the life of thomas telford-第57章
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by a series of locks from both the eastern and western seas。
The whole number of these is twenty…eight: the entrance…lock at
Clachnaharry; constructed on piles; at the end of huge embankments;
forced out into deep water; at Loch Beady; another at the entrance
to the capacious artificial harbour above mentioned; at Muirtown;
four connected locks at the southern end of this basin;
a regulating lock a little to the north of Loch Dochfour;
five contiguous locks at Fort Augustus; at the south end of Loch Ness;
another; called the Kytra Lock; about midway between Fort Angustus
and Loch Oich; a regulating lock at the north…east end of Loch Oich;
two contiguous locks between Lochs Oich and Lochy; a regulating
lock at the south…west end of Loch Lochy; next; the grand series of
locks; eight in number; called 〃Neptune's Staircase;〃 at Bannavie;
within a mile and a quarter of the sea; two locks; descending to
Corpach basin; and lastly; the great entrance or sea…lock at Corpach。
The northern entrance…lock from the sea at Loch Beauly is at
Clachnaharry; near Inverness。 The works here were not accomplished
without much difficulty as well as labour; partly from the very
gradual declivity of the shore; and partly from the necessity of
placing the sea…lock on absolute mud; which afforded no foundation
other than what was created by compression and pile…driving。
The mud was forced down by throwing upon it an immense load of earth
and stones; which was left during twelve months to settle; after
which a shaft was sunk to a solid foundation; and the masonry of
the sea…lock was then founded and built therein。
In the 'Sixteenth Report of the Commissioners of the Caledonian
Canal;' the following reference is made to this important work;
which was finished in 1812: 〃The depth of the mud on which it may
be said to be artificially seated is not less than 60 feet; so that
it cannot be deemed superfluous; at the end of seven years; to
state that no subsidence is discoverable; and we presume that the
entire lock; as well as every part of it; may now be deemed as
immovable; and as little liable to destruction; as any other large
mass of masonry。 This was the most remarkable work performed under
the immediate care of Mr。 Matthew Davidson; our superintendent at
Clachnaharry; from 1804 till the time of his decease。 He was a man
perfectly qualified for the employment by inflexible integrity;
unwearied industry; and zeal to a degree of anxiety; in all the
operations committed to his care。〃*'1'
As may naturally be supposed; the execution of these great works
involved vast labour and anxiety。 They were designed with much
skill; and executed with equal ability。 There were lock…gates to
be constructed; principally of cast iron; sheathed with pine
planking。 Eight public road bridges crossed the line of the
canal; which were made of cast iron; and swung horizontally。
There were many mountain streams; swollen to torrents in winter;
crossing under the canal; for which abundant water…way had to be
provided; involving the construction of numerous culverts; tunnels;
and under…bridges of large dimensions。 There were also powerful
sluices to let off the excess of water sent down from the adjacent
mountains into the canal during winter。 Three of these; of great
size; high above the river Lochy; are constructed at a point where
the canal is cut through the solid rock; and the sight of the mass
of waters rushing down into the valley beneath; gives an impression
of power which; once seen; is never forgotten。
These great works were only brought to a completion after the
labours of many years; during which the difficulties encountered in
their construction had swelled the cost of the canal far beyond the
original estimate。 The rapid advances which had taken place in the
interval in the prices of labour and materials also tended greatly
to increase the expenses; and; after all; the canal; when completed
and opened; was comparatively little used。 This was doubtless
owing; in a great measure; to the rapid changes which occurred in
the system of navigation shortly after the projection of the
undertaking。 For these Telford was not responsible。 He was called
upon to make the canal; and he did so in the best manner。
Engineers are not required to speculate as to the commercial value
of the works they are required to construct; and there were
circumstances connected with the scheme of the Caledonian Canal
which removed it from the category of mere commercial adventures。
It was a Government project; and it proved a failure as a paying
concern。 Hence it formed a prominent topic for discussion in the
journals of the day; but the attacks made upon the Government
because of their expenditure on the hapless undertaking were
perhaps more felt by Telford; who was its engineer; than by all the
ministers of state conjoined。
〃The unfortunate issue of this great work;〃 writes the present
engineer of the canal; to whom we are indebted for many of the
preceding facts; 〃was a grievous disappointment to Mr。 Telford;
and was in fact the one great bitter in his otherwise unalloyed cup
of happiness and prosperity。 The undertaking was maligned by
thousands who knew nothing of its character。 It became 'a dog with
a bad name;' and all the proverbial consequences followed。
The most absurd errors and misconceptions were propagated respecting
it from year to year; and it was impossible during Telford's lifetime
to stem the torrent of popular prejudice and objurgation。 It must;
however; be admitted; after a long experience; that Telford was
greatly over…sanguine in his expectations as to the national uses
of the canal; and he was doomed to suffer acutely in his personal
feelings; little though he may have been personally to blame; the
consequences of what in this commercial country is regarded as so
much worse than a crime; namely; a financial mistake。〃*'2'
Mr。 Telford's great sensitiveness made him feel the ill success of
this enterprise far more than most other men would have done。
He was accustomed to throw himself into the projects on which he
was employed with an enthusiasm almost poetic。 He regarded them
not merely as so much engineering; but as works which were to be
instrumental in opening up the communications of the country and
extending its civilization。 Viewed in this light; his canals;
roads; bridges; and harbours were unquestionably of great national
importance; though their commercial results might not in all cases
justify the estimates of their projectors。 To refer to like
instancesno one can doubt the immense value and public uses of
Mr。 Rennie's Waterloo Bridge or Mr。 Robert Stephenson's Britannia
and Victoria Bridges; though every one knows that; commercially;
they have been failures。 But it is probable that neither of these
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