28 TlMEHRI. 



facilities for landing this marl it would be reduced 

 to $2.00 per rood, and there is little doubt but that it 

 will out-last two coverings of burnt-earth and shell. 

 There is great difficulty experienced in some districts of 

 the colony in preparing burnt-earth ; the clay is not 

 always suitable, possibly has too much sand, and when 

 burnt and put on the roads becomes powdered to dust in 

 a few days. There is also a great difference in the 

 quantity of burnt-earth obtained from a cord of wood in 

 the different districts, in some you with difficulty obtain 

 2 or 2^ cubic yards, in others, where the wood and earth 

 are good and the weather favourable, as much as 5 or 

 even 7 cubic yards are obtained. I once in an exceptional 

 instance on the Corentyne obtained between 8^ and 9 

 cubic yards to the cord of wood, but this was with 

 specially sele6led wood, with suitable earth, and a very 

 favorable season. Could this quantity always be obtained 

 the cost of the up-keep of the roads would be very much 

 reduced. I average the quantity of burnt-earth to be 

 obtained from a cord of ordinary wood at 3 cubic yards. 

 The bridges in this colony also require mention while 

 on the subje6l of roads, as the one is part and parcel of 

 the other. They are constru6led mostly of wood, piles 

 being driven at either end, caps placed on these, their 

 beams laid on the caps, and the flooring on the beams, 

 with the addition of handrails as a means of protection 

 to vehicular and other traffic; this old style of bridge 

 was a very primitive stru6ture and is fast going out of 

 use, being replaced by those now erefled on con- 

 crete walls in place of piles and in a good many places 

 with iron superstruflures. The late Mr. TURNER im- 

 ported 7 of the latter, four are eretled in Essequibo, 



