Page:Remarks on the Present System of Road Making (1823).djvu/250

 *ments, with a view to substitute a broken stone road in St. James's square, in lieu of the present pavement.

What is your opinion of the effect that would be found from its being carried into execution in all the streets of London, as to the reduction of expense, and benefit generally to the public?—I consider that the expense would be most materially reduced; the convenience of passing over the surface, there could be no doubt, would be generally facilitated, and made more convenient, particularly in the great leading streets, such as Piccadilly, Pall-mall, Parliament street and Whitehall, and others of that description; the expense of the same weight of stone now put upon those streets as pavement would be obtained at infinitely less expense, in a different form, for the purpose of road-making.

Is it your plan to raise the present pavement, and convert that pavement into materials for making the road, or to bring new materials and dispose of the pavement?—For Westminster-bridge I recommended to the trustees to sell the present pavement, because as long as pavements continue to be generally used, stone in that shape and size will always be valuable, and the same weight of granite I could obtain for the formation of the road over the bridge at 10s. 6d. per ton, the present pavement being worth a guinea per ton; but were the streets of London generally taken up, pavement would of course become of less value, and it might be broken for the formation of the roads.

Is that pavement of a quality calculated to make good roads?—The best material in the kingdom.

What proportion would the pavement now used in the streets of London bear to the materials necessary to the formation of the roads?—There would be sufficient for the formation of a strong durable road in the first instance; and I estimate that a