HC Deb 29 August 1893 vol 16 cc1355-6
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been given to the method now being pursued in preparing the macadamised roads in Hyde Park, whereby the road is first lightly picked up and is then covered with a thick layer of stones which are rolled into it by heavy steam rollers without any sand to bind the stones together, the effect of which is to cause the surface of the road when completed to consist almost entirely of stones packed closely together and forming a crust without any elasticity, affording no good foothold for horses, and liable to flake off, leaving holes; whether he will direct this system to be bettered by rolling a certain quantity of sand in together with the stones instead of merely spreading it over them afterwards; and whether he will instruct his subordinates to revert to the principles of road-making by gradual accretions of small stones well bound together, as taught by the late Mr. Macadam?

THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE, Bradford, Central)

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the best method of repairing roads. Before the days of steam rollers it was necessary to follow Mr. Macadam's plan of breaking up the stones into very small sizes. But with steam-rollers this would not answer, and it is found far better and cheaper that the stones should be of a larger size. Sand is largely used for the interstices. The work is done under the direction of skilled officers who have made a study of it, and who thoroughly understand their business. They will, I doubt not, be glad at any time to give the hon. Member a lesson in road-making.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

But is it not a fact that the foremen in charge of this road-making are strongly in favour of the course I have advocated in using more sand in order to bind the stone and to prevent the road becoming a tesselated pavement? I have not said anything about the size of the stones.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

I have not consulted the foreman, but I have consulted the officer in charge of the work.