ROAD MAKING BEGINS. 71 



Carbonear and Brigus, the centres of a considerable 

 population. By establishing a regular system of 

 boats to cross this bay, carrying mails and passengers, 

 a route was established by which nearly half the 

 population in the country were provided with an im- 

 perfect means of communication. 



To Sir Thomas Cochrane, then Governor, belongs 

 the distinguished honor of introducing this important 

 step in the furtherance of civilization. He also con- 

 structed a road to Torbay, a village north of St. 

 John's ; and a third along a beautiful valley through 

 which flows a small stream falling into St. John's 

 harbor at a point now known as Waterford Bridge. 



This beginning of road making took place only 

 seventy years ago, but the progress made has been 

 most remarkable. Year after year roads radiating 

 from St. John's in various directions were built, along 

 which farms and neat farmhouses soon became visi- 

 ble. One of these roads extends first to Topsail on 

 Conception Bay, thence to Holyrood, at the head of 

 the bay, and further on to Salmonier, St. Mary's and 

 Placentia. 



When representative government was established 

 in 1832, an annual grant was voted for making and 

 repairing roads and bridges, and of late years over 

 $150,000 per annum have been expended for this 



