Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-09-26

| exercised 10 exhibit the measurements and proper
tons OF elevations aad sections OF every work of
| which there drawings. The plans and deiinea-
tons all made Of the canals and public works
visited by Mr.. Strickland; and which were, al the
time he examined them, in successful use. While
it will be acknowledged tina, some of he canals of
the United States exemplfy much science and
competency as those OF any other country, yet il
may be asserted with safety, that our most distn-
guished engineers have derived grea, portion of
their a,tanments from Great Britain, where the
most extensive improvements, and all the best
principles oil mechanics properly applied are found.
| The plates exhibit the most approved construc-
ton of " aqueduct-;'' the plans employed to secure
the best formation and completion OF % tunnel -
| and the methods which used in such operations
particularly dangerous, unless conducted with great
care, and guarded by acience and means taught by
severe experience drawings OF " locks" both
canal and 90 tide with their gates and valves,
and sections OF every part OF those works are Civ
en--pans of the great " docks" of Liverpool in
which the trade OF ,ha, mighty commercial empori-
um is protected and accommodated; and also of
canal boats" as they have been constructed for
different kinds OF navigation, among the en-
cravings. There is also map OF the Bay of Dub
lin, exhibiting the situation of the break-water and
| harbor, now constructing at Kingstown."
| II would be an injustice to Mr.. Strickland, to
omit particular notice and commentator OF tire
and patriotic desire TO promote the prosperity and
adj 20 the security of the commerce of his country
Mr.. Strickland, after describing with much accura-
| cy and minuteness " the break-water and harbor
of Kingstown," and highly approaching the grea,
advantages which would be obtained, from the con-
sttuction OF work of the same kind at the entrance
! OF Delaware Bay, thus expresses himself:
The breakwater and hsrbor which have thus
attempted to describe, seem to we'll adap pied to
| the circumstances OF Delaware Bay The stua-
| ton which has been proposed, Cape Henlo-
pen, is very similar 10 that of Kingstown the
same difficulties TO be combstted in both places
and, as the storms which drive into The Bay of
Dublin are full as violent those which are
known in the Delaware, work which has been
practically tested in case may be safely resort
ed 20 in the other The proportions and general
dimension, OF the causeway on the Kingsiown har !,
Dor have received the appreciation of the best EN-
gineers and us area IS adequate 10 the accommo-
dation OF the greatest supposabe number OF yes
fels which might need protection in the chops of
the Delaware Day. Under all circumstances of
swell and " ind, vessels enclosed in such harbor
could be secure against the there would be no
danger OF their being forced against the works by
winds oil the shore. and they would be effectually
guarded from the fatal effects OF ice, whether float
Ing on the tide, or inpel!ed by storms.
" TO explain the analogy which ! have alluded
to, as existing between those two localities, have
availsd myself Of the excellent chart OF the Del
aware Bay. prepared by the Engineers Of the Uni
ted States, and have sketched the lines of break
water similar 10 that of Kngsown, at the point
! which best suited tor such work |
have also annexed TO this report pfoximate est =
I mate OF it's probable cost''E
| The second report is devoted to Turnpike
Roads" and is accompanied by plates.
| In the United States, science, applicable TO
road making, is scarcely known With all the ma
1 rt-ic he rffnt IL. IL.
| principles, and from the cheapness of land with
every opportunity locate our roads on the best
soil, and on the most advantageous routes our
| ,urnpkes are among the worst artificial roed. in
tie world. The employment of the principIes
developed in this report, and of the improved sys-
| TENS which have been adopted in Engand and
elsewhere, will be attended with the happest eff
! fects.
| Two modes OF constructing roads seem to d.
vide the appreciation Of the British nation that of
| MIR. McAdam, the valce OF which has for some
| Time been known among us, and which has been
| applied to small extent IN of the United
States, and that o! Teford, " no made the great
Government Road from Holy Head 10 London.
through North Wales" Roads upon the principles
| used by Mr. Telford, have never been made in A
merca. They formed by 80 first paving foun-
dation seven eight oches Deep oil rubble stone
laid in contact with each other on their flat and
broadest ends, having their sharp points up and
upon those placing covering OF clear gravel and
very small stone fragments, tour inches in thick
ness, and rsnmed iuto the interstices of the pay-
ing, until the whole Is sodly bedded in one mass -
Mr. Strickland asserts the road 50 constructed bv
Mr. refoTd TO he '' The smoothest and best in
England" At the close OF this report specif-
cation &C Of the construction of Turnpike Roads -
taken from the contract OF an English Engineer
Is given. This may be found useful as a formula
and the minute acquisitions which ii contains NAV
be valuable 10 those who have charge of such pub
lie works in our country.
The third Report is upon "Rallways,'' Loco
motive Engines SC.
The Instructions OF Mr. Strickland required him
TO give 10 the examination of railways and the ms,
chimery used upon them, the most careful attention
and TO furnish all The information that could be ne
cessary 10 construct and employ them. This duty
has been performed with great ability and COOS
faith. The report il accompanied with fourteen
plates, OF which afford the best Illustrations
OF tive subjectto which they refer, and all of which
communicate most valuable information
! The question Of the superiority " OF railways''
over g canals" "a modes OF internal transporta-
lion, Is properly LET! TO be decided by more en-
larged experience of The former than now exists
and the abnGs of Mr.. Strickland have been ImRar
italy employed in collecting cry kind of know
ledge and all the facts which the countries visited
by him Afforded, in relation 10 those recent but
most valuable additions IL ne means of comtnu
nlcallon HaYIDg, " by the advice Of several in
telljgent and scientific gentlemen IN Iiyerpol and
| Manchester" visited Leeds, Sunderland and New
Castle upon Tyne, he had a very satisfactory on
| porunIiy OF viewing tie most approved and ex-
lensive lines oil railways IN The kingdom. Other
sections OF the country were also examined by him.
IN which railways are empiore ed :; and the inlor-
nation communicated IN this report, is the result