3G 
paths, constructed at the expense of the State, with stone cairns erected 
along them. 
The national roads which have been improved and made carriage- 
able are from 3 to 4 metres across, with a superstructure, in most 
cases, of unscreened gravel, though of late such parts of them as are 
most frequented by motor cars have in some instances been macada- 
mized. 
To facilitate internal communication, there is yet another factor of 
great importance, namely the construction of bridges. There are many 
rivers in Iceland, and some of them almost, if not altogether, impass- 
able. In order, therefore, to get the full benefit of the new roads, 
bridges had to be made, but up to the last decade of the nineteenth 
century they were few, except small wooden ones, thrown across narrow 
streams. In 1890 the first suspension bridge was constructed across 
the Olfuss, by English civil engineers; it was made of iron and is 
about 75 metres long. Several other rivers were bridged in the same 
manner; but this method was found to be foo expensive. Next in 
order were the fixed bridges, also made of iron and supported on 
piers of masonry; but since 1907 most bridges, whether long or short, 
have been made of reinforced concrete. The longest bridge in the 
country at present is the Lagarfljét bridge, some 300 metres long. 
The common form of vehicle for transport in the rural districts is 
the two-wheeled horse-drawn cart; and it is not uncommon to see one 
man in charge of 2 or 3 carts of this type. 
The first motor cars came to Iceland in 1913, but their number has 
increased so rapidly, that in 1929 no less than 1151 had been registered 
in the country, 636 for transport, the rest for passengers. The majority 
of the cars are registered in Reykjavik and its néighbourhood, and a 
regular automobile service is kept up between the capital and various 
places in “its vicinage and in the southern lowlands. During summer 
motor cars are also regularly run between the northern and southern 
districts and various other places throughout the country. 
There are no railways in Iceland, but preliminary surveys have 
been made with a view to constructing a 65 kilometre line from 
Reykjavik to the southern lowlands. The sanction of Althingi to carry 
out this plan has not, however, been obtained. - 
The subjoined table shows the State expenditure on roads and 
bridges for fifty vears: