96 Farm Roads on Sti-ong Soils. 



distance will often be required when the pebbles or native gravel 

 are not available as a covering. The writer has paid as much as 

 \0s. a yard for granite for this purpose in one instance, which 

 brought the total cost of the road to above 6/. per chain. Broken 

 granite will weigh double the weight of gravel, and on that 

 account alone is very expensive. 



The limestones which adjoin the red sandstones also afford an 

 excellent foundation under either gravel, granite, gritstone, or any 

 other metalling not affected by frost. Both the magnesian and 

 mountain limestones are, however, often wholly used and with 

 superior effect ; in fact the limestones of the lower secondary and 

 transition strata are hard, and an excellent material of themselves, 

 not being liable to decay by the effects of frost as the lias and 

 oolitic beds. 



The millstone grit which borders on the coal-measures clay can 

 be quarried, broken in two sizes, and clamped ready for carting, 

 at an average cost of Is. 6d. per cubic yard. Good roads have been 

 made with a foundation of this rock, broken to the size of 3i inches, 

 and covered by an equal quantity broken to the smaller size of 2? 

 inches, at the cost of 3/. IO5. per chain ; the carting being 1+ mile 

 from the quarry to the road. 



Having referred to the various clay beds in the order of their 

 ffeoloffical succession, it should be observed in conclusion that 

 the prices which have been given in the foregoing paper are only 

 approximate prices. 



It has been assumed that the landowner promoting the improve- 

 ment finds the material in its unprepared state, where it exists 

 on the estate. The object in setting forth these figures is to 

 represent comparative rather than actual cost. All practised road- 

 makers know that peculiarities attend every locality and every 

 stratum of the earth's crust, and that it would be impossible to 

 quote figures which could be accepted as appropriate and strictly 

 accurate without special examination. 



52, Parliament Street, Westminster, March, 1857. 



The foregoing excellent and practical essay on the construction 

 of roads on retentive soils will probably rank among the very 

 best that have hitherto appeared on the art of roadmaking. The 

 great cost, however, of a thoroughly well-made road, such as is 

 here described, will effectually deter both landlord and tenant 

 from roadmaking on such a scale, except in cases where the 

 traffic is considerable. But every clay-land farmer is deeply in- 

 terested in having practicable roads at all seasons between the 

 different portions of his farm, and I am therefore anxious to 

 point out to him that the principles here laid down admit of a 

 much wider application than might at first sight appear. The 



