Machine for clearing roads. 5l 



It has been obferved, that ftones are fometimes forced up Machine for 

 by the machine; but it appears to be thofe.only which pro- fJ^J^'^Yd?'^' 

 je6lin fuch a degree as to b^ dangerous to the traveller, and 

 which require to be broken for the more efFedual mending of 

 the road. 



I can fay nothing concerning the effe6l of the machine 

 upon dufty roads, having had no opportunity of trying it at 

 that feafon of the year. When, indeed, the roads are watered, 

 as about London, there is no doubt but a great quantity of 

 that dirt may be removed, which, in a few hours of fcorch- 

 ing fun, would again be converted into a body of duft. 



If it fliould be objeded, that the machine is too large, and 

 that a fmaller one, which might pafs over half the fpace of 

 ground that this does, and might be worked by two horfes, 

 would be better ; I muft beg leave to anfwer, that, in my 

 opinion, with a lefs one there would be much labour to little 

 purpofe ; becaufe this machine, which pafTes over a fpace of 

 about fix feet and a half, will not, in forae places, when the 

 roads are very wet and very deep, leave more than three feet 

 clear, the mud on each fide falling in and filling up, to a con- 

 fiderable extent, the fpace already pafied over : it muft there- 

 fore be obvious, that, under fimilar circum fiances, the 

 track of a fmaller one would almofl inftantly be obliterated. 



Testimonials. 



I am fo anxipus that the Society (hould have ample fatls- 

 faftion on this head, that I ftiould be happy if they would, 

 before finally determining on the utility of this machine, con- 

 defcend to make fome inquiries in this part of the country, 

 where it has beett publicly tried. 



I can however mention, with fome pleafure, that feveral 

 gentlemen, ading as Commiifioners of the Roads, have ho- 

 noured me with their attendance during various experiments ; 

 and, having witnefled the very powerful efFeds of the ma- 

 chine, they have given it their public approbation at the lafi: 

 monthly meeting, when the following entry was made in their 

 minute-book : — 



" At a meeting of Trufiees of the London and Bath roads, 

 held at the Globe Inn, Newbury, on Monday, the 21 fi of 

 February, ISO^. At this meeting were prefent, James Croff, 



Efq. 



