按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The drovers coming south swam the rivers with their cattle。 There
being no roads； there was little use for carts。 In the whole
county of Caithness； there was scarcely a farmer who owned a
wheel…cart。 Burdens were conveyed usually on the backs of ponies；
but quite as often on the backs of women。*＇8＇ The interior of the
county of Sutherland being almost inaccessible； the only track lay
along the shore； among rocks and sand； and was covered by the sea
at every tide。 〃The people lay scattered in inaccessible straths
and spots among the mountains； where they lived in family with
their pigs and kyloes （cattle）； in turf cabins of the most
miserable description； they spoke only Gaelic； and spent the whole
of their time in indolence and sloth。 Thus they had gone on from
father to son； with little change； except what the introduction of
illicit distillation had wrought； and making little or no export
from the country beyond the few lean kyloes； which paid the rent
and produced wherewithal to pay for the oatmeal imported。〃*＇9＇
Telford's first recommendation was； that a bridge should be thrown
across the Tay at Dunkeld； to connect the improved lines of road
proposed to be made on each side of the river。 He regarded this
measure as of the first importance to the Central Highlands； and as
the Duke of Athol was willing to pay one…half of the cost of the
erection； if the Government would defray the otherthe bridge to
be free of toll after a certain periodit appeared to the engineer
that this was a reasonable and just mode of providing for the
contingency。 In the next place； he recommended a bridge over the
Spey； which drained a great extent of mountainous country； and；
being liable to sudden inundations； was very dangerous to cross。
Yet this ferry formed the only link of communication between the
whole of the northern counties。 The site pointed out for the
proposed bridge was adjacent to the town of Fochabers； and here
also the Duke of Gordon and other county gentlemen were willing to
provide one…half of the means for its erection。
Mr。 Telford further described in detail the roads necessary to be
constructed in the north and west Highlands； with the object of
opening up the western parts of the counties of Inverness and Ross；
and affording a ready communication from the Clyde to the fishing
lochs in the neighbourhood of the Isle of Skye。 As to the means of
executing these improvements； he suggested that Government would be
justified in dealing with the Highland roads and bridges as
exceptional and extraordinary works； and extending the public aid
towards carrying them into effect； as； but for such assistance； the
country must remain； perhaps for ages to come； imperfectly opened up。
His report further embraced certain improvements in the harbours of
Aberdeen and Wick； and a description of the country through which
the proposed line of the Caledonian Canal would necessarily pass
a canal which had long been the subject of inquiry； but had not as
yet emerged from a state of mere speculation。
The new roads； bridges； and other improvements suggested by the
engineer； excited much interest in the north。 The Highland Society
voted him their thanks by acclamation； the counties of Inverness
and Ross followed； and he had letters of thanks and congratulation
from many of the Highland chiefs。 〃If they will persevere；〃 says he；
〃with anything like their present zeal； they will have the
satisfaction of greatly improving a country that has been too long
neglected。 Things are greatly changed now in the Highlands。 Even
were the chiefs to quarrel； de'il a Highlandman would stir for them。
The lairds have transferred their affections from their people to
flocks of sheep； and the people have lost their veneration for the
lairds。 It seems to be the natural progress of society； but it is
not an altogether satisfactory change。 There were some fine
features in the former patriarchal state of society； but now
clanship is gone； and chiefs and people are hastening into the
opposite extreme。 This seems to me to be quite wrong。〃*＇10＇
In the same year； Telford was elected a member of the Royal Society
of Edinburgh； on which occasion he was proposed and supported by
three professors； so that the former Edinburgh mason was rising in
the world and receiving due honour in his own country。 The effect
of his report was such； that in the session of 1803 a Parliamentary
Commission was appointed； under whose direction a series of
practical improvements was commenced； which issued in the
construction of not less than 920 additional miles of roads and
bridges throughout the Highlands； one…half of the cost of which was
defrayed by the Government and the other half by local assessment。
But in addition to these main lines of communication； numberless
county roads were formed by statute labour； under local road Acts
and by other means； the land…owners of Sutherland alone
constructing nearly 300 miles of district roads at their own cost。
＇Image＇ Map of Telford's Roads。
By the end of the session of 1803； Telford received his
instructions from Mr。 Vansittart as to the working survey he was
forthwith required to enter upon； with a view to commencing
practical operations； and he again proceeded to the Highlands to
lay out the roads and plan the bridges which were most urgently
needed。 The district of the Solway was； at his representation；
included； with the object of improving the road from Carlisle to
Portpatrickthe nearest point at which Great Britain meets the
Irish coast； and where the sea passage forms only a sort of wide
ferry。
It would occupy too much space； and indeed it is altogether
unnecessary； to describe in detail the operations of the Commission
and of their engineer in opening up the communications of the
Highlands。 Suffice it to say； that one of the first things taken in
hand was the connection of the existing lines of road by means of
bridges at the more important points； such as at Dunkeld over the
Tay； and near Dingwall over the Conan and Orrin。 That of Dunkeld
was the most important； as being situated at the entrance to the
Central Highlands； and at the second meeting of the Commissioners
Mr。 Telford submitted his plan and estimates of the proposed
bridge。 In consequence of some difference with the Duke of Athol as
to his share of the expensewhich proved to be greater than he had
estimatedsome delay occurred in beginning the work； but at length
it was fairly started； and； after being about three years in hand；
the structure was finished and opened for traffic in 1809。
＇Image＇ Dunkeld Bridge。
The bridge is a handsome one of five river and two land arches。
The span of the centre arch is 90 feet； of the two adjoining it 84
feet； and of the two side arches 74 feet； affording a clear
waterway of 446 feet。 The total breadth of the roadway and foot
paths is 28 feet 6 inches。 The cost of the structure was about