The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-09-02 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE ENGINEER.

To the Directors of the Sheffield and Manchester Railway.
GENTLEMEN,—Since my last Report, read before the ge-
neral meeting of the Proprietors, the works in hand have
progressed very satisfactorily. The double line of permanent
road has been completed from Manchester to Newton, and
that portion of the railway now open to the public has been
kept in a most efficient state of repair, and is in very good
order. Stations for the accommodation of the coal trade
have been built at Ardwick, Godley, and Newton, and a
siding has been laid down at the expense of the Dunkirk Coal
Company, connecting ,their colliery at Dewsnap with this
railway.

HATTERSLEY CONTRACT.
This contract is nearly completed, and ready for the per-
manent road, with the exception of the tunnel at Hattersley,
which, owing to the extremely wet nature of the ground, and
the peculiarity of its formation, rendering it impossible to
drain it, except from one end, has been a work of unexpected
labour. ' I am happy to state, however. that great progress
has been made during the late fine weather, and I look with
confidence to having this part of the line ready for opening in
a short time. The Harewood Viaduct of 19 arches is nearly
completed, 18 of them being finished, and the last one in
hand.

THEROW .
One abutment is Efinished, and theVIADUCT other nearly so. The
shafts of the two piers are built to the height of 30 feet above
the level of the springing of the arches. The centres are
now up in the middle arch, and the arched ribs of timber
will be completed next week. The two side arches will then
be proceeded with. Nearly the whole of the timber re-
quired for the viaduct is now on the ground. The progress
of this work has been highly satisfactory.

GAMESLEY CONTRACT.
The deep cutting on this contract is now quite completed,
and the side walls built in the bottom ; the slopes have been
dressed off and soiled. The embankments at each end of
the contract are finished with the exception of the trimming
of the slopes, with which the contractor is now engaged.

SUMMIT TUNNEL.
Since my last report the shafts Nos. 2 and 3 have been
sunk to the bottom, and No. 1 shaft has been sunk to the
depth of 167 yards, leaving 15 yards still to sink. The pro-
gress of the driftway at each end of the tunnel, and at three
of the shafts, will be seen from the annexed measurements :
Up to Feb., From Feb. 1842,
WORK. 1842. to Aug. 1842. Total.

Yards. Yards. Yards.
Western and Eastern Face 1419 464 1883
At No. 3 Shaft
At No. 4 do.
At No. 5 do.

Total.

1537 1495 3032

The total length of the tunnel is
The length now driven

Leaving still to drive
The driftways of No. 2 shaft are not yet commenced ; the
men being engaged in forming a lodge for the water in the
bottom. Our progress, at the present time, averages about
80 yards per week ; but this will be increased when the drift-
ways are worked from Nos. 1 and 2 shafts, which we expect
to enter upon in a very short period. The water has very
materially decreased, so that we can now keep it down with-
out difficulty.

The line lies been set out from Dinting Vale to the tunnel,
and the working plans, sections and specifications are now
ready, so that this part of the line will be let immediately.
A. portion-of the line at the Sheffield end has been let to
Messrs. Buxton and Clarke, and will be commenced upon
forthwith.

I have great pleasure in stating that our stock of engines
and carriages are in excellent order, and are working in a
very satisfactory manner.
I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,
ALFRED S. JEE.
Dinting-vale, 30th August, 1842.,