Page:Remarks on the Present System of Road Making (1823).djvu/249

 Can you state what part of the sum goes to the payment of the interest of the debt, and what is applied to the improvement of the road?—The mortgage debt in the kingdom is 6,036,502l.; but there is a large sum due to treasurers, and balances of interest, which is also bearing interest, amounting to 569,041l. The whole debt that bears interest is 6,605,543l.

What is the amount of tolls?—1,282,715l.

What do you compute the expense of statute labour at?—I never have made any guess at it; for two reasons, statute labour is so difficult to guess at; and the proportion given to the turnpike roads is so different in different parts of the country, under local Acts, and under the general Act; but in the roads under my management it amounts to about five per cent. of the toll-*duty.

Mr. James M'Adam, Examined.

Have you in any instance tried the experiment of converting paved streets into roads?—I have in several instances taken up small pieces of pavement that I found upon the several road trusts, and substituted road. In the town of Stamford I took a piece up of considerable extent, which is now road instead of the pavement.

What has been the effect of the conversion of the pavement into road?—The expense has considerably diminished, and facility of travelling very considerably increased.

Has any suggestion been made to you of converting the pavement of any part of the streets of London into road?—I have been ordered, by the Parliamentary commissioners having charge of Westminster Bridge, to prepare an estimate and report, with a view to convert that pavement into a broken stone road, which documents I have furnished; and I have reason to believe that the same will be immediately carried into effect. I have been also directed by the trustees and proprietors of St. James's square, to prepare (which I have done) the same docu