Roads and Road-making. 85 



not one wheel carriage on the esteat nor indeed any 

 one road that would allow it." " In 1720 I could not 

 in chariote get my wife from Aberdeen to TVfonymusk," 

 wrote Sir Archibald. Macadam had yet to come, and the 

 causeways had evidently been neglected. The question 

 of road reform was just about to be taken up in earnest, 

 however, and for probably the first time on any com- 

 prehensive plan. In that very year, 1720, after due 

 advertisement " att the several paroch churches," the 

 Aberdeenshire county gentlemen " met, and having 

 read the Act of Parliament of 1719, relative to the 

 Highways and Bridges, they unanimously agreed ' That 

 the whole Highways and Bridges, within the said 

 county, should be repaired, amended, and built with all 

 convenient diligence.'" And, to defray the charges 

 that would ensue, they agreed to stent themselves at the 

 rate of 10s. Scots on each ,100 of valued rent ; a scale 

 of rating which continued in force for many years 

 thereafter. The Commissioners appear to have approved 

 of persons in each parish as " overseers," to look after 

 the roads ; but something more definite was needed ; 

 and in 1721 Alexander Jaffray of Kingswells was ap- 

 pointed " General Surveyor of all the highways, cause- 

 ways, and bridges within the countie, who is to ryde 

 and run the same, and make report what bridges or 

 causeways may be necessary to be built or repaired 

 within the county." His salary was 200 merks, with 

 " half-a-crown of ryding charges for each day he has 

 served, or shall serve the shire, anent the reparation of 

 the said highways." The expenditure for riding charges 

 was afterwards limited to 3 sterling a-year. It was 

 the Surveyor's duty in reporting on the bridges and 

 causeways, to state the cases which "could not be suffi- 

 ciently wrought by the labouring men in the respective 

 parishes," and where consequently the services of masons 

 and other artificers were required.* 



*For statement relative to Early Aberdeenshire Roads, Post 

 Towns, &c., see Appendix (2). 



