annex the superintendence and patronage to some of the existing departments of Government, or to constitute a new Board of Commissioners expressly for this object. Your Committee forbear to detail the reasons which induce them to withhold their recommendation from any of these plans, whatever advantages they might afford in unity or vigour of management.