The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-08-18
MACADAM THE ~ROADNHKER.
The Famous Scotchman and His Valuable
Gift to Prosperity.


Philanthropy finds many forms, says
the Kansas City Star. Some who are
good at heart go about relieving this
man or that in a sort of a retail
benevOlenCe; others. whose natures
are wholesale, are generous to a ma
ton or a race.
John LOudOn Macadam, that canny
Scot who made the famous pavement
of his NAME, was of the latter class.
MaCadam was born in Ayr IN 1856 and
lived to be so years old. When only
fourteen he left the land of wind and
heather and came to New York, abld-
ing with an uncle already some time
there. This befell in 177O. Here he
was when the revolution broke out,
and, being of obduratetory blood, his
faith was with the king. This had its
reward, too, as in the latter part of
the war and during British Occupa-
ton of New York he became agent
for the sale of prizes at that port.
This was a good, fat place, and his
fortunes, planted 50 in the warmest,
sunniest corner of the wall, waXed
nightly. So the young Scot grew
fortunate and rich, but in the peace
of SO, when, with others of his brood,
he was forced to leave, he lost the
major part. However, he brought
home to Scotland enough and plenty
to purchase an estate in his native
Ayr, and pay quite a bag Of doubloons
for it, too.
1t was now that his eye first fell in
appreciation on the awful roads of his
country. Government, noting this,
appointed him a trustee of roads.
Now did Nacadam enter into the
matter of good roads with great spirit,
and began ~zealOusly to study their con
structiOn. In 179S he was forced to
give over roads for a time, being called
on during the following four years to
pay some heed to his cOuntry'S navy
in the office Of Inspector; but at the
close of his term, in 1902. he returned
to the beloved study of the turnpike.
He travelled all over England and
the south of Scotland at his own eX-
pense, with no other purpose than
roads. This running about he kept up
for some thirteen years, and until he
had covered over thirty thousand miles
and expended more than as many thou
sand dollars.
Roads were a fad with Macadam,
and to be permitted to gaze on them
and waIlOW through their mud and
mire at a cost to himself Of a dollar a
mile was as good and cheap amusement
as he wanted. But. while he was jolt
ing about over bad causeways and
biding at bad tavernS, Macadam was
thinking and planning and Schcming,
and the purpose thereof was roads.
Every Jolt. every lurch, as he rolled
alOnGin his carriage gave him an
idea.
In 1911 he embodied his views in a
communication and unlOaded it on the
helpless house Of commons OF that day.
How to Repair Roads was the sub
jeCt, and he dealt with it clearly and
vigorously. For years later the powers
gave him a chance on the rDi.da about
Bristol, and here was put ii the first
Of that sort Of paving now renowned
the world over as macaddM.
Nacadam'S work was mainly il the
country, and the buXOm aE~ri"UluuTst
of his day and region gave him great
trouble. These fought and opposed
him tooth and nail, after the manner
Ofmen when one attempts their benefit.
Mankind learns slowly, and the farm
er5 and traders about Bristol preferred
their roads Of mud and mire on their
way to market rather than the good
hard wathway OF Macadam.
DuJ IIt C"CoLII llldIl pcISLSJCu, OlCtI
the shock headed fashion of his sort,
and at last conquered. He and his
roads began to be appreciated. When
the revulsiOn am III his favor it vas
without a limit. Everybody, every
where il England, wanted a macadam
road. Flowing, and grading, and rock
crushing were gone about in earnest
and with such good effect that when
the old roadmaster died in 1896, at the
age Of 50, it was said hat Of the thirty
thousand miles Of country roads which
laced and threaded England fully
ninety nine per cent. were macadam
At divers times parliament voted to
Macadam an aggregate sum of thirty
thousand dollars. This scarce matched
his actual outlay, 50 for his time and
genius he was never paid. But his
fame lasts, and hisl name is written as
one of those who lived for general
good. His monument is the roads of
England.