The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-01-23
Road Making in Europe.


European countries experimental for
centuries in constructing highways, and
1t is to be expected that the coach roads
in counties where railroads are scarce
are models of smoothness. The old
countries have had the time to expert
ment, and now that there is a demand
for smoother wagon ways III this country
it will be well enough for road makers
i'll this country to begin where European
road-makers left Oft and save the time
and money which they would otherwise
waste in experimenting.
An article in the August number Of
the Engineering Magazine gives some
interesting particulars with respect to
the condition and maintenance OF high
waysSin France, Ireland, and on the
continent generally. Everywhere the
hand of the government is visible. in
France" says the writer, "you may
drive from Paris to Orleans, to Bourges
to Movers, and across the Jura mountains
into Switzerland, beholding all the
marvels of scenery, and you may continue
on into Germany and follow the Rhine
and its valley of legends until you reach
the shoals of the North Sea. You slay
vary this journey in whatever way your
inclination may urge. You may travel
the roads of Scotland, Italy, Austria,
Belgium, Baden or Scandinavia, and will
everywhere find that the public hand has
been industriously directed to the care
and keeping of the csmmon roads.
Every government has special depart
ment devoted to the care Of roads and
bridges
There are no toll roads. ALI the high
ways are free, and so much care is taken
of them that they are at all times in the
best travelling condition. All the roads
are maeadamized, the only difference in
the system adopted being that in the
Tresagnet system, in use in France, the
foundation of the road, like that of the
old Romans, is OF large blocks compactly
laid, which constitutes the basis of the
broken one, the latter being of larger
size than the upper, in which no stone
larger than 1--WE inches is used Telfords
system also calls for large blocks as
foundation. with graduated layers of
broken stone while the system of
Macadam dispenses with the large lower
blocks aud makes the entire bed of
broken stoue larger at the bottom, finish
ing of with two inch stone and making
the road bed compect by passing over
it heavy roller. At this day
France has one hundred and thirty
thousand miles of these compound
macadamized road. In England, Ireland
and Scotland the system advocated by
Macadam, and to which his name is
given, almost everywhere prevails. In
Ireland these high class roads add not
little to the delight of picturesque Kill
larney district, and are every here found
by the tourist and traveller who visit that
beautiful country. In Scotland, travel
to all the famous historical places, lakes
and battle grounds except perhaps in the
most remote highlands. is made with
the same ease and unoer the same
pleasant conditions. In France all the
principal roads are macadamized, and
for long time the expense of making
and maintaining them was divided be-
tween the Government aud the counties,
but is now met by the new county
council, to which ample revenue has
been assigned by the Government. The
care of the public roads under the SUPER
vision of official inspectors the engineers
trained to their respective duties, is held
to be a primary consideration in Eag
land and on the continent, and notwith
standing the vast network of railroads
in these countries, the common roads
continue to keep in the best condition
All the roads are excellent, but the roads
of France are probably the most perfect
in the world. What they are in United
States all men know