ne et lal 
33 
Financially these roads were certainly unsuccessful. From 
time to time returns were made to Parliament in order that it 
might be ascertained when the roads could be disturnpiked. It 
may not be uninteresting if I quote the figures which are given 
in 1846 and in 1869, with respect to the debts and income of 
some of our local roads : 
1846. 1869. 
Income. Debt. Income. Debt. 
£ £ £ £ 
Blackburn and Accrington.. 5157 32414 aboc 3034 
Burnley and Edenfield ....) 2077 6980 1866 2180 
Rochdale and Burnley .... 4255 19477 4486 7729 
The year 1846 was just before the extension to these parts of 
the railway system, which had such a direct effect upon the tolls. 
Comparing 1846 and 1869, we see that the effect of the railway 
system in diverting traffic from the roads on the one hand, is 
almost exactly neutralised by the vast expansion of trade on the 
other, and the toll income is practically the same in 1869 as in 
1846. 
In the extension of the turnpike roads of Lancashire, a notable 
person played a considerable part, I mean Blind Jack, of 
Knaresborough. He became blind when he was four years old, 
but that deprivation does not seem to have affected very seriously 
his wonderful energy. He was accustomed to act the part of a 
guide in the country about Knaresborough, and he attained a 
considerable reputation as a road-maker. He took a contract on 
the Gisburn and Long Preston Road. He had recently been 
employed on the roads about Bury and Haslingden. 
The turnpike system would have been comparatively useless 
had there not been side by side with the movement, or perhaps 
caused by it, a vast improvement in the methods of road-making. 
The ways and doings of the old parish surveyors ‘“chosen,’’ to 
use the word of the statute, for any reason rather than practical 
ability, are familiar to us in the description to which I have 
alluded. From 1800 to 1818, Select Committees of the House 
of Commons were occupied with an enquiry into the great 
Holyhead Road of Telford, and the new methods introduced by 
Jas. Loudon Me.Adam. Evidence was given by drivers of mail 
coaches of the great improvements effected by Mr. Mc.Adam, 
and ultimately a public reward was made to him. Mr. Mc.Adam’s 
