A Treatise on RoadsThe politician Sir Henry Parnell (1776-1842) was instrumental in drafting legislation to improve the important road linking London with Holyhead in Anglesey, a major port for communication with Dublin. He was aided by the pioneering civil engineer Thomas Telford, and in 1833 Parnell published the first edition of this thorough work on road construction and maintenance. Reissued here is the second edition of 1838. Drawing on his experiences with Telford, who called the work 'the most valuable Treatise which has appeared in England' on the subject, Parnell outlines not only the rules governing the planning of a new road, but also addresses the practical aspects of building and repairing roads, noting the various tools and materials needed. Parnell, later Baron Congleton, also highlights the connection between road construction and national development, and includes a number of appendices relating to contemporary legislation on the subject of roads. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
CHAPTER I | 35 |
PRINCIPLES OF ROADMAKING | 57 |
Application of the Principles of Moving Bodies | 66 |
Machine for measuring the Power of Traction | 73 |
FORMING A ROAD P | 82 |
Oxford Clay _ | 88 |
DRAINAGE P | 94 |
Cutting of Hedges 175 | 231 |
Turnpike Roads _ _ | 235 |
Parish Roads | 241 |
FlintsGravel | 244 |
ROAD INSTRUMENTS AND TOOLs P | 253 |
Scrapers _ _ _ | 259 |
Defects of Turnpike Roads | 266 |
Committee of Management | 272 |
Iron Railroads | 101 |
Road partly paved and partly made with | 130 |
Road made with a Foundation of Roman | 156 |
Road with a Foundation of rubble Stones | 167 |
Posts and Rails | 173 |
Retaining Walls | 185 |
Fences on Embankments | 187 |
Outlets | 191 |
Toll Gates and Bars | 203 |
Deeds of Contract _ | 209 |
CARRIAGES P | 295 |
Axles | 303 |
Springs _ | 310 |
APPENDIX | 321 |
APPENDIX No II Report of Mr Telford | 348 |
APPENDIX N0 III Observations on | 360 |
APPENDIX No IV Report of Select Com | 367 |
APPENDIX No V Evidence given before | 385 |
NOTES | 433 |
NOTE B | 451 |
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Common terms and phrases
according advantage appear body bottom breadth bridge broken stones built carriage carried centre coach coating commissioners consequence considerable constructed continued contract course covered cross deep depth direction distance drains draught draw earth elasticity embankments engineer expense experiments face feet fences first five foot force formed foundation four give given gravel ground half hard hills Holyhead Road horizontal horses improvement inches thick inclination increased labour laid laying least length less London manner materials means middle miles natural necessary observations passing paved pavement perfect persons placed Plate posts practice present principle proper repair resistance respect road secured side six inches slopes specification springs square streets surface taken thick trustees turnpike upper walls weight wheels whole wide yards