Conf ruction of Roads. — Repairs. 167

Ing the expenditure and application in each diftriff, under the control of the afilingmagiftrates for the time, or fome fuch power, it is almoft utterly impoffible thatfuch roads can be either made or kept in a good ftate of repair. Mr. Donaldfon,in his “ Modern Agriculture,” has thrown out fome hints on this fubjefil, whichare not, perhaps, unworthy of attention. After recommending the abolition ofthofe ancient ftatutes that regulate the performance of ftatute labour, he advifesthat in every county the juftices of peace be inverted with power to afiefs theinhabitants of the diftrift by fome equitable ratio, whereby they may payonly in proportion to the benefit they receive. <£ Were this generally done,”fays he, “ as is the cafe in feveral parts of Scotland ; the counties divided intodiftricts of fuch fize, that the proprietors could conveniently meet asoccafion re-quired ; the money arifingfrom the commutation a£t collefled by one perfon,who fiiould be allowed a certain percentage on the fum colleflcd, be continuedduring good behaviour, and be refponfible for his conduft to the gentlemenof the diftrict; the money fo collefted be afterwards expended under thedirection of thefe gentlemen, and the whole be fubjeft to the review of thequarter-feflions;—the parifii roads in thefe kingdoms would,” he thinks,“ foon be materially improved. If to thefe regulations a power were addedto mortgage the fum arifing from the commutation of the flatute labour forfuch a number of years, and to fuch an extent as was found necetfary toput the ufeful private roads in a complete ftate of repair, they might, in afew years, be made the reverfe of what they are at prefent. This laft mea-fure would,” he conceives, “ be found the moft effectual that could poftiblybe adopted, and is, probably, the only one that can be reforted to for thepurpofe of eflrefting an immediate and general improvement.”

But, whatever methods or plans may be thought the moft advantageousand effeftual, in removing the inconveniences which have fo long been com-plained of, in the badnefs of parochial roads, it is obvious that, in additionto this, they muft have confiderable eflfeft in improving the ftate of agriculture,by leflening the quantity and expence of labour, as well as by facilitating themeans of conveying certain kinds of materials, without which the attemptsof the farmer in carrying on improvements, muft often be very circumfcribedand ineffeflual.

In general, private or parochial roads are made fo narrow as to admit of car-riages pafling one another with difficulty, except in particular places. They arealfo, in many inftances, extremely circuitous and winding, by which muchtime is loft in the carting of materials. The fide drains are feldom fufficii-