The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-20 00:00:00

THE CALEDONIAN CANAL.
This important national undertaking, the first of its
class in Europe, after much hesitation on the part of
Government, is at length receiving the repairs and im-
provements so long desiderated, on a scale of magnitude
which will go far to realise the designs originally con-
templated by the great Telford—an engineer Dumfries-
shire feels a just pride in claiming as a native. The
object pressed on public attention in the end of last
century, was to avoid, by inland navigation, the round
about by the Pentland Frith, apart from the delays and
dangers incident to a series of stormy headlands, Cape
Wrath of the number, which either becalmed or drove
vessels from their course during the storms of winter—
hindrances in the estimation of mariners deemed more for-
midable than the gulph stretching between Europe and
America. From the evidence collected by Mr. Walker,
under this head, it appears that traders, in seeking
shelter in sounds, or among distant islands, frequently
lay idle for weeks or months ; and that more time,
occas'onally at least, was consumed in completing a
coasting voyage of 300 miles than in crossing the wide
Atlantic, unaided by the Archimidean screw, or paddle
wheels impelled by steam power. The first estimate of
cost was under half a million ; but the price of provi-
sions mounted so rapidly during the war that much
higher wages were paid to the workmen, and for mate-
rials, than originally contemplated; so that by the time
the Canal was opened, in 1822, the total expense
amounted to pretty nearly one million sterling. Ori-
ginally, it was intended that the width of the water
surface should be 120 feet, the bottom width 50,
and the depth 20, so as to admit the largest vessels
that trade between Liverpool and the Baltic, West
Indiamen of average size, and frigates of thirty-
two guns when fully equipped. But so much was
said in Parliament against expense, estimates exceeded,
jobbing, and so forth, that the engineer was constrained
to complete the Canal in a hurried and insufficient
manner, of which his professional zeal and better judg-
ment totally disapproved. That jobbing insinuates itself
into the execution of too many Government works, can-
not well be denied ; and in Inverness-shire it is well
known that certain contractors, in the absence of a
proper system of checks, performed so superficially, that
they became rich, by the accumulation of more money
than Mr. Telford left at the time of his death, after
planning not a few of the noblest monuments et British
art, the Menai Bridge included, one of the modern
wonders of the world. Still the engineer was not to
blame, as the patronage of employing subordinates
formed no part of his business. But so great a man
could not escape envy, and the jealousy of rivals; and in
a review of his posthumous works, published six years
ago, we find the following justification of his memory:—
" Our readers will readily conceive the mortification which

