158 The Right Hon. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu [April 3, 



of roadway near the summit of the Grampians upon which heather, 

 grass, and rushes were growing, and the appearance of the road 

 clearly showed that very few, if any, vehicles used it. It may be 

 taken for granted, now, that between the beginning of July and the 

 end of October this road is used by thousands of motor cars, and 

 even at other times of the year a considerable number of auto- 

 mobilists, who are bound North or South, cross this bleak region. 

 To put the facts in another way, at least 90 per cent, of the road 

 traffic to-day between Blair Athol and Inverness consists of motor- 

 cars. To take another stretch of road nearer London, some of 

 my audience, in these days of touring, doubtless know the road 

 between Basingstoke and Winchester. Ten years ago, except for a 

 very small amount of local traffic, there was hardly any use made of 

 this fine main road between Stratton and Kemshott Hill, for the 

 highway runs through a piece of country destitute of villages, and 

 only boasting of a few scattered cottages. In 1808 grass had grown 

 far up on the sides of the road, and the fine and wide coaching 

 highway of our forefathers had become little better than a country 

 lane. To-day all this is being altered, the road being vastly improved, 

 and motor cars bound for the South and West of England pass along 

 by day and night, imprinting on the surface the peculiar marks of 

 the motorist, those tracks and holes which denote the passage of 

 many motor cars following each otlier in the same track. Parenthe- 

 tically I may remark that this habit of every car pursuing exactly 

 the same track is responsible for most of the damage attributed to 

 motor-car traffic, for only a small strip of roadway, not exceeding 

 one twentieth, has thus to bear the whole wear and tear. 



The main road mileage for England and Wales is to-day 27,556 

 miles, and it is safe to say there is not a mile which is not costing 

 surveyors uneasiness owing to the increasing traffic of all kinds which 

 is to-day using them. The cost of the upkeep on" the main roads 

 repaired by County Councils has risen from 55L in 1896 to 73Z. per 

 mile in 1906. I give some figures which amply demonstrate the 

 increase in main road expenditure which has to be faced by County 

 Councils with regard to roads which they repair themselves. 



Main Roads Repaired by County Councils themselves. 



Statement (compiled from the Annual Local Taxation Returns) 

 showing for the years 1896 to 1906 the total amount expended 

 (otherwise than out of loans) by County Councils in England and 

 Wales on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of those main 

 roads which were repaired by the County Councils themselves, the 

 mileage of those roads, and the average amount so expended per 

 mile : — 



