Appendix. 219 



The total amount of original subscriptions for the foregoing 

 447 miles of road was 108,857 19s. 3|d., but this did not suffice 

 for their construction ; preferable subscriptions, or borrowed 

 monies, were needed in all but six or seven cases ; and, adding 

 these amounts, the total sums raised for construction of turnpike 

 roads in Aberdeenshire amounted to 176,678. The total debt 

 upon the various trusts (only two roads, the Inverury and Bridge 

 of Dee being free of such burden) was no less than 409,433 

 9s. 3d. ; and in 1863, the estimated value of this large amount of 

 debt was, at twenty years' purchase, only 39,521 9s. 6d., the 

 revenue being in many cases seriously affected by the opening of 

 railway lines. The average cost of construction (calculating by 

 the amounts raised) was 394 per mile. 



About 1787-8 there were only eight post towns in Aberdeen- 

 shire, viz., Ellon, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Kintore, Old Kain, 

 Old Meldrum, Turriff, and Huntly. After the establishment of 

 the mail coach to Aberdeen, Post Offices were opened at 

 Banchory-Ternan, Kincardine O'Neil, Aboyne, Tullich, Tarland, 

 Strathdon, Braemar, Old Deer, Mintlaw, Strichen, New Pitsligo, 

 Keith-hall, Monymusk, Skene, Alford, and Rhynie. 



3. THE ABERDEENSHIRE CANAL. 



The Aberdeenshire Canal, the total length of which, from the 

 river Don to the Shorelands of Aberdeen, was nearly eighteen 

 and one-fourth miles, was designed by Telford. It reached the 

 summit level, 1 6 8 feet above low- water mark, at Stoneywood. There 

 were on it seventeen canal locks, five aqueduct bridges over con- 

 siderable streams of water, and fifty-six accommodation bridges. 

 By the first Act, obtained in 1796, the Company were authorized 

 to raise 20,000, in 50 shares. The Corporation of Aberdeen 

 subscribed 1000 ; James D. H. Elphinstone, 1000 ; and the 

 Earl of Kintore, 1000. A few other county gentlemen sub- 

 scribed to half that amount, and others in less sums ; but only 

 17,715 in all was realised. A second Act was obtained in 1801, 

 under which a farther sum of 11,421 10s. was raised. The diffi- 

 culty of completing the undertaking was, however, found to be 

 very formidable. The monies subscribed under the second Act (and 

 which were placed as preference shares), proved quite inadequate, 

 and a further mortgage loan of 10,000 was raised upon the 

 credit of revenue. At the close of 1808, the total expenditure 

 had been 43,895 18s. lOd. ; the super- expenditure above capital, 

 at that date, being 17,259 8s. 10d., and the original design had 

 not then been completed by formation of a lock and basin con- 

 necting the canal with the tide-way at Aberdeen Harbour. The 

 canal was opened for navigation, in the beginning of June, 1805; 

 but again completely stopped in a few days, on account of no. 



