by Daniel Defoe
water might have a free course into the ditches; and persons kept in
constant employ to fill up holes, let out water, open drains, and
the like, as there should be occasion--a proper work for highwaymen
and such malefactors, as might on those services be exempted from
the gallows.
It may here be objected that eight years' assessment to be demanded
down is too much in reason to expect any of the poorer sort can pay;
as, for instance, if a farmer who keeps a team of horse be at the
common assessment to work a week, it must not be put so hard upon
any man as to work eight weeks together. It is easy to answer this
objection.
So many as are wanted, must be had; if a farmer's team cannot be
spared without prejudice to him so long together, he may spare it at
sundry times, or agree to be assessed, and pay the assessment at
sundry payments; and the bank may make it as easy to them as they
please.
Another method, however, might be found to fix this work at once.
As suppose a bank be settled for the highways of the county of
Middlesex, which as they are, without doubt, the most used of any in
the kingdom, so also they require the more charge, and in some parts
lie in the worst condition of any in the kingdom.
If the Parliament fix the charge of the survey of the highways upon
a bank to be appointed for that purpose for a certain term of years,
the bank undertaking to do the work, or to forfeit the said
settlement.
As thus: suppose the tax on land and tenements for the whole county
of Middlesex does, or should be so ordered as it might, amount to
20,000 pounds per annum more or less, which it now does, and much
more, including the work of the farmers' teams, which must be
accounted as money, and is equivalent to it, with some allowance to
be rated for the city of London, &c., who do enjoy the benefit, and
make the most use of the said roads, both for carrying of goods and
bringing provisions to the city, and therefore in reason ought to
contribute towards the highways (for it is a most unequal thing that
the road from Highgate to Smithfield Market, by which the whole city
is, in a manner, supplied with live cattle, and the road by those
cattle horribly spoiled, should lie all upon that one parish of
Islington to repair); wherefore I will suppose a rate for the
highways to be gathered through the city of London of 10,000 pounds
per annum more, which may be appointed to be paid by carriers,
drovers, and all such as keep teams, horses, or coaches, and the
like, or many ways, as is most equal and reasonable; the waste lands
in the said county, which by the consent of the parishes, lords of
the manors, and proprietors shall be allowed to the undertakers,
when inclosed and let out, may (the land in Middlesex generally
letting high) amount to 5,000 pounds per annum more. If, then, an
Act of Parliament be procured to settle the tax of 30,000 pounds per
annum for eight years, most of which will be levied in workmen and
not in money, and the waste lands for ever, I dare be bold to offer
that the highways for the whole county of Middlesex should be put
into the following form, and the 5,000 pounds per annum land be
bound to remain as a security to maintain them so, and the county be
never burdened with any further tax for the repair of the highways.
And that I may not propose a matter in general, like begging the
question, without demonstration, I shall enter into the particulars
how it may be performed, and that under these following heads of
articles:
1. What I propose to do to the highways.
2. What the charge will be.
3. How to be raised.
4. What security for performance.
5. What profit to the undertaker.
1. WHAT I PROPOSE TO DO TO THE HIGHWAYS.--I answer first, not
repair them; and yet secondly, not alter them--that is, not alter
the course they run; but perfectly build them as a fabric. And, to
descend to the particulars, it is first necessary to note which are
the roads I mean, and their dimensions.
First, the high post-roads, and they are for the county of Middlesex
as follows:
Miles.
Staines, which is . . . . 15
Colebrook is from Hounslow 5
Uxbridge . . . . . . . . . 15
From London to Bushey, the Old Street-way 10
Barnet, or near it . . . . 9
Waltham Cross, in Ware Road 11
Bow . . . . . . . . . 2
==
67
Besides these, there, are cross-roads, bye-roads, and lanes, which
must also be looked after; and that some of them may be put into
condition, others may be wholly slighted and shut up, or made drift-
ways, bridle-ways, or foot-ways, as may be thought convenient by the
counties.
The cross-roads of most repute are as follows:
Miles.
London Hackney, Old Ford, and Bow 5
Hackney Dalston and Islington 2
Ditto Hornsey, Muswell Hill, to 8
Whetstone
Tottenham The Chase, Southgate, &c., 6
called Green Lanes
Enfield Wash Enfield Town, Whetstone, 10
Totteridge, to Edgworth
From London Hampstead, Hendon, and 8
Edgworth
Edgworth Stanmore, to Pinner, to 8
Uxbridge
London Harrow and Pinner Green 11
Ditto Chelsea, Fulham 4
Brentford Thistleworth, Twittenham,
and Kingston 6
Kingston Staines, Colebrook, and Uxbridge 17
Ditto Chertsey Bridge 5
===
90
Overplus miles 50
===
140
And because there may be many parts of the crossroads which cannot
be accounted in the number abovementioned, or may slip my knowledge
or memory, I allow an overplus of 50 miles, to be added to the 90
miles above, which together make the cross-roads of Middlesex to be
140 miles.
