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Macadam
Cartland Crags Bridge
Improvement of the London and Edinburgh post road
Communications with Ireland
Wretched state of the Welsh roads
Telford's survey of the Shrewsbury and Holyhead road
Its construction
Roads and railways
London and Shrewsbury post road
Roads near London
Coast road； North Wales
CHAPTER XII。 The Menai and Conway Bridges
Bridges projected over the Menai Straits
Telford's designs
Ingenious plan of suspended centering
Design of a suspension bridge over the Mersey at Runcorn
Design of suspension bridge at Menai
The works begun
The main piers
The suspension chains
Hoisting of the first main chain
Progress of the works to completion
The bridge formally opened
Conway Suspension Bridge
CHAPTER XIII。 Docks； Drainage； and Bridges
Resume of English engineering
General increase in trade and poulation
The Thames
St。 Katherine's Docks
Tewkesburg Bridge
Gloucester Bridge
Dean Bridge； Edinburgh
Glasgow Bridge
Telford's works of drainage in the Fens
The North Level
The Nene Outfall
Effects of Fen drainage
CHAPTER XIV。 Southey's tour in the highlands
Southey sets out to visit the Highlands in Telford's company
Works at Dundee Harbour
Bervie Harbour
Mitchell and Gibbs
Aberdeen Harbour
Approach to Banff
Cullen Harbour
The Forres road
Beauly Bridge
Bonar Bridge
Fleet Mound
Southey's description of the Caledonian Canal and works
John Mitchell
Takes leave of Telford
Results of Highland road…making
CHAPTER XV。 Mr Telford's later yearsHis death and character
Telford's residence in London
Leaves the Salopian
First President of Institute of Civil Engineers
Consulted by foreign Governments as to roads and bridges
His views on railways
Failure of health
Consulted as to Dover Harbour
Illness and death
His character
His friends
Integrity
Views on money…making
Benevolence
Patriotism
His Will
Libraries in Eskdale supported by his bequests
PREFACE
The present is a revised and in some respects enlarged edition of
the 'Life of Telford；' originally published in the 'Lives of the
Engineers；' to which is prefixed an account of the early roads and
modes of travelling in Britain。
From this volume； read in connection with the Lives of George and
Robert Stephenson； in which the origin and extension of Railways is
described； an idea may be formed of the extraordinary progress
which has been made in opening up the internal communications of
this country during the last century。
Among the principal works executed by Telford in the course of his
life； were the great highways constructed by him in North Wales and
the Scotch Highlands； through districts formerly almost inaccessible；
but which are now as easily traversed as any English county。
By means of these roads； and the facilities afforded by railways；
the many are now enabled to visit with ease and comfort magnificent
mountain scenery； which before was only the costly privilege of the
few； at the same time that their construction has exercised a most
beneficial influence on the population of the districts themselves。
The Highland roads； which were constructed with the active
assistance of the Government； and were maintained partly at the
public expense until within the last few years； had the effect of
stimulating industry； improving agriculture； and converting a
turbulent because unemployed population into one of the most loyal
and well…conditioned in the empire； the policy thus adopted with
reference to the Highlands； and the beneficial results which have
flowed from it； affording the strongest encouragement to Government
in dealing in like manner with the internal communications of
Ireland。
While the construction of the Highland roads was in progress；
the late Robert Southey； poet laureate； visited the Highlands in
company with his friend the engineer； and left on record an
interesting account of his visit； in a； manuscript now in the
possession of Robert Rawlinson； C。E。； to whom we are indebted for
the extracts which are made from it in the present volume。
London； October； 1867。
EARLY ROADS AND MODES OF TRAVELLING。
CHAPTER I。 OLD ROADS。
Roads have in all times been among the most influential agencies of
society； and the makers of them； by enabling men readily to
communicate with each other； have properly been regarded as among
the most effective pioneers of civilization。
Roads are literally the pathways not only of industry； but of
social and national intercourse。 Wherever a line of communication
between men is formed； it renders commerce practicable； and；
wherever commerce penetrates； it creates a civilization and leaves
a history。
Roads place the city and the town in connection with the village
and the farm； open up markets for field produce； and provide
outlets for manufactures。 They enable the natural resources of a
country to be developed； facilitate travelling and intercourse；
break down local jealousies； and in all ways tend to bind together
society and bring out fully that healthy spirit of industry which
is the life and soul of every nation。
The road is so necessary an instrument of social wellbeing；
that in every new colony it is one of the first things thought of。
First roads； then commerce； institutions； schools； churches；
and newspapers。 The new country； as well as the old； can only be
effectually 〃opened up；〃 as the common phrase is； by roads
and until these are made； it is virtually closed。
Freedom itself cannot exist without free communication；every
limitation of movement on the part of the members of society
amounting to a positive abridgment of their personal liberty。
Hence roads； canals； and railways； by providing the greatest
possible facilities for locomotion and information； are essential
for the freedom of all classes； of the poorest as well as the
richest。
By bringing the ends of a kingdom together； they reduce the
inequalities of fortune and station； and； by equalizing the price
of commodities； to that extent they render them accessible to all。
Without their assistance； the concentrated populations of our large
towns could neither be clothed nor fed； but by their instrumentality
an immense range of country is brought as it were to their very doors；
and the sustenance and employment of large masses of people become
comparatively easy。
In the raw materials required for food； for manufactures； and for
domestic purposes； the cost of transport necessarily forms a
considerable item； and it is clear that the more this cost can be
reduced by facilities of communication； the cheaper these articles
become； and the more they are multiplied and enter into the
consumption of the community at large。
Let any one imagine what would be the effect of closing the roads；
railways； and canals of England。 The country would be brought to a
dead lock； employment would be restricted in all directions； and a
large proportion of the inhabitants concentrated in the large towns
must at certain seasons inevitably perish of cold and hunger。
In the earlier periods of English history； roads were of comparatively
less consequence。 While the population was thin and scattered；
and men lived by hunting and pastoral pursuits； the track across
the down； the heath； and the moor； sufficiently answered their purpose。
Yet even in those districts unencumbered with wood； where the first
settlements were madeas on the downs of Wiltshire； the moors of
Devonshire； and the wolds of Yorkshirestone tracks were laid down
by the tribes between one village and another。 We have given here；
a representation of one of those ancient trackways still existing
in the neighbourhood of Whitby； in Yorkshire；
＇Image＇ Ancient Causeway； near Whitby。
and there are many of the same description to be met with in other
parts of England。 In some districts they are called trackways or
ridgeways； being narrow causeways usually following the natural
ridge of the country； and probably serving in early times as local
boundaries。 On Dartmoor they are constructed of stone blocks；
irregularly laid down on the surface of the ground； forming a rude
causeway of about five or six feet wide。
The Romans； with many other arts； first brought into England the
art of road…making。 They thoroughly understood the value of good
roads； regarding them as the essential means for the maintenance
of their empire in the first instance； and of social prosperity in
the next。 It was their roads； as well as their legions； that made
them masters of the world； and the pickaxe； not less than the sword；
was the ensign of their dominion。 Wherever they went； they opened
up the communications of the countries they subdued； and the roads
which they made were among the best of their kind。