What class of persons did you find in the situation of surveyors on the road?—Always, I think, almost without exception, very low people, many of them old servants, ruined tradesmen, people without that kind of energy and character which I think is absolutely necessary for such a service.
Did you make any inquiry into the mode of the performance of statute labour?—Yes; I inquired very particularly about that, and I found the statute labour, when called for, was sent by the farmer to the roads, but the people seldom did above half a day’s work; and though the farmer lost the service of his servants and team, the public did not get it; it was a heavier oppression on the country than benefit to the roads.
Did you find, in collecting the materials, that there was any deficiency, or any mismanagement, on the part of those who superintended it?—I had very great reason to believe, that in most instances the country was imposed on.
Have you any knowledge of it?—No, I have no knowledge; I had no legal means of taking such measures as should have made me so certain as to be able to give evidence to it.
What extent of turnpike road is there in England and Wales?—On my first examination before a Committee of this House, I stated my opinion to be 25,000 miles; but I see, from a corrected state of the returns made to parliament, which I made out, that the number is 24,599 miles.
Do you know what sum is annually expended upon these roads?—The annual income has been ascertained by the same returns to be 1,282,715l.
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.