For the bye-lanes such as may be slighted need nothing but to be
ditched up; such as are for private use of lands, for carrying off
corn, and driving cattle, are to be looked after by private hands.
But of the last sort, not to be accounted by particulars, in the
small county of Middlesex we cannot allow less in cross-bye-lanes,
from village to village, and from dwelling-houses which stand out of
the way to the roads, than 1,000 miles.
So in the whole county I reckon up -
Miles.
Of the high post-road 67
Of cross-roads less public 140
Of bye-lanes and passes 1,000
=====
1,207
These are the roads I mean, and thus divided under their several
denominations.
To the question, what I would do to them I answer -
(1). For the sixty-seven miles of high post-road I propose to throw
up a firm strong causeway well-bottomed, six feet high in the middle
and four feet on the side, faced with brick or stone, and crowned
with gravel, chalk, or stone, as the several counties they are made
through will afford, being forty-four feet in breadth, with ditches
on either side eight feet broad and four feet deep; so the whole
breadth will be sixty feet, if the ground will permit.
At the end of every two miles, or such like convenient distances,
shall be a cottage erected, with half an acre of ground allowed,
which shall be given gratis, with one shilling per week wages, to
such poor man of the parish as shall be approved, who shall, once at
least every day, view his walk, to open passages for the water to
run into the ditches, to fill up holes or soft places.
Two riders shall be allowed to be always moving the rounds, to view
everything out of repair, and make report to the directors, and to
see that the cottagers do their duty.
(2). For the 140 miles of cross-road a like causeway to be made,
but of different dimensions--the breadth twenty feet, if the ground
will allow it; the ditches four feet broad, three feet deep; the
height in the middle three feet, and on the sides one foot, or two
where it may be needful; to be also crowned with gravel, and one
shilling per week to be allowed to the poor of every parish, the
constables to be bound to find a man to walk on the highway every
division for the same purpose as the cottagers do on the greater
roads.
Posts to be set up at every turning to note whither it goes, for the
direction of strangers, and how many miles distant.
(3). For the 1,000 miles of bye-lanes, only good and sufficient
care to keep them in repair as they are, and to carry the water off
by clearing and cutting the ditches, and laying materials where they
are wanted.
This is what I propose to do to them, and what, if once performed, I
suppose all people would own to be an undertaking both useful and
honourable.
2. The second question I propose to give an account of is, WHAT THE
CHARGE WILL BE, which I account thus.
The work of the great causeway I propose, shall not cost less than
ten shillings per foot (supposing materials to be bought, carriage,
and men's labour to be all hired), which for sixty-seven miles in
length is no less than the sum of 176,880 pounds; as thus:
Every mile accounted at 1,760 yards, and three feet to the yard, is
5,280 feet, which at ten shillings per foot is 2,640 pounds per
mile, and that, again, multiplied by sixty-seven, makes the sum of
176,880 pounds, into which I include the charge of water-courses,
mills to throw off water where needful, drains, &c.
To this charge must be added, ditching to inclose land for thirty
cottages, and building thirty cottages at 40 pounds each, which is
1,200 pounds.
The work of the smaller causeway I propose to finish at the rate of
a shilling per foot, which being for 149 miles in length, at 5,280
feet per mile, amounts to 36,960 pounds.
Ditching, draining, and repairing 1,000 miles, Supposed at three
shillings per rod, as for 320,000 rods, is 48,000 pounds, which,
added to the two former accounts, is thus:
Pounds
The high post-roads, or the great causeway 178,080
The small causeway 36,960
Bye-lanes, &c. 48,000
========
263,040
If I were to propose some measures for the easing this charge, I
could perhaps lay a scheme down how it may be performed for less
than one-half of this charge.
As first, by a grant of the court at the Old Bailey whereby all such
criminals as are condemned to die for smaller crimes may, instead of
transportation, be ordered a year's work on the highways; others,
instead of whippings, a proportioned time, and the like; which
would, by a moderate computation, provide us generally a supply of
200 workmen, and coming in as fast as they go off; and let the
overseers alone to make them work.
Secondly, by an agreement with the Guinea Company to furnish 200
negroes, who are generally persons that do a great deal of work; and
all these are subsisted very reasonably out of a public storehouse.
