MUCH has been written upon the subject of roadways, but hitherto very little upon footpaths. The Romans, who were the earliest road-makers, did not provide footpaths, for Bergier, in his " Histoire des Grands Chemins de 1'Empire Romain," says that these roads had only blocks of stone at the side for foot travellers to rest upon. It is probable, therefore, that the addition of footwalks to the sides of roadways m-as by means of a gradual development. As to the proportionate width of the footpath

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... and carriageway, the Local Government Board has decided that the carriageway of every new street shall be 24 feet in width at the least, and that there shall be a footpath on each side of the street of a width not less than one-sixth of the entire width of such street." By this rule it will be seen that the footpath has to be not less than 4 feet in width, and with regard to the roadway it should be if possible some multiple of 8, as 8 feet is the allowance of width which it is necessary to provide for vehicles passing each other at a rapid rate. The gutter, water-table, or channel, is part of the carriageway and thus has nothing t o with L ' footpaths "; a few words about the kerb are, however, necessary. The model byelaws referred to provide that the footpath shall be constructed KO that the height of the kerb or outer edge of such footway above the channel of the carriageway (except in the case of crossings paved or otherwise formed for the use of footpassengers) shall be not less than 3 inches a t t h e highest part of such channel, and not more than 7 inches at the lowest part of such channel." A height of less than 3 inches would render i t possible for vehicles to drive on the footpaths, or for the water in the channel to overflow it ; with a height of more than 7 inches the kerb would probably not remain upright but be forced out towards the channel.