West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-01-14
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Tho Tsasaa. sss2,c.,,nan all tlis valuable
Clst - Postersty.
philanthropy finds uary forms. says
TIC Kansas City S.a~. Sonic WHO nre
good at heart go about relieving this
man or that In n sort OF a retail bcnevo-
lcnce; others, whose natures arc whole
sale, ore generous 10 nation or a race.
John LOulon Macadam, that canry
Scot who made the famous pavement OF
his name, was of the latter class Mae
adam was born IN Ayr in 1876 and lived
TO be so years old. When only fourteen
he left the land Of wind and heather
and came To New York, abiding with
an uncle already some time there. This
befell In ITO Here he was whei tho
revolution broke out, and, being Of OBJ
durate tory blood, his faith was WITH
the king. This had its reward, too, as
in the latter part of the war and duriar
British occupation of New York he be-
came agent for the salcof prizes at that
port. This was good, fat place, aud
his fortunes, planted 50 ia the yarmest,
sunniest corner of the wall, waxcd
nightly. SO tho young Scot grew
fortunate and rich. but ia the peace of
'S3, when, with others of his brood, he
was forced to leave, lie lost the major
part. However, he brought home to
Scotland enoaSi and plenty TO purchase
On estate in his native Ayr, and pay
quite bag OF doubloons for it, too.
IL was now that his eye frst fell IN
appreciation on the awful roads of his
country. Governments, noting this. APP
pointed him trustee OF roads Now
did Maccdnn enter into the matter of
good roads with great spirit, and begaa
zcalonsly to study Their construction.
In 1908 he was forced 70 give over roads
for time, being called on during the
following four years TO pay sorle heed
to his countrys navy In the Office of i'm
spcctor; but ut 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 expense,
with no other purpose than roads. This
running about he kept up for some
thirteen years, and until he had COW
cred in his journeys over thirty thou
sand miles and expended more than "a
many thousand dollars.
Roads were q fad with Macadar1, and
TO be permitted TO gaze on them and
wallow through their mad ana I.l;rc ut
cost 20 himself of n dollar mile was
as good ana cheap amusement rs he
wanted Bat, while he was joltiny
about over bad causeways and abidiny
az bad tavcrns, Macadam was thinl.ing
and plauui1S aid schcning, and the
purpose thereof was roads. Every Jolt.
every lureh. rs he rolled along in his
carriages gave him an idea.
In 1911 hc embodied his views in a
communication and unloadcd 1t on the
helpless house OF commons of that day.
How to Repair Roads, was the sub
jet, and he dealt with 1t clearly and
vigorously. Four years later the pow
ers gave him n chance on the roads
about Bristol, and here was put in the
hrst OF that sort Of paving now re-
nowned the world over as macmillan.
Macadan's work was mainly in the
country, and the buxom agriculturist
OF his Day end REGION give him g,.cat
trouble. These fought and opposed
him tooth and nail, after the manner of
men when one atterSots their benefit.
Mankind learns slowly, and the farm
ers and traders about Bristol preferred
their roads OF mud and mire on their
way to market rather than the good
hard pathway of Macadain.
Bat the Scotchman persisted, after
the shock-hoadcd fashion of his sort.
and at last conquered. He and his roads
began 70 be appreciated. When the re-
vulsi0n came in his favor It came with
ont Il limit Every body, everywhere IN
Eaglaad, wanted a macatlam road.
Flowing. and grading. and rock crush
ing were gone about in earnest and
with such good ciYcct that when the cd
roadmastcr dicl in 1895, ut the are of
80, it was SAID that of the thirty thou
sand niles of country roads which laced
and threaded England fully ninety-nine
per cent were macadam.
At divers times parliament voted to
Macadam al aggregate sum of thirty
taousand~lollars. This scarce matched
his actual outlay, so for his time and
genius he was never paid. But his
fame lasts, and his name is written as
one Of those who lived for general good.
Ills monument Is the roads of ENGLAND.