View report page

2
of this year's contracts have been delivered within the year. A
great deal of material was put upon the Southend Road, which
is now in good condition; and the roads on Blackheath had an
extra supply of material. The wet winter consumed a larger
quantity of road material than usual.
The roads are in good condition. On account of the difficulty
experienced in obtaining a Steam Roller on hire, the Board
resolved to purchase one. The Roller is now being made by
Messrs. Aveling and Porter, of Rochester. It is one of their
improved Rollers, being steered and driven by one man. The
Roller will be 15 tons in weight and fitted with an injector as
well as pump, and can be used as a traction engine by having
another set of wheels, which would cost about £100 extra. The
cost of the Roller with tools will be £637 18s. 6d. Without
endorsing the extravagant statement of French and Prussian
engineers as to the saving effected by rolling roads, I can say,
from experience, a great saving is gained. I have found a road
that has been coated and rolled to be in better condition at the
end of twelve months' wear than the same road would have been at
the end of six months' wear when the traffic is allowed to grind in
the road metal. In the Lewisham district, where there are few bye
roads, rolling necessarily costs more than it otherwise would if the
traffic could be diverted; as it follows, a great deal of time is
lost by the Roller standing to allow of the traffic passing, whereas,
if the traffic were diverted, the Roller would work without any
interruption. The practice of rolling roads at night I have
condemned long since. From the representation I made to the
Metropolitan Board of Works they were induced to alter their
bye law to allow of steam road rollers working during the day.
Rollers now work in the day time in the streets of London, when
the traffic is at its greatest, and with perfect safety. The glow of
the fire-box on a dark night must be more terrible to a horse than
the beat of the engine or the hiss of the steam in day-light. I
expect the Steam Roller will be delivered in July. Towards the
end of August, when I have a good supply of road material, I
shall commence to pick up the roads, metal them, and roll the
same in. By Christmas, I hope to have a great portion of the road
repairs completed; the roads will then be in a good condition to
stand the wet weather in winter. The Board ordered six new