Mr. Telford must have experienced when he found the nation
and the Ministry arrayed against him ; and when he felt that
the glory of executing the greateat work in Europe was to
be turned into shame. His powerful mind, however, bore
the affliction, and wisely yielded to what he could not avert.
In his posthumous work even, he has forborne to give expres-
sion to his feelings; and has never deigned to make any reply
to those attacks upon his professional character which igno-
rant legislators, and jealous rivals, founded on the excess of
the real over the estimated expenditure.
" In works of ordinary magnitude, where long practice has
corrected our theoretical principles, and experience has
gathered and recorded her knowledge, a great error in his
estimates would justly weaken our confidence even in an
able engineer; but the case is quite different in works dis-
tinguished for the novelty of their character and the gran-
deur of their dimensions. The mind is here thrown out of
its sphere of knowledge. It has no previous experience to
appeal to ; and, even if the records of engineering had pre-
sented some law of strength in relation to works of progres-
sive magnitude, the application of that law to a higher point
•of the scale must yet be a conjecture; and still more so in
combinations exposed to the variable, and insidious, and in-
calculable action of water and the elements. But the defence
of Mr. Telford must not be rested on a speculative pleading.
We must look into the estimates of more modern public
works of inordinate magnitude, where the engineer has been
led into the same miscalculation, and where he has been, by
universal consent, permitted to plead the same excuse."
But, thanks to Mr. Walker and his admirable report,
matters have been placed on so different a footing, that
jobbing will be totally disallowed, through the exertions
of Mr. May, the excellent resident engineer, who, to
professional knowledge, adds matured experience, and
is so often abroad, that he supervises everything secun-
dem artern. The contractors, Messrs. Jackson an Bean,
who are favourably known for their skill and experience
in this department of engineering, have been allowed
three years for the completion of tasks implying a large
outlay of public money ; and, from the satisfactory
progress already made, there is reason to hope that the
Canal will be re-opened from sea to sea at the time ap-
pointed, unless there be departures in the form of extras,
from the specifications. The total length of the Canal
is sixty miles, twenty-three of which are formed by art,
and the remainder by connecting, and rendering subser-
vient to commercial purposes, a great natural basin,
enriched in one sense, as well as beautified by the ample
waters of Lech Ness, Loch Oich, and Loch Lochy.
On threading the locality lately, we found the bustle
not only great, but curiously animated, beyond alike
anticipation and description. The contractors employ
from 1,500 to 1,800 men, according to circumstances,
and pretty near 100 horses, to say nothing of the potent
and complicated machinery impressed into the service
they conduct, for the promotion of peaceful engineering
purposes, infinitely more sensible than the ridiculous
fortifications erected in Paris, half-way through the
nineteenth century, at an expense of nearly fifteen mil-
lions sterling. One way and
_another, the gentlemen
named above disburse weekly in wages about 2,0001.
sterling. Masons receive from a pound to a guinea,
joiners fifteen shillings, and labourers from thirteen to
fourteen shillings, all by the week. Another class of
workers, who are called " dredgers," are paid still more
handsomely—say a crown a day, which enables them
to patronise roast beef and mutton, in preference to
the porridge, potatoes, and barley broth of Caledonia.
Strange as it may appear, there is scarcely a single
Irishman in the squads of labourers employed ; of
southrons there were a good many at first, remnants of
whom still remain ; but in a national point of view it is
satisfactory to know that the great hulk of the work is
executed by the thews and sinews of Highlanders, from
vari4 els quarters, including Skye, Mull, Lews, and some
other islands. In the case of quarrymen, excavators,
smiths, and lime-burners, &c ,portions of work are let by
the job to subcontractors. That much local good is
done by the circulation of so large a sum in wages can
hardly be doubted, but the operators complain of the
dearth of provisions, and in the case of oatmeal they are
entitled to do so. This,article is retailed at 2s. Bd. per
stone of 171 lbs. is pretty nearly double the
prices current in "the south of Scotland. Butter is re-
tailed at Is. per lb., and eggs at fivepence per dozen,
with every prospect of the latter rising in price, from
the great influx of strangers into districts where sheep
form the great staple, while the few other products the
soil yields, grain included, scarcely suffice for the wants
of the natives. Potatoes, however, are everywhere
healthy, and in wild situations grown in greater breadth
than anything else ; and in proportion as they ripen,
will be substituted for meal in suppering, if not break-
fasting many a hard-working labourer. Fresh herrings
have been so plentiful, that they are sometimes sold at
from
20 to 24 f.ir sixpence ; and truth to say, there is no
fish the wat‘ rs float, whether fresh or salt, which forms
so admirable an aecompin)ncent to a meally potato.
At the I ;anal entrance to Loch Lochy, we observed a
diving; bell, which is to be used, we presume, for the
first time, in deepening fresh water in a Highland lake.
Judging from what pceurred at Loch Oich, there are ob-
structicns below not a little formidable, such as the
trunks of trees containing several loads of timber.
Bow long these relics of primeval forests had re-
mained submerged it is impossible to tell ; but what
is not a little curious, some of the most gigantic
specimens formerly excavated exhibited at once traces
of the woodman's axe and the agency of fire com-
bined. As all water ways are subject to leakage
during dry weather, the precaution has been adopted,
of lining the embankments with clay (pudding), so
that hereafter surface waste may be confined to ex-
halation. Dredging is another great job, and as regards
deepening, the most important of all ; and few operations
can be more amusing than to see barrowmen
ascending .planks rivalling in steepness the knees
of hills, aided by the power of horses above, so har-
nessed as to work double tides, going and returning.
Wherever gaps appear in the canal, the streams have
been shut out by mounds of earth, to be removed when
the water is again required for purposes more im-
portant than feeding fishes. Three steam-engines are
at work occasionally in pumping, which discharge into
Loch Ness as much water as would give a twelve gal-
lon supply daily to every inhabitant of the great
city of London. For moving the huge blocks of
stone used in the quoins and new buildings, setting
frames with an apparatus of cranes, fixed and move-
able, windlasses, &c., were months ago placed in
orderly requisition ; quarries, too, have been opened
at convenient distances ; side railroads planted to
convey the hugest stones in wheeled trucks to the re-
quisite stations • and, in a word, all our great modern
inventions found not only beautifully blended, but bear-
ing most beneficially upon one another iu the renovation
and,more perfect execution of a great national under-
taking. Where the hinge stones at the different locks
were found too weak, larger ones have been substituted;
and as most of the doors have suffered so much from
tear and wear that they require to be renewed, the
country was searched in vain for oak of the necessary
dimensions, with the exception of park trees, which the
owners will not cut. But wherever the will exists there
is also a way ; and we were pleased to find that Indian
teak is to be used instead ; and eke goodly mahogany
from Honduras, which, in our estimation, will subserve
purposes every way more important than gearing the
dining tables of the highest in the land.
Before tho general introduction of steam navigation,
the passage by the canal was tedious for sail vessels
when the wind was contrary. But when four steam-
tugs are placed upon its waters, that objection will be
entirely obviated ; and then, we should suppose, adieu
to circuitous navigation by the Pentland Frith. This
circumstance, of itself, formed a cogent argument for
the expenditure of an additional 200,0001. on the part of
Government. And another and still stronger will arise,
when the north of Scotland to the shores of the Frith of
Forth, is railroaded in its. whole length and breadth.
That such a consummation
is not far in the distance, is
proved by the speculations in posse and esse ; and when
the whole arrangements contemplated are completed,
canaling and railroading drawn a common centre, will
be found acting and re-acting to
benefi-
cially upon one another.—,Dumfries beautifully and umfries Courier.

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