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was made； there was usually a collection of boats at the other end
waiting their turn to pass。 Thus much contention and confusion
took place amongst the boatmena very rough class of labourers
and many furious battles were fought by the claimants for the first
turn 〃through。〃 Regulations were found of no avail to settle these
disputes； still less to accommodate the large traffic which
continued to keep flowing along the line of the Grand Trunk；
and steadily increased with the advancing trade and manufactures of
the country。 Loud complaints were made by the public； but they were
disregarded for many years； and it was not until the proprietors
were threatened with rival canals and railroads that they
determined onwhat they could no longer avoid if they desired to
retain the carrying trade of the district the enlargement of the
Harecastle Tunnel。
Mr。 Telford was requested to advise the Company what course was
most proper to be adopted in the matter； and after examining the
place； he recommended that an entirely new tunnel should be
constructed； nearly parallel with the old one； but of much larger
dimensions。 The work was begun in 1824； and completed in 1827；
in less than three years。 There were at that time throughout the
country plenty of skilled labourers and contractors； many of them
trained by their experience upon Telford's own works； where as
Brindley had in a great measure to make his workmen out of the
rawest material。 Telford also had the advantage of greatly improved
machinery and an abundant supply of moneythe Grand Trunk Canal
Company having become prosperous and rich； paying large dividends。
It is therefore meet； while eulogising the despatch with which he
was enabled to carry out the work； to point out that the much
greater period occupied in the earlier undertaking is not to be set
down to the disparagement of Brindley； who had difficulties to
encounter which the later engineer knew nothing of。
The length of the new tunnel is 2926 yards； it is 16 feet high and
14 feet broad； 4 feet 9 inches of the breadth being occupied by the
towing…pathfor 〃legging〃 was now dispensed with； and horses
hauled along the boats instead of their being thrust through by
men。 The tunnel is in so perfectly straight a line that its whole
length can be seen through at one view； and though it was
constructed by means of fifteen different pitshafts sunk to the
same line along the length of the tunnel； the workmanship is so
perfect that the joinings of the various lengths of brickwork are
scarcely discernible。 The convenience afforded by the new tunnel
was very great； and Telford mentions that； on surveying it in 1829；
he asked a boatman coming； out of it how he liked it？ 〃I only
wish；〃 he replied； 〃that it reached all the way to Manchester！〃
＇Image＇ Cross Section of Harecastle Tunnel。
At the time that Mr。 Telford was engaged upon the tunnel at
Harecastle； he was employed to improve and widen the Birmingham
Canal； another of Brindley's works。 Though the accommodation
provided by it had been sufficient for the traffic when originally
constructed； the expansion of the trade of Birmingham and the
neighbourhood； accelerated by the formation of the canal itself；
had been such as completely to outgrow its limited convenience and
capacity； and its enlargement and improvement now became absolutely
necessary。 Brindley's Canal； for the sake of cheapness of
constructionmoney being much scarcer and more difficult to be
raised in the early days of canalswas also winding and crooked；
and it was considered desirable to shorten and straighten it by
cutting off the bends at different places。 At the point at which
the canal entered Birmingham； it had become 〃little better than a
crooked ditch； with scarcely the appearance of a towing…path； the
horses frequently sliding and staggering in the water； the
hauling…lines sweeping the gravel into the canal； and the
entanglement at the meeting of boats being incessant； whilst at the
locks at each end of the short summit at Smethwick crowds of
boatmen were always quarrelling； or offering premiums for a
preference of passage； and the mine…owners； injured by the delay；
were loud in their just complaints。〃*＇4＇
Mr。 Telford proposed an effective measure of improvement； which
was taken in hand without loss of time； and carried out； greatly
to the advantage of the trade of the district。 The numerous bends
in the canal were cut off； the water…way was greatly widened； the
summit at Smethwick was cut down to the level on either side； and a
straight canal； forty feet wide； without a lock； was thus formed
as far as Bilston and Wolverhampton； while the length of the main
line between Birmingham and Autherley； along the whole extent of
the 〃Black country；〃 was reduced from twenty…two to fourteen miles。
At the same time the obsolete curvatures in Brindley's old canal
were converted into separate branches or basins； for the
accommodation of the numerous mines and manufactories on either
side of the main line。 In consequence of the alterations which had
been made in the canal； it was found necessary to construct
numerous large bridges。 One of thesea cast iron bridge；
at Galton； of 150 feet spanhas been much admired for its elegance；
lightness； and economy of material。 Several others of cast iron
were constructed at different points； and at one place the canal
itself is carried along on an aqueduct of the same material as at
Pont…Cysylltau。 The whole of these extensive improvements were
carried out in the short space of two years； and the result was
highly satisfactory； 〃proving；〃 as Mr。 Telford himself observes；
〃that where business is extensive； liberal expenditure of this kind
is true economy。〃
＇Image＇ Galton Bridge； Birmingham Canal。
In 1825 Mr。 Telford was called upon to lay out a canal to connect
the Grand Trunk； at the north end of Harecastle Tunnel； with the
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 th