“One of the main advantages attending the rolling of roads by steam-power, consists in the diminished proportion of mud or soluble matter which is then incorporated in the structure of the road surface. If the surface of an ordinary road that has not been rolled is broken up and the material washed, it is found that as much as half of it is soluble matter, mud, dirt, and very fine sand; the stones, having only been thrown loosely upon the road, have lain so long before becoming consolidated by the traffic, and have undergone in the meantime such extensive abrasion that the proportion of mud, dirt, and pulverised material in the metalling is increased to that extent, and the stones are really only stuck together by the mud. This accounts for the fact that although an unrolled macadamised road may indeed, after long use, have a surface that is pretty good and hard in dry weather, and may offer then a very slight resistance to traction, yet it will quickly become soft and muddy when there is any rain. By the employment, however, of a steam roller upon the newly-laid metalling of a macadamised road the stones are rolled in and well bedded at once, and the surface is thus consolidated into a sort of stone felt, capable of resisting most effectually the action of ordinary traffic, and containing the smallest quantity of soluble matter to form mud in wet weather.” Having given the advantages of steam road rolling, I will now proceed to give the disadvantages. (1.) The first cost; this to a small borough or town is often the great stumbling block. It is a pity that two or three of them could not join, and procure one between them at joint cost, thus avoiding the individually heavy burden. (2.) The risk of damage to gas and water mains and services; or even of cellars under the streets in some of the older towns. (3.) The interference to traffic whilst the roller is at work; the result is generally unsatisfactory if, to avoid this, the machine is worked during the night. (4.) The noise and smoke. (5.) The risk of frightening horses. (6.) If too heavy a roller is used, the foundation of the roadway may be injured or the metal may be crushed instead of bedded. (7.) The necessity of using so much binding material and water. Before closing this chapter it will be necessary to say a few words upon rollers drawn by horses. These are always unsatisfactory: they are expensive to use, as a large team of horses and a number of attendants are necessary; they are difficult to turn, and the horses’ feet displace almost as many stones as the roller compresses into their beds. They cannot be of greater weight than 10 tons, even when on the hydrostatic principle, and they are clumsy and difficult of manipulation. If a roller is to be used at all, let it be a steam road roller of the most modern description, and of the best manufacture.