Page:Remarks on the Present System of Road Making (1823).djvu/209

 watching, &c. of the liberty or borough of * * * * is placed in the trustees of the roads, the trustees are empowered to rate the inhabitants, and are also empowered to light the streets, &c. with gas, and to allow gas to be taken from their mains for the lighting of private dwellings, manufactories, &c.; so that in all probability the latter indulgence may pay the greater part, if not the whole, of the expense of lighting the public lamps. The ninety-third clause empowers the trustees to pave, light and watch any town, village or place through, which the roads pass, upon application of two-thirds of the inhabitants, and is in my view extremely important.

Have you any further suggestions to offer to the Committee that would tend to the improvement of the roads, or the laws relating to them?—Upon the subject of turnpike roads, and of wheel-carriages generally, I am of opinion that such a spirit of improvement has gone forth as, with the assistance of judicious legislative enactments, will in a few years carry both to a state of very great perfection; but I cannot close these remarks without observing on the injurious effect which the large fees paid to the higher officers of both houses of parliament has upon the growing improvements of the country, by preventing a recurrence to parliament to remove obstacles which the prejudice of some will not, and the incapacity of others cannot permit. The periodical expenses of renewing turnpike acts is really enormous, when it is considered that between the fees of parliament on the one hand, and a two month's residence in London of the country solicitor, to manage the business, besides a parliamentary agent in town to assist him, four or five hundred pounds are soon swallowed up; but I also feel it right to suggest, that if parliament would allow affidavits to be made before two magistrates in the county, of the notices directed by the standing orders of parliament, having been duly