Page:Remarks on the Present System of Road Making (1823).djvu/160

 Somersham of ten miles; being together one hundred and twenty-five miles.

How long have you been appointed to them?—My first appointment was in December 1817.

Had you been previously in the habits of making the improvement of turnpike roads your study?—I had at Bristol, under my father's tuition.

The information you have acquired, I presume, then, has been entirely under your father's system?—Yes, upon my father's principles of making roads.

And those plans which you have adopted, have been entirely conformable to the evidence which he has given before this Committee?—Entirely conformable to those principles which my father has stated in his evidence before this Committee.

Can you give the Committee any information with regard to the revenues of the different roads under your management?—The gross revenue of the trusts I have mentioned, of which I am general surveyor, is about 19,550l. per annum.

Please to state to the Committee, the state of repair in which these roads were when they first came under your management?—The roads in general were in a very loose, rough, and heavy state, much overloaded with materials, the watercourses much stopped up, and the roads in general in a very bad state.

What improvements have taken place upon them since your undertaking the care of them?—The Epsom and Ewell roads were put into a perfect state of repair during the last spring and summer; the Reading road has also been put into a perfect state of repair during the last summer; and the Cheshunt turnpike roads have been put into a good state of repair, notwithstanding that the improvements commenced in October, and have been carried on through the whole winter: the improvement is proceeding rapidly in the other districts; but the three roads I have mentioned, are the only