The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-04-12 00:00:00

which will exhibit the state of affairs in the engineering de-
partment, _

The Bebbington contract commences at Grange-lane, and.
extends to near the turnpike-road leading from New Ferry
to Nestoii, being a distance of two miles and 32 oh ins, and
was let to Messrs. Bowers, Murray, and BrOwnbill.
The earth work comprised in this contract amounted to
233,000 cubic yards, being an average 0f.105,575 cubic yards
per mile. Of this quantity there has 'already been executed
about 82,000 cubic yards, leaving yet to be done 171,000 cubic
yards.

The contractors are now removing about 3,500 cubic yards
per week, at which rate it would require 48 weeks to corn-.
plete the work. This would be within the time stipulated ;
but as the days lengthen, the rate of progresS here named
will be.considerably increased.
The brickwork and masonry, in bridges culverts, and-
stone walls, in this contract, amounted '
to 8,527 cubic yards.
of ,which about 4,000 yards are now finished, and a consider-
able quantity of stone on- the grotind for the remainder.
700 yards linear Yards of permanent way, (single road,)
have been laid.down, and about 1,500 linear yards ballOsted,
ready' for laying ; the rails, chains, and sleepers for which are
already on the ground.

A considerable portion of the stone wail, and post and rail
fencing is erected. •

There are 300 men and 17 horses employed on this part of
the line.

Bromborough 4nd Eastham contract commences at the
end of the last, and extends to Plumyard Brook, being a
distance of 3 miles and 37 chains; was let to Messrs. Bowers
and Co., the same individuals as have the preceding contract.
The earthwork comprised in this contract amounted to
288,000 cubic yards, being an average of about 83,032 per
mile. There have been already executed 116,000 cubic yards'
leaving to, be done 172,000._ _

The present rate of progress being about 6,000 cubic yards
per week, it will at that rate require only 28 or 29 Weeks to
complete this work.
. _

Tile brickwcirk and masonry, in bridges, culverts, &c.,
amounted to about 15,000 cubic yards, of which about 8;000
have been completed.
. . _

3,000 linear yards of permanent way (single road) have
been laid, and 6,000 linear yards more ballasted ready for
laying down ; the rails for which, with the chairs, sleepers,
&c., are provided and on the ground.
Post and rail fences are erected. throughout nearly the
whole of this contract.

There are 220 men and 41 horses employed on this portion
of the line.

The work on these two contracts has been carried on in a
very satisfactory manner, and,, with the exception of a few
culverts to drain, bridge approaches that reqmrcd lowering,
not comprised in the original specification, nothing has arisen
to lead us to anticipate any considerable increased expendi-
ture for extra works or delay in:the execut*.
The Sutton contract commences at Pluenjard Brook, and
extends to near Salter's-lane (the southern extremity of
Ledshani township), being a distance of 3 miles and 17 chains ;
was let to Messrs. Henry and Clements..
The earthwork comprised, in this„ contract
,amounted to
209,500 cubic yard's; being an average of 65,200 cubic yards
per mile. There have been executed 117,500, leayil.ig yet to
do 92,009. •
29,000 yards of this quantity have to, be.laid out in spoil
banks, and 63,000 yards require waggoning to Plumjard em-
bankment ; and although this part of the work has not been
yet commenced, with moderate measures on the part, of the'
contractors no difficulty exists as to the practicability of ex-
ecnting it within the time stipulated.
The masonry
,and brickwork in this contract amount to
4,339 cubic yards, of which only 500 cubic yards have yet
been completed, considerable delay having arisen in opening
new quarries and waiting for new bricks ; but the 'amount
being so small, it may all be accomplished during the ensuing
summer, with due diligence and exertion on the part of, the
contractors.

There are about 130 men and 18 horses employed in this
district.

The Moston and Chester contract, extending from the
termination of the preceding, near Salters-lane, to Brook-
street, Chester, being a distance of 5 miles and 39 chains.
The earthwork comprised in this contract was calculated at
450,000 cubic yards, being an average of. 81,900 cubic yards
per mile. There have been executed )00,000 cubic' yards,
leaving yet to be done 350,000 yards. The brickwork and
masonry, in bridges, culverts, &c.,l3,sooctibic yarcts-: The
quantity executed up to this time, 2000 cubic yards, leaving
11,500 yards.
This contract contains the greatest quantity of une",-.ecuted
work. It was let, last August, to contractors, who did not
prosecute the work in a satisfactory manner. After remain-
ing- in their hands about six months, to prevent farther
delay, we were, with your sanction, obliged -to enter noon
the works ourselves, and are now carrying it on by smaller,
or subcontracts, the company providing wa,„cro'ofts, rails, and
suitable materials, a liberal supply of, which, 'and laving a
complete control over the works and workmen; will enable
us to push the work during the ensuing ,summer ;, and,
should the season prove moderately favourable;; .%-e have
reason to expect' that this part of the line may begot ready
by May, 1840,',without occurring much additional expense.
There are 447,mcn awl 22 horses,einploseclon this division.