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
carriage will be found to be very great when compared with the cost of
the paving. If the annual tonnage upon the Commercial Road is taken at
250,000 tons, and at the rate of only 3_s._ per ton from the Docks, it
could not upon a gravelled road be done under 4_s._ 6_d._ say however
4_s._ or 1_s._ per ton difference, making a saving of 12,500_l._, or
nearly the whole expense of the paving in one year. I think I am under
the mark in all these figures, and I am convinced therefore that the
introduction of paving would, in many cases, be productive of great
advantage, by improving the gravel road, reducing the expense of
repairs, and causing a saving of horses’ labour much beyond what there
is, I believe, any idea of. The expense of a ton of Aberdeen granite
paving-stones laid in London, or in any similar situation, including
laying, and every expense, is about 25_s._; the cost of the same weight
of gravel is from 3_s._ 6_d._ to 5_s._ The cost of granite paving, 9
inches deep, is from 8_s._ 6_d._ to 10_s._ 6_d._ per superficial yard,
or from 750_l._ to 920_l._ per mile for every yard in width. Guernsey
granite is harder and more durable than Aberdeen granite, but is more
expensive by about 10 per cent. and I think is this much better. Some
stone of very good quality from near Greenock, has been used lately upon
the Commercial Road, it is cheaper than Aberdeen, and appears to be very
durable. The requisites for forming a good paving are to have the stones
properly squared and shaped, not as wedges, but nearly as rectangular
prisms; to sort them into classes according to their sizes, so as to
prevent unequal sinking, which is always the effect of stones, or rows
of stones, of unequal sizes being mixed together; to have a foundation
properly consolidated before the road is begun to be paved, and to have
the stones laid with a close joint, the courses being kept at right
angles from the direction of the sides, and in perfectly straight lines,
the joints carefully broken, that is, so that the joint between two
stones in any one course shall not be in a line with, or opposite to a
joint in any of the two courses adjoining. After the stones are laid
they are to be well rammed, and such of the stones as appear to ram
loose, should be taken out and replaced by others; after this the joints
are to be filled with fine gravel, and if it can be done conveniently,
the stability of the work will be increased by well watering at night
the part that has been done during the day, and ramming it over again
next morning. The surface of the pavement is then to be covered with an
inch or so of fine gravel, that the joints may be always kept full, and
that the wheels may not come in contact with the stones while they are
at all loose in their places. Attention to these points will very much
increase both the smoothness and durability of the paving. I have found
great advantage from filling up, or, as it is called, grouting the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account