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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
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；