View report page

5
From the 1st of January, 1856, to the
25th March, 1857.
yards.
From the Blackheath Pits
(4-5ths) 368
From the Rushey Green Pits
(4-5ths) 692
By purchase 3171
4231
From the \loth March 1857, to the 25th
Marchj 1858.
yards.
From the Blackheath Pits 617
From the Rushey Green Pits 1970
By purchase 1121
3708
The reduction is partly accounted for by the roads having been
allowed to fall out of condition towards the end of the year 1855—
by £140 contributed towards and expended upon the Park and
Albert Roads, Sydenham, being included in the outlay of 1856—
by the average price of the purchased gravel having been reduced—
by the increased use of gravel from the Blackheath and Rushey
Green pits, and by the discharge of the liabilities of the Highway
Board, which were included in the expenditure to the 25th March,
1857, and exceeded those of this Board at that date.
The supply of gravel obtained for Penge in 1856 has been found
nearly sufficient for the last year also.
The cost of cartage of road material for Lewisham for the year
has been about £258, which also bears a favourable comparison with
that of the previous year, which would be £296, taking four-fifths
of the amount expended in the fifteen months ending 25th March,
1857, as representing it. This reduction is in some measure due
to the more advantageous contracts made by the Board, which will
be presently explained. The item of cartage of road material is a
far heavier one than at first sight appears, as it comprises not only
the amount above-mentioned, which is almost wholly expended in
the cartage of material from the Blackheath and Rushey Green pits,
but it forms a considerable part of the price of the purchased gravel;
for such gravel may be obtained at the Pits (Croydon), for about
2s. 6d. per yard, but delivered in Lewisham it usually costs the
Board from 4s. 9d. to 6s. per yard, the difference between the two
prices being of course the cost of the cartage from the pits to the
roads. Upon these considerations it was proposed that the Board
should provide themselves with Horses and Carts for the cartage of
all material used by them, and the Surveyor (Mr. Treverton) laid
several estimates on the subject before the Board, from which it
appeared that six horses would be necessary to do the work, and he
estimated the cost of them, with the necessary carts and harness,
at about £350, the annual expence at about £550, and the cost
of cartage on the present system at about £750, thus showing a
saving of only about £200 per annum, without allowing for interest
on the outlay, and wear and tear. These estimates, together with
the financial difficulties of the Board, determined them in the