The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-07 00:00:00

MACADAMIZATION.

In the proceedings taken before the House of Lords on
the 11th of last May, several witnesses gave evidence on
the Westminster Improvement Bill, as to the comparative
expense of macadamizing and paving, well worthy the
attention of the inhabitams of those parishes in which
macadamization is proposed. Macadamization is a de-
sirable improvement on paving, for places where quietness
is a desideratum ; but then the expense ought to be
borne by a proportionate subscription from the persons
seeking the benefit. In streets of much traffic the altera-
tion is sibolly impracticable ; for the wear and tear would
be so constant as to allow no time or space for repairs, as
was evident in the macadamized streets last winter.
Where the water-plugs were put up, during the frost, the
forte of the wasted water alone actually beat the mac-
adamization into large holes and pools. The expense of
macadamization ought, in particular, to be explained to in-
habitants before they are persuaded to agree to the altera-
tion—it is no less a difference in ten years than 21. on every
yard; a yafd of paving for that time amounting to 10s.
ltkl., and a yard of macadamized road for the same period
costing 2'. Ins. 10d.
Mr. Johnson, an eminent pavior and stone-merchant,
stated before their Lordships, be had been a contractor for
St. George's, St. lip St.Giles's, and other parishes, and
for some parts of , itv which enabled hint to make
very accurate calcul ns. He proved that the very best
pavement would cost 13s. per square yard, which would
require no repair for the first year certainly, and in most
cases would cost nothing in repair for the first three years;
that the expense after the first year would be about id. per
annum for ten years, after which the pavement, as laid
down, would be worth Bs. per yard to the parish ; thereby
reducing the expense of a square yard of pavement, in ten
years, to 10s. 10d., as under:—
s. d.
First cost . 13 0
Ten years' repairs at 4d. . - 3 4
Ditto cleansing at 3d. - 2 6

Deduct value of old stone - . -

The old stone, Mr. Johnson stated, might last twenty
years longer; hut at all events would be worth 85. per
yard after ten years' wear. That statement was made at a
calculation of using the very best material, but most of the
pavement is laid down at from 75. to 10s. per yard.
A macadamized or broken-atone road requires keeping
in repair the first year, and every year after requires two
coats of three inches thick, to allow for wear; the coatings
cost Is. 9d. each yard, the cleansing and scraping coat lUd.
per yard, as under—
s. d.
First cost . 0 7
Tao coatings. at Is. 9d. each for 10 years - 115 0
Cleansing at 10d. per yard for 10 years . 0 8 4

£2 10 10

The Clerk to St. Martin's Paving Committee sifited that
the expense of keeping in repair the pavement from the
Haymarket to the Admiralty, on an average of seven
years, was 220/.
The Surveyor of the same pa►ish proved the expense of
keeping the same road in repair for the last seven years
was Mid. per yard ; that it has now been macadamized, and
cost, in labour only, from 3s. Gil. to Is. per yard ; that they
broke up all the stone and took none away ; and although
they laid it on from 15 to 18 inches thick, it still wanted a
general coat throughout the line. The Commissioners for
Woods and Forests offered to keep it in repair at 39. 4tl.
per yard, and 2'd. watering. At 3s. 4d. it would cost
1,828!. per annum—a sum more than one-third of their
whole rate for watching, lighting, and paving:
'f he Surveyor to the Commissioners of Westminster-
bridge, stated that the expense of paving and keeping in re-
pair the paving of the bridge for twenty-two years (from
1802 to 1820 was 3,191!., including 1,165/. for new pav-
ing in the first year, making an annual expense of 139/.
About two years ago the bridge was macadamized, and
the year after cost 1,507!. 12s. Gil. There was a covering
ordered in June, 18'25, which cost 172/. 10s., bts:des Mr.
M'Adam's annual charge of 3001. The surveyor said he
thought it now required another covering, like that of last
year, at the expense of 470!. 10s., as he had examined the
road, and found the broken stone, on an average, not more
than three inches thick. -