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the Strait。
In August the road platform was commenced； and in September the
trussed bearing bars were all suspended。 The road was constructed
of timber in a substantial manner； the planking being spiked
together； with layers of patent felt between the planks； and the
carriage way being protected by oak guards placed seven feet and a
half apart。 Side railings were added； the toll…houses and
approach…roads were completed by the end of the year； and the
bridge was opened for public traffic on Monday； the 30th of January；
1826； when the London and Holyhead mailcoach passed over it for the
first time； followed by the Commissioners of the Holyhead roads；
the engineer； several stage…coaches； and a multitude of private
persons too numerous to mention。
We may briefly add a few facts as to the quantities of materials
used； and the dimensions of this remarkable structure。 The total
weight of iron was 2187 tons； in 33；265 pieces。 The total length of
the bridge is 1710 feet； or nearly a third of a mile； the distance
between the points of suspension of the main bridge being 579 feet。
The total sum expended by Government in its erection； including the
embankment and about half a mile of new line of road on the
Caernarvon side； together with the toll…houses； was 120；000L。
Notwithstanding the wonders of the Britannia Bridge subsequently
erected by Robert Stephenson for the passage across the same strait
of the Chester and Holyhead Railway； the Menai Bridge of Telford is
by far the most picturesque object。 〃Seen as I approached it；〃 says
Mr。 Roscoe； 〃in the clear light of an autumnal sunset； which threw
an autumnal splendour on the wide range of hills beyond； and the
sweep of richly variegated groves and plantations which covered
their basethe bright sun； the rocky picturesque foreground；
villas； spires； and towers here and there enlivening the prospect
the Menai Bridge appeared more like the work of some great magician
than the mere result of man's skill and industry。〃
＇Image＇ Conway Suspension Bridge
Shortly after the Menai Bridge was begun； it was determined by the
Commissioners of the Holyhead road that a bridge of similar design
should be built over the estuary of the Conway； immediately
opposite the old castle at that place； and which had formerly been
crossed by an open ferry boat。 The first stone was laid on the
3rd of April； 1822； and the works having proceeded satisfactorily；
the bridge and embankment approaching it were completed by the summer
of 1826。 But the operations being of the same kind as those
connected with the larger structure above described； though of a
much less difficult character； it is unnecessary to enter into any
details as to the several stages of its construction。 In this
bridge the width between the centres of the supporting towers is
327 feet； and the height of the under side of the roadway above
high water of spring tides only 15 feet。 The heaviest work was an
embankment as its eastern approach； 2015 feet in length and about
300 feet in width at its highest part。
It will be seen； from the view of the bridge given on the opposite
page； that it is a highly picturesque structure； and combines；
with the estuary which it crosses； and the ancient castle of Conway；
in forming a landscape that is rarely equalled。
Footnotes for Chapter XII。
*＇1＇ In an article in the 'Edinburgh Review；' No。 exli。； from the
pen of Sir David Brewster； the writer observes：〃Mr。 Telford's
principle of suspending and laying down from above the centering of
stone and iron bridges is； we think； a much more fertile one than
even he himself supposed。 With modifications； by no means
considerable； and certainly practicable； it appears to us that the
voussoirs or archstones might themselves be laid down from above；
and suspended by an appropriate mechanism till the keystone was
inserted。 If we suppose the centering in Mr。 Telford's plan to be
of iron； this centering itself becomes an iron bridge； each rib of
which is composed of ten pieces of fifty feet each； and by
increasing the number of suspending chains； these separate pieces
or voussoirs having been previously joined together； either
temporarily or permanently； by cement or by clamps； might be laid
into their place； and kept there by a single chain till the road
was completed。 The voussoirs； when united； might be suspended from
a general chain across the archway； and a platform could be added
to facilitate the operations。〃 This is as nearly as possible the
plan afterwards revived by Mr。 Brunel； and for the originality of
which； we believe； he has generally the credit； though it clearly
belongs to Telford。
*＇2＇ A correspondent informs us of a still more foolhardy exploit
performed on the occasion。 He says； 〃Having been present； as a boy
from Bangor grammar school； on the 26th of April； when the first
chain was carried across； an incident occurred which made no small
impression on my mind at the time。 After the chain had reached its
position； a cobbler of the neighbourhood crawled to the centre of
the curve； and there finished a pair of shoes； when； having
completed his task； he returned in safety to the Caernarvon side！
I need not say that we schoolboys appreciated his feat of
foolhardiness far more than Telford's master work。〃
CHAPTER XIII。
DOCKS； DRAINAGE； AND BRIDGES。
It will have been observed； from the preceding narrative； how much
had already been accomplished by skill and industry towards opening
up the material resources of the kingdom。 The stages of improvement
which we have recorded indeed exhibit a measure of the vital energy
which has from time to time existed in the nation。 In the earlier
periods of engineering history； the war of man was with nature。
The sea was held back by embankments。 The Thames； instead of being
allowed to overspread the wide marshes on either bank； was confined
within limited bounds； by which the navigable depth of its channel
was increased； at the same time that a wide extent of land was
rendered available for agriculture。
In those early days； the great object was to render the land more
habitable； comfortable； and productive。 Marshes were reclaimed； and
wastes subdued。 But so long as the country remained comparatively
closed against communication； and intercourse was restricted by the
want of bridges and roads； improvement was extremely slow。
For； while roads are the consequence of civilisation； they are also
among its most influential causes。 We have seen even the blind
Metcalf acting as an effective instrument of progress in the
northern counties by the formation of long lines of road。 Brindley
and the Duke of Bridgewater carried on the work in the same
districts； and conferred upon the north and north…west of England
the blessings of cheap and effective water communication。 Smeaton
followed and carried out similar undertakings in still remoter
places； joining the east and west coasts of Scotland by the Forth
and Clyde Canal； and building bridges in the far north。 Rennie made
harbours； built bridges； and hewed out docks for shipping； the
increase in which had kept pace with the growth of our home and
foreign trade。 He was followed by Telford； whose long and busy
life； as we have seen； was occupied in building bridges and making
roads in all directions； in districts of the country formerly
inaccessible； and therefore comparatively barbarous。 At length the
wildest districts of the Highlands and the most rugged mountain
valleys of North Wales were rendered as easy of access as the
comparatively level counties in the immediate neighbourhood of the
metropolis。
During all this while； the wealth and industry of the country had
been advancing with rapid strides。 London had grown in population
and importance。 Many improvements had been effected in the river；
But the dock accommodation was still found insufficient； and； as
the recognised head of his profession； Mr。 Telford； though now
grown old and fast becoming infirm； was called upon to supply the
requisite plans。 He had been engaged upon great works for upwards
of thirty years； previous to which he had led the life of a working
mason。 But he had been a steady； temperate man all his life； and
though nearly seventy； when consulted as to the proposed new docks；
his mind was as able to deal with the subject in all its bearings
as it had ever been； and he undertook the work。
In 1824 a new Company was formed to provide a dock nearer to the
heart of the City than any of the existing ones。 The site selected
was the space between the Tower and the London Docks； which
included the property of St。 Katherine's Hospital。 The whole extent
of land available was only twenty…seven acres of a very irregular
figure； so that when the quays and warehouses were laid out； it was
found that only about ten acres remained for the docks； b