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
History
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
You have not taken under observation the great road to Holyhead?—No;
that I understand is a new road. You asked me with respect to the spirit
of improvement; I would wish to explain in what way I think that is
proceeding. I have been sent for and consulted by 34 different sets of
commissioners, and as many different trusts, and in 13 counties, to the
extent of 637 miles, all of whom have been making improvements, and I
have had many sub-surveyors instructed and sent to various parts of the
country, at the request of commissioners; many surveyors also in the
neighbourhood where improvements are making, have availed themselves of
the opportunity of having instruction. Thus the surveyors of Southampton
and that neighbourhood have attended to what is doing at Salisbury and
Wilton; thus the surveyors at Kingston and Guildford have profited by
the improvements at Epsom in Surrey.
On which road are the 20 miles that you mentioned at Epsom?—From Epsom
to Tooting, and then across the country to Kingston. Several surveyors
near Reading in Berkshire have imitated, with considerable success, the
improvements on that road. Mr. Clay, who has contracted for the repair
of the Kingsland road near London, engaged a young man who was in my
office at Bristol, Mr. Marshal, whom he sent afterwards to Leeds in
Yorkshire. It has been my study to give every facility to spread
information.
Has your attention been directed to the roads in the neighbourhood of
London; and can you state to the Committee whether any corresponding
improvement has taken place in this district?—I think less improvement
has taken place round London than in the country. On the new Surrey
roads the example set by the pieces of road made at Blackfriars and
Westminster bridges has induced a little amendment; the materials have
been more carefully broken, and they have continued to use the hammers,
rakes and other tools which were recommended to them; but the general
improvement is unimportant: and I am not aware that any alteration has
taken place in the system of expenditure, and the mode of being supplied
with materials, or in employing more competent surveyors.
From the experience you have had in the improvements that have taken
place, have you found that these have been attended generally, with an
increase or diminution of expense?—In general the expense must be
diminished by the improvements. The repairs of one hundred and
forty-eight miles round Bristol, and many expensive permanent
improvements and alterations, have been made in the last three years,
during which a floating debt of upwards 1,400_l._ has been paid off, a
considerable reduction of the principal debt has been made, and a
balance of a considerable amount is remaining in the hands of the
treasurer, applicable to further alterations, or to the payment of part
of the debt, at the discretion of the commissioners.
Can you state what proportion that is?—I think the first year, 723_l._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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