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eminent engineers gave himself anything like the anxious concern
that Telford did about the financial issue of his undertaking。
Were railway engineers to fret and vex themselves about the commercial
value of the schemes in which they have been engaged； there are few
of them but would be so haunted by the ghosts of wrecked speculations
that they could scarcely lay their heads upon their pillows for a
single night in peace。
While the Caledonian Canal was in progress； Mr。 Telford was
occupied in various works of a similar kind in England and Scotland；
and also upon one in Sweden。 In 1804； while on one of his journeys
to the north； he was requested by the Earl of Eglinton and others
to examine a project for making a canal from Glasgow to Saltcoats
and Ardrossan； on the north…western coast of the county of Ayr；
passing near the important manufacturing town of Paisley。 A new
survey of the line was made； and the works were carried on during
several successive years until a very fine capacious canal was
completed； on the same level； as far as Paisley and Johnstown。
But the funds of the company falling short； the works were stopped；
and the canal was carried no further。 Besides； the measures adopted
by the Clyde Trustees to deepen the bed of that river and enable
ships of large burden to pass up as high as Glasgow； had proved so
successful that the ultimate extension of the canal to Ardrossan
was no longer deemed necessary； and the prosecution of the work was
accordingly abandoned。 But as Mr。 Telford has observed； no person
suspected； when the canal was laid out in 1805； 〃that steamboats
would not only monopolise the trade of the Clyde； but penetrate
into every creek where there is water to float them； in the British
Isles and the continent of Europe； and be seen in every quarter of
the world。〃
Another of the navigations on which Mr。 Telford was long employed
was that of the river Weaver in Cheshire。 It was only twenty…four
miles in extent； but of considerable importance to the country
through which it passed； accommodating the salt…manufacturing
districts； of which the towns of Nantwich； Northwich； and Frodsham
are the centres。 The channel of the river was extremely crooked
and much obstructed by shoals； when Telford took the navigation in
hand in the year 1807； and a number of essential improvements were
made in it； by means of new locks； weirs； and side cuts； which had
the effect of greatly improving the communications of these
important districts。
In the following year we find our engineer consulted； at the
instance of the King of Sweden； on the best mode of constructing
the Gotha Canal； between Lake Wenern and the Baltic； to complete
the communication with the North Sea。 In 1808； at the invitation
of Count Platen； Mr。 Telford visited Sweden and made a careful
survey of the district。 The service occupied him and his
assistants two months； after which he prepared and sent in a series
of detailed plans and sections； together with an elaborate report
on the subject。 His plans having been adopted； he again visited
Sweden in 1810； to inspect the excavations which had already been
begun； when he supplied the drawings for the locks and bridges。
With the sanction of the British Government； he at the same time
furnished the Swedish contractors with patterns of the most
improved tools used in canal making； and took with him a number of
experienced lock…makers and navvies for the purpose of instructing
the native workmen。
The construction of the Gotha Canal was an undertaking of great
magnitude and difficulty； similar in many respects to the
Caledonian Canal； though much more extensive。 The length of
artificial canal was 55 miles； and of the whole navigation；
including the lakes； 120 miles。 The locks are 120 feet long and
24 feet broad； the width of the canal at bottom being 42 feet；
and the depth of water 10 feet。 The results； so far as the engineer
was concerned； were much more satisfactory than in the case of the
Caledonian Canal。 While in the one case he had much obloquy to
suffer for the services he had given； in the other he was honoured
and feted as a public benefactor； the King conferring upon him the
Swedish order of knighthood； and presenting him with his portrait
set in diamonds。
Among the various canals throughout England which Mr。 Telford was
employed to construct or improve； down to the commencement of the
railway era； were the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal； in 1818； the
Grand Trunk Canal； in 1822； the Harecastle Tunnel； which he
constructed anew； in 1824…7； the Birmingham Canal； in 1824； and the
Macclesfield； and Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canals； in 1825。
The Gloucester and Berkeley Canal Company had been unable to
finish their works； begun some thirty years before； but with the
assistance of a loan of 160；000L。 from the Exchequer Bill Loan
Commissioners； they were enabled to proceed with the completion of
their undertaking。 A capacious canal was cut from Gloucester to
Sharpness Point； about eight miles down the Severn； which had the
effect of greatly improving the convenience of the port of
Gloucester； and by means of this navigation； ships of large burden
can now avoid the circuitous and difficult passage of the higher
part of the river； very much to the advantage of the trade of the
place。
The formation of a new tunnel through Harecastle Hill； for the
better accommodation of the boats passing along the Grand Trunk
Canal； was a formidable work。 The original tunnel； it will be
remembered；*＇3＇ was laid out by Brindley； about fifty years
before； and occupied eleven years in construction。 But the
engineering appliances of those early days were very limited； the
pumping powers of the steam…engine had not been fairly developed；
and workmen were as yet only half…educated in the expert use of
tools。 The tunnel； no doubt； answered the purpose for which it was
originally intended； but it was very soon found too limited for the
traffic passing along the navigation。 It was little larger than a
sewer； and admitted the passage of only one narrow boat； seven feet
wide； at a time； involving very heavy labour on the part of the men
who worked it through。 This was performed by what was called
legging。 The Leggers lay upon the deck of the vessel； or upon a
board slightly projecting from either side of it； and； by thrusting
their feet against the slimy roof or sides of the tunnel…walking
horizontally as it were they contrived to push it through。
But it was no better than horsework； and after 〃legging〃 Harecastle
Tunnel； which is more than a mile and a half long； the men were
usually completely exhausted； and as wet from perspiration as if
they had been dragged through the canal itself。 The process
occupied about two hours； and by the time the passage of the tunnel
was made； there was usually a collection of boats at the other end
waiting their turn to pass。 Thus much cont