The contractor must use his best judgement in keeping the line of the road as straight as possible — At ten chains* from the turn into the Fortune Road there must be a crops drain and a drain there from

towards the Head of the Bay and at ten chains East of this — be another of the same kind, and so on at every ten chains...the wood

used in constructing the crops drain must be Juniper... (1 0)

Early detailed accounts such as this indicate that the building of roads was one area where the government intervened and saw the importance of allotting money for development. In the first half of the 19th century, roads had been established through many forested areas to various settlements allowing many communities direct communication with the capital. In 1834, the Government of the day notes in its annual report: “The sum of nine pounds be granted to purchase a right of way from St. Peters Bay to the road leading to the north shore by Leslie’s Mill.” (1 1)

m?

The heart of the Village in the late 18005. This shows how the positioning

of the bridge has changed over the years. Photo courtesy of the Prince Edward Island Public Archives?

The construction of bridges naturally coincided with the construction of roads. In 1836, the sum of £12 was granted to repair Midgell Bridge. (12) Two years later in 1838, £5 was granted for repairs

l\ Cllillll is equal to approxinmlcly 20m or 66 ft. ” .'\cCcssi(>11N(). 2301483.

208