The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-12
MAcADAM. rH4 RoAoMAkER.
Tho Famous scotohman and Ills VaIuabio
Gift TO POstority.

MACADAM. The ROAOMAkER.
Tho Famous sootohmnn and Ills valuabio
GIFT TO Postority.
Philanthropy finds many forms, says
the Kansas City Star. Some who arc
good ut heort go about relieving this
mon or that in sort of retail benevo-
|enoe; others, whose natures nrc whole
ealc, orc generous to nation or rac,.
John Loudon Maoadarn, that canny
Scot who made the famous pavement OF
his name, was of the latter class Mac
adam was born In Ayr in 1850 md lived
to DO so years old When only fourteen
no left the lnnd Of wind and heather
aDd came to New York, abiding with
ON uncle already sorno time there. This
befell In 1T7o Hero he wns when THO
revolution broke out. and, being of OBJ
duratc tory blood, his faith was with
the king. This had its reward too, as
IN the Inter part of tho war and during
British occupation of New York he be-
came agent for tho sale of prizes ut that
port This was q good, fat place, and
his fortunes, planted 50 IL tho warnest,
sunnicst corner of tho wall, wayctl
nightly. So the young Scot grow
fortunate and rich, but in the peace OF
80, when, with others Of his brood, he
was forced to leave, nc lost tho major
part. However, he brought homo 30
Scotland enough and plenty to purchase
On estate in his native Ayr, and poy
quito u bag of doubloons for 1t, too.
1t wos now that his eye first fell tn
appreciation on the awful roads Of his
country. Government, noting this, ap-
pointed him trustee of roads. Now
did Maoadnm enter into the master of
good roads with great spirit, and began
zonIo,,sly to study their construction
In lTos no was forced to give over roads
for tino, being called on during tho
following four years to pay eoae heed
TO his country's nnvy In the Office Of In
spector; but ct tho close OF his term, in
1902, he returned to the beloved stas1v
of the turnpilto
IIc travelled all o%cx England a1sl tho
south OF Scotland at his own expense,
with no other purpose than roads This
thirteen years, and until he had GOV.
cred in his journeys ovor thirty thou
sand milos and expended moro than as
Innny thousand dollars.
Roads wero fad with Macadam, and
70 be permitted to gaao ON them and
srallow through their mud md mire at
COST to himself of dollar q mile was
os good and cheap amusement as no
wnnted But, while no was jolting
about over bad causownys ond abiding
OF bad tavcrns, Macadaln was thinking
and planning and schcming, and tho
purpose thereof was roads Every Jolt,
every lurch, as he rolled oloug In his
carriage gavo him an idea
In 1911 he embodied his views In
communication and unloadod It on the
helpless house OF commons of that day.
GLOW to Repair Roads" was the sub
joct, and he dealt with it clearly and
vigorously. Pour years lnter the pow
ers gave him chanoc on the roads
about Bristol, and here was put IN tho
first Of that sort Of paving now rs
nowncd tho world over as maeadam
Macadaln's work was mainly in tho
country, and tho buxon agriculturist
of his day ond region gave him great
trouble Those fought and opposed
him tooth and nail, after the manner of
men when ono attempts their benefit.
Mankind learns slowly, md the farm
ers and troders about Bristol preferred
thor roads of mud and miro on their
way DO market rather than tie good
hard pathway of Muoada1n
But the Scotchnan persisted, otter
the shock-headcd fashion of his sort,
ond Mt last conquered. Hc and his roads
began to DO appreciated When the re.
vulsion came in his favor It came with.
out limit Everybody, everywherc in
England, wanted o macadam road.
Flowing, and grading. and rock crush
ing wore gone about in earnest and
with such good effect that when the old
roadmaster died in 1886, OF the age of
so, it was said that of tho thirty thou
sond miles Of country roads which laced
and threaded England fully nincty-nine
per cent were mncadam
At divers times parliamena voted TO
Macadan an aggregate sum Of thirty
thousand dollars This scarce matched
bis octnal outlay, 30 for his time and
genius he was never pcid. But his
fame lasts. ond his name Is writtnn as
ono of those who lived for general good
His monument Is tho roads Of England.
CAFE DEPOSIT COMPANIES.
Hhehs 2susfnces Was tho Result % n Itee-
tauratcur.s Experience.