OCR Text |
Show WORLD OWES DEBT TO THESB Maoadnm, Pioneer of Good Roads, and Hie Contemporary, Telford, I Worthy of All Gratitude. The first great Improvement in hlghi way construction within modern times, was effected by John Loudon Macadam or McAdam, who was born in Ayr) Scotland, in 1760. This great Scotch! onginoor was tho inventor of tho road) making systom known as "macadamizing-," which is still In general use, although al-though vastly improvod. Macadam died in 1836, nt the ego of olghty. When ho was born tho turnpiko roads of England and Scotland were in an incredibly bad state. Macadam and his contemporary, Telford, were the first to check tho prevailing chaos and to bring sclentlflo methods and regui lar system to bear upon tho building, repair and malntonanco of highways. Macadam was ongaged chlofly In the ropalr of existing roads rather than -tho construction of now ones, and the Improvements which he Inaugurated were of groat and lasting benefit, not only to his native land, but to tho world at largo. Telford Insisted upon a foundation of broken stono in road building, whllo Maoadam insisted that this was unnecessary and that tho subsoil sub-soil would carry any weight If adequately ade-quately drained and kept dry by an imporvlous covering. |