ROAD SYSTEMS OF EUROPE. 301 



the people could afford to pay even an increased tax for exten- 

 sive improvements and the support of all the public roads, and 

 still be gainers by the reduction in the cost of traflfic that would 

 result. 



Roads in Europe. 



The advantages of improvements in public roads by skilful 

 reconstruction, and by watchful and unintermittent care for 

 their preservation, has been tested in several countries ; and on 

 the Continent of Europe systems of intelligent superintendence 

 have long been established, always with the best economical 

 results. 



The following statements of facts are quoted by Gen. Sir John 

 F. Burgoyne, in his " Remarks on the Maintenance of Macad- 

 amized Roads," from papers written by Monsieur L. Dumas and 

 other French engineers of the Corps des Fonts et Chauss^es : — 



" The following took place with respect to the high roads 

 (Routes Royales,) of the Department de La Sarthe, somewhat 

 less than two hundred and fifty miles in extent. In 1793, a 

 demand was made to put them in complete order, £15,280, or 

 £60 per mile ; in 1824, the demand was £9,000, or £36 per 

 mile; in 1836, the demand was £7,760, or £31 per mile ; in 

 1839, the demand was £6,640, or £26 per mile ; and the roads 

 have become better concurrently with the reduction of cost of 

 maintenance, from being, in 1793, in deep ruts, to 1839, when 

 they were in very good order. 



" Part of the great road between Lyons and Toulouse, till 

 1833, was always in a dreadful state, and yet cost habitually 

 about £110 per annum per English mile for maintenance, when 

 M. Berthault Ducreux introduced a system of patching, instead 

 of general repairs, since when the road was greatly improved, 

 till it was in a very good state, and the annual expense reduced 

 by £13 or £14 per mile. 



" Another instance is quoted, where, prior to 1837, the aver- 

 age amount of broken stone laid on thirty- three miles of road 

 was 6,000 cubic yards ; under the improved system in 1837, 

 6,000 cubic yards were applied, in 1838 only 1,350 cubic yards, 

 and 1839 none. In another instance the cost has been as follows 

 for the expenditure : — 



