按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rapidly improving towns of Congleton and Macclesfield。 The line
was twenty…nine miles in length； ten miles on one level from
Harecastle to beyond Congleton； then； ascending 114 feet by eleven
locks； it proceeded for five miles on a level past Macclesfield；
and onward to join the Peak Forest Canal at Marple。 The navigation
was thus conducted upon two levels； each of considerable length；
and it so happened that the trade of each was in a measure
distinct； and required separate accommodation。 The traffic of the
whole of the Congleton district had ready access to the Grand Trunk
system； without the labour； expense； and delay involved by passing
the boats through locks； while the coals brought to Macclesfield to
supply the mills there were carried throughout upon the upper
level； also without lockage。 The engineer's arrangement proved
highly judicious； and furnishes an illustration of the tact and
judgment which he usually displayed in laying out his works for
practical uses。 Mr Telford largely employed cast iron in the
construction of this canal； using it in the locks and gates； as
well as in an extensive aqueduct which it was necessary to
construct over a deep ravine； after the plan pursued by him at；
Pont…Cysylltau and other places。
The last canal constructed by。 Mr。 Telford was the Birmingham and
Liverpool Junction； extending from the Birmingham Canal； near
Wolverhampton； in nearly a direct line； by Market Drayton；
Nantwich； and through the city of Chester； by the Ellesmere Canal；
to Ellesmere Port on the Mersey。 The proprietors of canals were
becoming alarmed at the numerous railways projected through the
districts heretofore served by their water…ways； and among other
projects one was set on foot； as early as 1825； for constructing a
line of railway from London to Liverpool。 Mr。 Telford was
consulted as to the best means of protecting existing investments；
and his advice was to render the canal system as complete as it
could be made； for he entertained the conviction； which has been
justified by experience； that such navigations possessed peculiar
advantages for the conveyance of heavy goods； and that； if the
interruptions presented by locks could be done away with； or
materially reduced； a large portion of the trade of the country
must continue to be carried by the water roads。 The new line
recommended by him was approved and adopted； and the works were
commenced in 1826。 A second complete route was thus opened up
between Birmingham and Liverpool； and Manchester； by which the
distance was shortened twelve miles； and the delay occasioned by
320 feet of upward and downward lockage was done away with。
Telford was justly proud of his canals； which were the finest works
of their kind that had yet been executed in England。 Capacious；
convenient； and substantial； they embodied his most ingenious
contrivances； and his highest engineering skill。 Hence we find him
writing to a friend at Langholm； that； so soon as he could find
〃sufficient leisure from his various avocations in his own
unrivalled and beloved island；〃 it was his intention to visit
France and Italy； for the purpose of ascertaining what foreigners
had been able to accomplish； compared with ourselves； in the
construction of canals； bridges； and harbours。 〃I have no doubt；〃
said he； 〃as to their inferiority。 During the war just brought to
a close； England has not only been able to guard her own head and
to carry on a gigantic struggle； but at the same time to construct
canals； roads； harbours； bridgesmagnificent works of peacethe
like of which are probably not to be found in the world。 Are not
these things worthy of a nation's pride？〃
Footnotes for Chapter X。
*＇1＇ Mr。 Matthew Davidson； above referred to； was an excellent
officer； but a strange cynical humourist in his way。 He was a
Lowlander； and had lived for some time in England； at the Pont
Cysylltau works； where he had acquired a taste for English comforts；
and returned to the North with a considerable contempt for the
Highland people amongst whom he was stationed。 He is said to
have very much resembled Dr。 Johnson in person and was so fond
of books； and so well read in them； that he was called
'the Walking Library。' He used to say that if justice were done to
the inhabitants of Inverness； there would be nobody left there in
twenty years but the Provost and the hangman。 Seeing an artist one
day making a sketch in the mountains； he said it was the first time
he had known what the hills were good for。 And when some one was
complaining of the weather in the Highlands； he looked sarcastically
round； and observed that the rain certainly would not hurt the
heather crop。
*＇2＇ The misfortunes of the Caledonian Canal did not end with the
life of Telford。 The first vessel passed through it from sea to
sea in October； 1822； by which time it had cost about a million
sterling； or double the original estimate。 Notwithstanding this
large outlay； it appears that the canal was opened before the works
had been properly completed； and the consequence was that they very
shortly fell into decay。 It even began to be considered whether
the canal ought not to be abandoned。 In 1838； Mr。 James Walker；
C。E。； an engineer of the highest eminence； examined it； and
reported fully on its then state； strongly recommending its
completion as well as its improvement。 His advice was eventually
adopted； and the canal was finished accordingly； at an additional
cost of about 200；000L。； and the whole line was re…opened in 1847；
since which time it has continued in useful operation。 The passage
from sea to sea at all times can now be depended on； and it can
usually be made in forty…eight hours。 As the trade of the North
increases； the uses of the canal will probably become much more
decided than they have heretofore； proved。
*＇3＇ 'Brindley and the Early Engineers；' p。 267。
*＇4＇ 'Life of Telford；' p。 82； 83。
CHAPTER XI。
TELFORD AS A ROAD…MAKER。
Mr。 Telford's extensive practice as a bridge…builder led his friend
Southey to designate him 〃Pontifex Maximus。〃 Besides the numerous
bridges erected by him in the West of England； we have found him
furnishing designs for about twelve hundred in the Highlands； of
various dimensions； some of stone and others of iron。 His practice
in bridge…building had； therefore； been of an unusually extensive
character； and Southey's sobriquet was not ill applied。 But besides
being a great bridge…builder； Telford was also a great road…maker。
With the progress of industry and trade； the easy and rapid transit
of persons and goods had come to be regarded as an increasing
object of public interest。 Fast coaches now ran regularly between
all the principal towns of England； every effort being made；
by straightening and shortening the roads； cutting down hills；
and carrying embankments across valleys and viaducts over rivers；
to render travelling by the main routes as easy and expeditious as
possible。
Attention was especially turned to the improvement of the longer
routes； and to perfecting the connection of London with the chief
town's of Scotland and Ireland。 Telford was early called upon to
advise as to the repairs of the road between Carlisle and Glasgow；
which had been allowed to fall into a wretched state； as well as
the formation of a new line from Carlisle； across the counties of
Dumfries； Kirkcudbright； and Wigton； to Port Patrick； for the
purpose of ensuring a more rapid communication with Belfast and the
northern parts of Ireland。 Although Glasgow had become a place of
considerable wealth and importance； the roads to it； north of
Carlisle； continued in a very unsatisfactory state。 It was only in
July； 1788； that the first mail…coach from London had driven into
Glasgow by that route； when it was welcomed by a procession of the
citizens on horseback； who went out several miles to meet it。
But the road had been shockingly made； and before long had become
almost impassable。 Robert Owen states that； in 1795； it took him
two days and three nights' incessant travelling to get from
Manchester to Glasgow； and he mentions that the coach had to cross
a well…known dangerous mountain at midnight； called Erickstane
Brae； which was then always passed with fear and trembling。*＇1＇
As late as the year 1814 we find a Parliamentary Committee
declaring the road between Carlisle and Glasgow to be in so ruinous
a state as often seriously to delay the mail and endanger the lives
of travellers。 The bridge over Evan Water was so much decayed； that
one day the coach and horses fell through it into the river； when
〃one passenger was killed； the coachman survived only a few days；
and several other persons were dreadfully maimed； two of the horses
being also killed。〃*＇2＇ The remaining part of the bridge continued
for some time unrepaired； just space enough being left for a sin