Remarks on the Present System of Road Making / With Observations, Deduced from Practice and Experience, With a View to a Revision of the Existing Laws, and the Introduction of Improvement in the Method of Making, Repairing, and Preserving Roads, and Defending the Road Funds from Misapplication. Seventh Edition, Carefully Revised, With an Appendix, and Report from the Select Committee of the House of Commons, June 1823, with Extracts from the Evidence

by John Loudon McAdam

Has any estimate ever been made of the extent of that loss?—There can be no accurate estimate of a loss so universal as that of the waste of horses and carriages by bad roads; but the Committee of 1811 estimated the saving which would be made to the country by putting the roads in a proper state of repair, at a sum equal to five millions annually.

What remedy would you propose to cure the defects of the general system of road management?—My opinion is, that the only cure would be to have people of a better station of life placed over them in the direction of this business; that each county or large district in the country ought to have an officer in the character of a gentleman, to oversee the surveyors of the district; not only to direct them what to do, but to see that the work is judiciously and honestly executed; and I think a very small proportion of the sum now wasted by bad management would pay for such an establishment.

Would you alter the trusts?—That would be a great advantage, if the trusts could be consolidated; but there are objections to that, and very serious objections.

Local objections?—Yes, such as the debt upon each trust.

Do you propose the appointment of those overseers to be with the present commissioners of the roads?—Certainly.

Do you propose any general inspection to be established over the whole system of road-making?—I should think it a public advantage if there was some inspection or controlling power in some quarter or other, to prevent the general surveyors from being improperly appointed; but whether that controlling power should emanate from the government, or the authorities in the county, I am not a judge.

Do you think a controlling power established in the metropolis, to communicate on the subject throughout the kingdom, would be an advantageous establishment?—I think it would be a very profitable and desirable establishment.

Looking to the revenues and to practical advantages?—Looking to the revenues, practical advantages, and to the dissemination of information.

Would you propose their having a power of suspending officers in certain cases?—Certainly, till the pleasure of the commissioners was known; on any gross instance of misconduct or negligence.

Would not you propose they should report occasionally the state and condition of the roads, and also the state of the finances of each trust?—I should think the state of the finances ought to be reported in some way every year, that they might reach parliament, either by counties, or by some means the least expensive and least troublesome; and I think such a report of the finances, annually, would be a great means of preventing mis-application of the public funds; and it would create a comparison between one part of the country and another, that would be useful in checking misconduct.