Page:Remarks on the Present System of Road Making (1823).djvu/46

 PART THIRD.

CARE OF THE FINANCES.

The funds placed by the Legislature at the disposal of the Commissioners for the care of turnpike roads are very considerable, and might be supposed with proper management, fully equal to the object; they arise principally from toll duties, and a proportion of statute labour.

As long as it shall be necessary to raise large sums for the maintenance of roads, the present means must continue; toll duties, although liable to many objections, are so immediately, and effectually productive, that little hope can be entertained of the possibility of their being reduced, until a continuance of a better system shall have materially amended the roads, and reduced the expence, so as to leave means for extinguishing the heavy debt owing by the country for this branch of the public service.