No. 216.] 239 



found however, to be affected by the frost, and the upheaving of 

 the large stones caused inequalities, holes and ruts throughout the 

 road, and finally it became almost impassible in the winter and 

 spring months. This road was made by the corporation at great 

 expense, and with the yearly 'repairs for about fifteen years, amount- 

 ed to the enormous sum of about two hundred thousand dollars, for 

 only eight miles in distance, and had become in bad condition to 

 travel on, and caused constant complaint from the public; at length 

 the common council determined on reconstructing the road, and ap- 

 pointed a committee to investigate the matter and make a plan that 

 might ensure a durable road; the result was entire success — an 

 authority was given to the aforesaid committee to go on with the 

 projected work. In adopting a plan of construction, there was much 

 difficulty, as advices came in from all quarters, some recommending 

 one plan and some another; however, the committee resolved on giv- 

 ing an entire new grade to the road bed, cutting down hills and fill- 

 ing up declivities, and making every new grade under the supervis- 

 ion of the late able engineer Judge Wright; under drainage was ef- 

 fected to ensure a dry bottom at all seasons, on which to lay the re- 

 quisite materials for a permanent road. The views of the American 

 engineers who constructed the " Cumberland road," were adopted 

 by breaking round stones, and never using any not angular in shape, 

 and rejecting round ones in all cases. This mode of using stone for 

 roads, has been called " McAdamizing," as Mr. McAdam first in- 

 troduced into England this method of preparing stone for roads, 

 and the committee from time to time, were pestered with advice 

 from " McJldam men^'' and likewise by criticisms m the newspapers 

 abusing the " stupid fat aldermen," for not adhering implicitly to 

 the plan of that gentlemen in making the road. A fact at the time 

 transpired, which may not inaptly be mentioned here relative to Mr. 

 McAdam, which came out in a correspondence of the^ committee, 

 with an engineer of the government, who acted on the Cumberland 

 road; it appeared that Mr. McAdam had been employed as a labor- 

 er on the above named road, where he gained his knowledge of road 

 making, and then returned to his native country where he became a 

 great road maker under the British governmen*^, united with his sons, 

 born in this country, and thus acquired fame for an invention not 

 his own. It was found that the rocks on this island were not suffi- 

 ciently hard to ensure a permanent road, with the exception of some 

 boulders which on blasting were found to be exceedingly hard, and 

 such as would not grind away in wearing; these consequently were 

 selected and broken finely, and were used for the upper strata of four 



