34 THE COACHING AGE. 



suffered from narrow wheels with moderate weights 

 when not in rapid motion, but was equally worn by 

 the rapid driving of heavy stage-coaches, and by the 

 slow grinding of overloaded broad- wheeled waggons. 



It would seem that the institution of turnpikes 

 originated about the beginning of the last century, 

 when the maintenance of the roads was removed from 

 the parishes through which they passed and levied on 

 the travellers by means of tolls ; but the condition of 

 the roads was not said to be improved by the adop- 

 tion of this system. 



Mr. McAdam's leading principle was that a road 

 ought to be considered as an artificial flooring, form- 

 ing a strong, smooth, solid surface capable of carrying 

 great weights and over which carriages might pass 

 without meeting any impediment. 



The leading feature in his system was setting a 

 limit to the size and weight of the stones to be 

 put on the roads, the weight being limited to six 

 ounces ; so for the purpose of ascertaining this cor- 

 rectly, the surveyors were directed to carry a small 

 pair of scales and a six-ounce weight, and in order to 

 test the size, a small iron ring, through which the 

 stones might be passed. 



The practised eye of the surveyor would detect by 

 a glance at a heap of stones whether they were in the 

 main broken in compliance with his requirements. 



