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the life of thomas telford-第25章

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Bridge and Halifax; between Wakefield and Dewsbury; between

Wakefield and Doncaster; between Wakefield; Huddersfield; and

Saddleworth (the Manchester road); between Standish and Thurston

Clough; between Huddersfield and Highmoor; between Huddersfield and

Halifax; and between Knaresborough and Wetherby。



In Lancashire also; Metcalf made a large extent of roads; which

were of the greatest importance in opening up the resources of that

county。  Previous to their construction; almost the only means of

communication between districts was by horse…tracks and mill…roads;

of sufficient width to enable a laden horse to pass along them with

a pack of goods or a sack of corn slung across its back。  Metcalf's

principal roads in Lancashire were those constructed by him between

Bury and Blackburn; with a branch to Accrington; between Bury and

Haslingden; and between Haslingden and Accrington; with a branch to

Blackburn。  He also made some highly important main roads

connecting Yorkshire and Lancashire with each other at many parts:

as; for instance; those between Skipton; Colne; and Burnley; and

between Docklane Head and Ashton…under…Lyne。  The roads from Ashton

to Stockport and from Stockport to Mottram Langdale were also his

work。



Our road…maker was also extensively employed in the same way in the

counties of Cheshire and Derby; constructing the roads between

Macclesfield and Chapel…le…Frith; between Whaley and Buxton;

between Congleton and the Red Bull (entering Staffordshire); and in

various  other directions。  The total mileage of the turnpike…roads

thus  constructed was about one hundred and eighty miles; for which

Metcalf received in all about sixty…five thousand pounds。

The making of these roads also involved the building of many bridges;

retaining…walls; and culverts。  We believe it was generally

admitted of the works constructed by Metcalf that they well stood

the test of time and use; and; with a degree of justifiable pride;

he was afterwards accustomed to point to his bridges; when others

were tumbling during floods; and boast that none of his had fallen。



This extraordinary man not only made the highways which were

designed for him by other surveyors; but himself personally

surveyed and laid out many of the most important roads which he

constructed; in difficult and mountainous parts of Yorkshire and

Lancashire。  One who personally knew Metcalf thus wrote of him

during his life…time:。  〃With the assistance only of a long staff;

I have several times met this man traversing the roads; ascending

steep and rugged heights; exploring valleys and investigating their

several extents; forms; and situations; so as to answer his designs

in the best manner。  The plans which he makes; and the estimates he

prepares; are done in a method peculiar to himself; and of which he

cannot well convey the meaning to others。  His abilities in this

respect are; nevertheless; so great that he finds constant

employment。  Most of the roads over the Peak in Derbyshire have

been altered by his directions; particularly those in the vicinity

of Buxton; and he is at this time constructing a new one betwixt

Wilmslow and Congleton; to open a communication with the great

London road; without being obliged to pass over the mountains。

I have met this blind projector while engaged in making his survey。

He was alone as usual; and; amongst other conversation; I made some

inquiries respecting this new road。  It was really astonishing to

hear with what accuracy he described its course and the nature of

the different soils through which it was conducted。  Having

mentioned to him a boggy piece of ground it passed through; he

observed that 'that was the only place he had  doubts concerning;

and that he was apprehensive they had; contrary to his directions;

been too sparing of their materials。'〃*'1'



Metcalf's skill in constructing his roads over boggy ground was

very great; and the following may be cited as an instance。  When

the  high…road from Huddersfield to Manchester was determined on;

he agreed to make it at so much a rood; though at that time the

line had not been marked out。  When this was done; Metcalf; to his

dismay; found that the surveyor had laid it out across some deep

marshy ground on Pule and Standish Commons。  On this he

expostulated with the trustees; alleging the much greater expense

that he must necessarily incur in carrying out the work after their

surveyor's plan。  They told him; however; that if he succeeded in

making a complete road to their satisfaction; he should not be a

loser; but they pointed out that; according to their surveyor's

views; it would be requisite for him to dig out the bog until he

came to a solid bottom。  Metcalf; on making his calculations; found

that in that case he would have to dig a trench some nine feet deep

and fourteen yards broad on the average; making about two hundred

and ninety…four solid yards of bog in every rood; to be excavated

and carried away。  This; he naturally conceived; would have proved

both tedious as well as costly; and; after all; the road would in

wet weather have been no better than a broad ditch; and in winter

liable to be blocked up with snow。  He strongly represented this

view to the trustees as well as the surveyor; but they were

immovable。  It was; therefore; necessary for him to surmount the

difficulty in some other way; though he remained firm in his

resolution not to adopt the plan  proposed by the surveyor。

After much cogitation he appeared again  before the trustees;

and made this proposal to them: that he should  make the road

across the marshes after his own plan; and then; if it should be

found not to answer; he would be at the expense of making it over

again after the surveyor's proposed method。  This was agreed to;

and as he had undertaken to make nine miles of the road within ten

months; he immediately set to work with all despatch。



Nearly four hundred men were employed upon the work at six

different points; and their first operation was to cut a deep ditch

along either side of the intended road; and throw the excavated

stuff inwards so as to raise it to a circular form。  His greatest

difficulty was in getting the stones laid to make the drains; there

being no firm footing for a horse in the more boggy places。

The Yorkshire clothiers; who passed that way to Huddersfield market

by no means a soft…spoken raceridiculed Metcalf's proceedings;

and declared that he and his men would some day have to be dragged

out of the bog by the hair of their heads! Undeterred; however;

by sarcasm; he persistently pursued his plan of making the road

practicable for laden vehicles; but he strictly enjoined his men

for the present to keep his manner of proceeding; a secret。



His plan was this。  He ordered heather and ling to be pulled from

the adjacent ground; and after binding it together in little round

bundles; which could be grasped with the hand; these bundles were

placed close together in rows in the direction of the line of road;

after which other similar bundles were placed transversely over

them; and when all had been pressed well down; stone and gravel

were led on in broad…wheeled waggons; and spread over the bundles;

so as to make a firm and level way。  When the first load was

brought and laid on; and the horses reached the firm ground again

in safety; loud cheers were set up by the persons who had assembled

in the expectation of seeing both horses and waggons disappear in

the bog。  The whole length was finished in like manner; and it

proved one of the best; and even the driest; parts of the road;

standing in very little need of repair for nearly twelve years

after its construction。  The plan adopted by Metcalf; we need

scarcely point out; was precisely similar to that afterwards

adopted by George Stephenson; under like circumstances; when

constructing the railway across Chat Moss。  It consisted simply in a

large extension

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