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！
the ravine to be spanned involved great height in the piers； the
roadway being 106 feet above the level of the stream。 The bridge
was of four arches of 90 feet span each； and its total length 447
feet； the breadth between the parapets for the purposes of the
roadway and footpaths being 39 feet。*＇2＇ It was completed and
opened in December； 1831。
But the most important； as it was the last； of Mr。 Telford's stone
bridges was that erected across the Clyde at the Broomielaw；
Glasgow。 Little more than fifty years since； the banks of the river
at that place were literally covered with broomand hence its
namewhile the stream was scarcely deep enough to float a
herring…buss。 Now； the Broomielaw is a quay frequented by ships of
the largest burden； and bustling with trade and commerce。 Skill and
enterprise have deepened the Clyde； dredged away its shoals； built
quays and wharves along its banks； and rendered it one of the
busiest streams in the world；
It has become a great river thoroughfare； worked by steam。 On its
waters the first steamboat ever constructed for purposes of traffic
in Europe was launched by Henry Bell in 1812； and the Clyde boats
to this day enjoy the highest prestige。
The deepening of the river at the Broomielaw had led to a gradual
undermining of the foundations of the old bridge； which was
situated close to the principal landing…place。 A little above it；
was an ancient overfall weir； which had also contributed to scour
away the foundations of the piers。 Besides； the bridge was felt to
be narrow； inconvenient； and ill…adapted for accommodating the
immense traffic passing across the Clyde at that point。 It was；
therefore； determined to take down the old structure； and Build a
new one； and Mr。 Telford was called upon to supply the design。
The foundation was laid with great ceremony on the 18th of March； 1833；
and the new bridge was completed and opened on the 1st of January；
1836； rather more than a year after the engineer's death。 It is a
very fine work； consisting of seven arches； segments of circles；
the central arch being 58 feet 6 inches； the span of the adjoining
arches diminishing to 57 feet 9 inches； 55 feet 6 inches； and 52
feet respectively。 It is 560 feet in length； with an open waterway
of 389 feet； and its total width of carriageway and footpath is 60
feet； or wider； at the time it was built； than any river bridge in
the kingdom。
＇Image＇ Glasgow Bridge
Like most previous engineers of eminencelike Perry； Brindley；
Smeaton； and RennieMr。 Telford was in the course of his life
extensively employed in the drainage of the Fen districts。 He had
been jointly concerned with Mr。 Rennie in carrying out the
important works of the Eau Brink Cut； and at Mr。 Rennie's death he
succeeded to much of his practice as consulting engineer。
It was principally in designing and carrying out the drainage of
the North Level that Mr。 Telford distinguished himself in Fen
drainage。 The North Level includes all that part of the Great
Bedford Level situated between Morton's Leam and the river Welland；
comprising about 48；000 acres of land。 The river Nene； which brings
down from the interior the rainfall of almost the entire county of
Northampton； flows through nearly the centre of the district。
In some places the stream is confined by embankments； in others it
flows along artificial outs； until it enters the great estuary of
the Wash； about five miles below Wisbeach。 This town is situated on
another river which flows through the Level； called the Old Nene。
Below the point of junction of these rivers with the Wash； and
still more to seaward； was South Holland Sluice； through which the
waters of the South Holland Drain entered the estuary。 At that
point a great mass of silt had accumulated； which tended to choke
up the mouths of the rivers further inland； rendering their
navigation difficult and precarious； and seriously interrupting the
drainage of the whole lowland district traversed by both the Old
and New Nene。 Indeed the sands were accumulating at such a rate；
that the outfall of the Wisbeach River threatened to become
completely destroyed。
Such being the state of things； it was determined to take the
opinion of some eminent engineer； and Mr。 Rennie was employed to
survey the district and recommend a measure for the remedy of these
great evils。 He performed this service in his usually careful and
masterly manner； but as the method which he proposed； complete
though it was； would have seriously interfered with the trade of
Wisbeach； by leaving it out of the line of navigation and drainage
which he proposed to open up； the corporation of that town
determined to employ another engineer； and Mr Telford was selected
to examine and report upon the whole subject； keeping in view the
improvement of the river immediately adjacent to the town of
Wisbeach。
Mr。 Telford confirmed Mr。 Rennie's views to a large extent； more
especially with reference to the construction of an entirely new
outfall； by making an artificial channel from Kindersleys Cut to
Crab…Hole Eye anchorage； by which a level lower by nearly twelve
feet would be secured for the outfall waters； but he preferred
leaving the river open to the tide as high as Wisbeach； rather than
place a lock with draw…doors at Lutton Leam Sluice； as had been
proposed by Mr。 Rennie。 He also suggested that the acute angle at
the Horseshoe be cut off and the river deepened up to the bridge at
Wisbeach； making a new cut along the bank on the south side of the
town； which should join the river again immediately above it；
thereby converting the intermediate space； by draw…doors and the
usual contrivances； into a floating dock。 Though this plan was
approved by the parties interested in the drainage； to Telford's
great mortification it was opposed by the corporation of Wisbeach；
and like so many other excellent schemes for the improvement of the
Fen districts； it eventually fell to the ground。
The cutting of a new outfall for the river Nene； however； could not
much longer be delayed without great danger to the reclaimed lands
of the North Level； which； but for some relief of the kind； must
shortly have become submerged and reduced to their original waste
condition。 The subject was revived in 1822； and Mr。 Telford was
again called upon； in conjunction with Sir John Rennie； whose
father had died in the preceding year； to submit a plan of a new
Nene Outfall； but it was not until the year 1827 that the necessary
Act was obtained； and then only with great difficulty and cost； in
consequence of the opposition of the town of Wisbeach。 The works
consisted principally of a deep cut or canal； about six miles in
length； penetrating far through the sand banks into the deep waters
of the Wash。 They were begun in 1828； and brought to completion in
1830； with the most satisfactory results。 A greatly improved
outfall was secured by thus carrying