Thirdly, by carts and horses to be bought, not hired, with a few
able carters; and to the other a few workmen that have judgment to
direct the rest, and thus I question not the great causeway shall be
done for four shillings per foot charge; but of this by-the-bye.
Fourthly, a liberty to ask charities and benevolences to the work.
3. To the question, HOW THIS MONEY SHALL BE RAISED. I think if the
Parliament settle the tax on the county for eight years at 30,000
pounds per annum, no man need ask how it shall be raised . . . It
will be easy enough to raise the money; and no parish can grudge to
pay a little larger rate for such a term, on condition never to be
taxed for the highways any more.
Eight years' assessment at 30,000 pounds per annum is enough to
afford to borrow the money by way of anticipation, if need be; the
fund being secured by Parliament, and appropriated to that use and
no other.
4. As to WHAT SECURITY FOR PERFORMANCE.
The lands which are inclosed may be appropriated by the same Act of
Parliament to the bank and undertakers, upon condition of
performance, and to be forfeit to the use of the several parishes to
which they belong, in case upon presentation by the grand juries,
and reasonable time given, any part of the roads in such and such
parishes be not kept and maintained in that posture they are
proposed to be. Now the lands thus settled are an eternal security
to the country for the keeping the roads in repair; because, they
will always be of so much value over the needful charge as will make
it worth while to the undertakers to preserve their title to them;
and the tenure of them being so precarious as to be liable to
forfeiture on default, they will always be careful to uphold the
causeways.
Lastly, WHAT PROFIT TO THE UNDERTAKERS. For we must allo
w them to
gain, and that considerably, or no man would undertake such a work.
To this I propose: first, during the work, allow them out of the
stock 3,000 pounds per annum for management.
After the work is finished, so much of the 5,000 pounds per annum as
can be saved, and the roads kept in good repair, let be their own;
and if the lands secured be not of the value of 5,000 pounds a year,
let so much of the eight years' tax be set apart as may purchase
land to make them up; if they come to more, let the benefit be to
the adventurers.
It may be objected here that a tax of 30,000 pounds for eight years
will come in as fast as it can well be laid out, and so no
anticipations will be requisite; for the whole work proposed cannot
be probably finished in less time; and, if so,
Pounds
The charge of the county amounts to 240,000
The lands saved eight years' revenue 40,000
========
280,000
which is 13,000 pounds more than the charge; and if the work be done
so much cheaper, as is mentioned, the profit to the undertaker will
be unreasonable.
To this I say I would have the undertakers bound to accept the
salary of 3,000 pounds per annum for management, and if a whole
year's tax can be spared, either leave it unraised upon the country,
or put it in bank to be improved against any occasion--of building,
perhaps, a great bridge; or some very wet season or frost may so
damnify the works as to make them require more than ordinary repair.
But the undertakers should make no private advantage of such an
overplus; there might be ways enough found for it.
Another objection lies against the possibility of inclosing the
lands upon the waste, which generally belongs to some manor, whose
different tenures may be so cross, and so otherwise encumbered, that
even the lords of those manors, though they were willing, could not
convey them.
This may be answered in general, that an Act of Parliament is
omnipotent with respect to titles and tenures of land, and can
empower lords and tenants to consent to what else they could not; as
to particulars, they cannot be answered till they are proposed; but
there is no doubt but an Act of Parliament may adjust it all in one
head.
What a kingdom would England be if this were performed in all the
counties of it! And yet I believe it is feasible, even in the
worst. I have narrowly deserved all the considerable ways in that
unpassable county of Sussex, which (especially in some parts in the
wild, as they very properly call it, of the county) hardly admits
the country people to travel to markets in winter, and makes corn
dear at market because it cannot be brought, and cheap at the
farmer's house because he cannot carry it to market; yet even in
that county would I undertake to carry on this proposal, and that to
great advantage, if backed with the authority of an Act of
Parliament.
I have seen in that horrible country the road, sixty to a hundred
yards broad, lie from side to side all poached with cattle, the land
of no manner of benefit, and yet no going with a horse, but at every
step up to the shoulders, full of sloughs and holes, and covered
with standing water. It costs them incredible sums of money to
repair them; and the very places that are mended would fright a
young traveller to go over them. The Romans mastered this work, and
by a firm causeway made a highway quite through this deep country,
through Darkin in Surrey to Stansted, and thence to Okeley, and so
on to Arundel; its name tells us what it was made of (for it was
called Stone Street), and many visible parts of it remain to this
day.
Now would any lord of a manor refuse to allow forty yards in breadth
out of that road I mentioned, to have the other twenty made into a
firm, fair, and pleasant causeway over that wilderness of a country?
