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paths is 28 feet 6 inches。 The cost of the structure was about
14；000L。； one…half of which was defrayed by the Duke of Athol。
Dunkeld bridge now forms a fine feature in a landscape not often
surpassed； and which presents within a comparatively small compass
a great variety of character and beauty。
The communication by road north of Inverness was also perfected by
the construction of a bridge of five arches over the Beauly； and
another of the same number over the Conan； the central arch being
65 feet span； and the formerly wretched bit of road between these
points having been put in good repair； the town of Dingwall was
thenceforward rendered easily approachable from the south。 At the
same time； a beginning was made with the construction of new roads
through the districts most in need of them。 The first contracted
for； was the Loch…na…Gaul road； from Fort William to Arasaig；
on the western coast； nearly opposite the island of Egg。
Another was begun from Loch Oich； on the line of the Caledonian
Canal； across the middle of the Highlands； through Glengarry；
to Loch Hourn on the western sea。 Other roads were opened north
and south； through Morvern to Loch Moidart； through Glen Morrison
and Glen Sheil； and through the entire Isle of Skye； from Dingwall；
eastward； to Lochcarron and Loch Torridon； quite through the county
of Ross； and from Dingwall； northward； through the county of
Sutherland as far as Tongue on the Pentland Frith； while another
line； striking off at the head of the Dornoch Frith； proceeded
along the coast in a north…easterly direction to Wick and Thurso；
in the immediate neighbourhood of John o' Groats。
There were numerous other subordinate lines of road which it is
unnecessary to specify in detail； but some idea may be formed of
their extent； as well as of the rugged character of the country
through which they were carried； when we state that they involved
the construction of no fewer than twelve hundred bridges。 Several
important bridges were also erected at other points to connect
existing roads； such as those at Ballater and Potarch over the Dee；
at Alford over the Don： and at Craig…Ellachie over the Spey。
The last…named bridge is a remarkably elegant structure； thrown
over the Spey at a point where the river； rushing obliquely against
the lofty rock of Craig…Ellachie；*＇11＇ has formed for itself a deep
channel not exceeding fifty yards in breadth。 Only a few years
before； there had not been any provision for crossing this river at
its lower parts except the very dangerous ferry at Fochabers。
The Duke of Gordon had； however； erected a suspension bridge at that
town； and the inconvenience was in a great measure removed。
Its utility was so generally felt； that the demand arose for a second
bridge across the river； for there was not another by which it
could be crossed for a distance of nearly fifty miles up Strath Spey。
It was a difficult stream to span by a bridge at any place； in
consequence of the violence with which the floods descended at
particular seasons。 Sometimes； even in summer； when not a drop of
rain had fallen； the flood would come down the Strath in great
fury； sweeping everything before it； this remarkable phenomenon
being accounted for by the prevalence of a strong south…westerly
wind； which blew the loch waters from their beds into the Strath；
and thus suddenly filled the valley of the Spey。*＇12＇ The same
phenomenon； similarly caused； is also frequently observed in the
neighbouring river； the Findhorn； cooped up in its deep rocky bed；
where the water sometimes comes down in a wave six feet high； like
a liquid wall； sweeping everything before it。
To meet such a contingency； it was deemed necessary to provide
abundant waterway； and to build a bridge offering as little
resistance as possible to the passage of the Highland floods。
Telford accordingly designed for the passage of the river at
Craig…Ellachie a light cast…iron arch of 150 feet span； with a rise
of 20 feet； the arch being composed of four ribs； each consisting
of two concentric arcs forming panels； which are filled in with
diagonal bars。
The roadway is 15 feet wide； and is formed of another arc of
greater radius； attached to which is the iron railing； the
spandrels being filled by diagonal ties； forming trelliswork。
Mr。 Robert Stephenson took objection to the two dissimilar arches；
as liable to subject the structure； from variations of temperature；
to very unequal strains。 Nevertheless this bridge； as well as many
others constructed by Mr。 Telford after a similar plan； has stood
perfectly well； and to this day remains a very serviceable
structure。
＇Image＇ Craig…Ellachie Bridge。
Its appearance is highly picturesque。 The scattered pines and beech
trees on the side of the impending mountain； the meadows along the
valley of the Spey； and the western approach road to the bridge cut
deeply into the face of the rock； combine； with the slender
appearance of the iron arch； in rendering this spot one of the most
remarkable in Scotland。*＇13＇ An iron bridge of a similar span to that
at Craig…Ellachie had previously been constructed across the head
of the Dornoch Frith at Bonar； near the point where the waters of
the Shin join the sea。 The very severe trial which this structure
sustained from the tremendous blow of an irregular mass of fir…tree
logs； consolidated by ice； as well as； shortly after； from the blow
of a schooner which drifted against it on the opposite side； and
had her two masts knocked off by the collision； gave him every
confidence in the strength of this form of construction； and he
accordingly repeated it in several of his subsequent bridges；
though none of them are comparable in beauty with that of
Craig…Ellachie。
Thus； in the course of eighteen years； 920 miles of capital roads；
connected together by no fewer than 1200 bridges； were added to the
road communications of the Highlands； at an expense defrayed partly
by the localities immediately benefited； and partly by the nation。
The effects of these twenty years' operations were such as follow
the making of roads everywheredevelopment of industry and
increase of civilization。 In no districts were the benefits
derived from them more marked than in the remote northern counties
of Sutherland and Caithness。 The first stage…coaches that ran
northward from Perth to Inverness were tried in 1806； and became
regularly established in 1811； and by the year 1820 no fewer than
forty arrived at the latter town in the course of every week； and
the same number departed from it。 Others were established in
various directions through the highlands； which were rendered as
accessible as any English county。
Agriculture made rapid progress。 The use of carts became
practicable； and manure was no longer carried to the field on
women's backs。 Sloth and idleness gradually disappeared before the
energy； activity； and industry whic