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success as a road…maker； by greatly saving animal labour；
facilitating commercial intercourse； and rendering travelling easy
and expeditious； he entitled himself to the reputation of a public
benefactor。
＇Image＇ J。 L。 Macadam。
Owing to the mountainous nature of the country through which
Telford's Carlisle and Glasgow road passes； the bridges are
unusually numerous and of large dimensions。 Thus； the Fiddler's
Burn Bridge is of three arches； one of 150 and two of 105 feet span
each。 There are fourteen other bridges； presenting from one to
three arches； of from 20 to 90 feet span。 But the most picturesque
and remarkable bridge constructed by Telford in that district was
upon another line of road subsequently carried out by him； in the
upper part of the county of Lanark； and crossing the main line of
the Carlisle and Glasgow road almost at right angles。 Its northern
and eastern part formed a direct line of communication between the
great cattle markets of Falkirk； Crief； and Doune； and Carlisle and
the West of England。 It was carried over deep ravines by several
lofty bridges； the most formidable of which was that across the
Mouse Water at Cartland Crags； about a mile to the west of Lanark。
The stream here flows through a deep rocky chasm； the sides of
which are in some places about four hundred feet high。 At a point
where the height of the rocks is considerably less； but still most
formidable； Telford spanned the ravine with the beautiful bridge
represented in the engraving facing this page； its parapet being
129 feet above the surface of the water beneath。
＇Image＇ Cartland Crags Bridge。
The reconstruction of the western road from Carlisle to Glasgow；
which Telford had thus satisfactorily carried out； shortly led to
similar demands from the population on the eastern side of the
kingdom。 The spirit of road reform was now fairly on foot。
Fast coaches and wheel…carriages of all kinds had become greatly
improved； so that the usual rate of travelling had advanced from
five or six to nine or ten miles an hour。 The desire for the rapid
communication of political and commercial intelligence was found to
increase with the facilities for supplying it； and； urged by the
public wants； the Post…Office authorities were stimulated to
unusual efforts in this direction。 Numerous surveys were made and
roads laid out； so as to improve the main line of communication
between London and Edinburgh and the intermediate towns。 The first
part of this road taken in hand was the worstthat lying to the
north of Catterick Bridge； in Yorkshire。 A new line was surveyed by
West Auckland to Hexham； passing over Garter Fell to Jedburgh； and
thence to Edinburgh； but was rejected as too crooked and uneven。
Another was tried by Aldstone Moor and Bewcastle； and rejected for
the same reason。 The third line proposed was eventually adopted as
the best； passing from Morpeth； by Wooler and Coldstream；
to Edinburgh； saving rather more than fourteen miles between the
two points； and securing a line of road of much more favourable
gradients。
The principal bridge on this new highway was at Pathhead； over the
Tyne； about eleven miles south of Edinburgh。 To maintain the
level； so as to avoid the winding of the road down a steep descent
on one side of the valley and up an equally steep ascent on the
other； Telford ran out a lofty embankment from both sides；
connecting their ends by means of a spacious bridge。 The structure
at Pathhead is of five arches； each 50 feet span； with 25 feet rise
from their springing； 49 feet above the bed of the river。 Bridges
of a similar character were also thrown over the deep ravines of
Cranston Dean and Cotty Burn； in the same neighbourhood。 At the
same time a useful bridge was built on the same line of road at
Morpeth； in Northumberland； over the river Wansbeck。 It consisted
of three arches； of which the centre one was 50 feet span； and two
side…arches 40 feet each； the breadth between the parapets being 30
feet。
The advantages derived from the construction of these new roads
were found to be so great； that it was proposed to do the like for
the remainder of the line between London and Edinburgh； and at the
instance of the Post…Office authorities； with the sanction of the
Treasury； Mr。 Telford proceeded to make detailed surveys of an
entire new post…road between London and Morpeth。 In laying it out；
the main points which he endeavoured to secure were directness and
flatness； and 100 miles of the proposed new Great North Road； south
of York； were laid out in a perfectly straight line。 This survey；
which was begun in 1824； extended over several years； and all the
requisite arrangements had been made for beginning the works； when
the result of the locomotive competition at Rainhill； in 1829； had
the effect of directing attention to that new method of travelling；
fortunately in time to prevent what would have proved； for the most
part； an unnecessary expenditure； on works soon to be superseded by
a totally different order of things。
The most important road…improvements actually carried out under
Mr。 Telford's immediate superintendence were those on the western
side of the island； with the object of shortening the distance and
facilitating the communication between London and Dublin by way of
Holyhead； as well as between London and Liverpool。 At the time of
the Union； the mode of transit between the capital of Ireland and
the metropolis of the United Kingdom was tedious； difficult； and
full of peril。 In crossing the Irish Sea to Liverpool； the packets
were frequently tossed about for days together。 On the Irish side；
there was scarcely the pretence of a port； the landing…place being
within the bar of the river Liffey； inconvenient at all times； and
in rough weather extremely dangerous。 To avoid the long voyage to
Liverpool； the passage began to be made from Dublin to Holyhead；
the nearest point of the Welsh coast。 Arrived there； the
passengers were landed upon rugged； unprotected rocks； without a
pier or landing convenience of any kind。*＇3＇ But the traveller's
perils were not at an end；comparatively speaking they had only
begun。 From Holyhead； across the island of Anglesea； there was no
made road； but only a miserable track； circuitous and craggy；
full of terrible jolts； round bogs and over rocks； for a distance of
twenty…four miles。 Having reached the Menai Strait； the passengers
had again to take to an open ferry…boat before they could gain the
mainland。 The tide ran with great rapidity through the Strait；
and； when the wind blew strong； the boat was liable to be driven
far up or down the channel； and was sometimes swamped altogether。
The perils of the Welsh roads had next to be encountered； and these
were in as bad a condition at the beginning of the present century
as those of the Highlands above described。 Through North Wales
they were rough； narrow； steep； and unprotecte