The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-22


TIE stsPhensons.
by yAR'cEE.
A detailed account Of the proof opening Of the
stupendous Britannia Tubular Bridge erected I'M
der the supervision Of Robert Stephenson the cele-
DRAFTED English railway engineer, has lately made
To the civil engineers of this country stephen
sons name and fame must be familiar a. shouse
hold gods, while to the public in general he Is
erected across the Me1ai straits on the line Of he
London and Dublin railway. The conception,
erection, and successful completion Of this struc
ture, involving novelty Of invention and boldness
of design; abstruse calculation. and the utmost
practical knowledge Of the powers and capacities
Of metals; conversion of means already known 10
the accomplishment Of new purposes, and that far
seeing and foreseeing Of consequences which dedes
defeat, would alone fix the fame Of any mortal.
But Robert Stephenson's name as just, gentle
manly, and generous man, and fame as bold and
successful railway and locomotive engineer, was
established years hefore this tubular bridge was
thought Of TO snfnerate the different fines Of
railway constructed under his supervision will be
superfuous; suffice II to say that In Britain he is
emperor Of railways, and continental Europe ac-
Considering the natural obstacles 10 be overcome
and sectional interests to be concilated, the con-
strnction of the London and Birmingham Railway
in 1885, undoubtedly reflects more credit to the ge-
MUS of Stephenson than any of his subsequent
works, the britannia Tubular Bridge not excepted
The gradients of this line are based upon the angle
of repose Of l6 feet per mile, az maximum, and
raysrsng dsnssy populated and highly cult
canals in every direction, necessarily involved the
construction Of stupendous excavations and en-
bankmcnts, tunnels and viaducts, bridges and cul-
verts. Amongst the excavations may be noticed
the Tung Cutting, thirty miles from London, on
the chalk formation, about mile long, and from
forty to sixty feet deep; and the Ellsworth Cutting
in Northamptonshirc, through solid limestone rock,
Astounding in water, about two miles long and for
ty feet deep. Amongst tunnels, of which there are
this line, varying from one quarter to one
and quarter miles in length, near the village Of
Kisby, in Northamptonshire.
The erection of this tunnel was originally con-
tractcd for by Mr. NOVEL;, a we'll known and skill
full mason, but upon sinking the shaft he found
the shalc full of water, which could not be stopped
let out by heading driven the whole length Of
the tunnel, involving an unforeseen expense, which
would have been ruinous to private individual.
This preyed upon the mind of Mr.. NOVEL; 30 keenly
that he died in short time broken hearted, when
the company released the heirs from the obligations
Of the contract, and Immediately proceeded to the
execution of the work at their own cost and super
vision. This tunnel was the most difficult and te-
dious work upon the whole line, and Stephenson
here planted Frank Forster as resident engineer,
gentleman qualified, from his openness and
courtesy Of character, and great knowledge Of
mining operations, successfully to gain the con-
fdence and goodwill of the workmen, and com
plete in short time what another set of hands
would, if done at all, have done at the sacrifice
of one or two years of time-an item not TO
be overlooked when the stock of this company
amounted TO about five millions sterling. II APP
pears from the report In the Times that Stephenson
has again employed him as resident engineer over
the erection Of the Tubular Bridge. He could not
have done better. In practically carrying out all
great public works, the amount Of abstruse engi
neering knowledge is not SO much TO be relied
upon Tor their successful completion, as a good
share of that courtesy, rmness and business which
inspires every one down to the driver boys and bel
lows blowers with confidence. Superannuatcd out
siders may doubt, carp and grumble, but the men
actually employed have made up their minds that
the work sciH be completed-and it 10 completed
Robert Stephenson is native of the county Of
Northumberland, England, and son of the no less
celebrated George Stephenson, the father Of the
present system of railway travelling, and the in
ventor of the frat locomotive the "Rocket," which
carried of the prize at the opening of the Liverpool
and Manchester railway. George Stephenson ac-
complished for land travelling what Robert Fulton
achieved ON the water. America is Justly proud Of
the one-England ought TO glory in the other.
George Stephenson was a genius-a self made man.
In youth and manhood he labored collier in the
coalpits He perceived and felt in himself the want
Robert to 60 to school, his natural mechanical gifts
enabled him to repair his fellow workmen's clocks
and watches at over hours! He has been heard to
boast publicly that when boy he knocked dung
for two pence per day and yet George Stephenson
died year ago at his seat at Tapton Derbyshirc,
rich man, and the first railway engineer Of the age!
The people Of the United States have no concep-
U0n OF the cxort10n, the almost supernuman cxer-
1ion, necessary for man In England to shake of
ignorance and poverty, and clothe himself with
riches and fame. The terrific struggle Of anguish
In better portrayed in the marble Of the LAGOON
than in pen and ink descriptions.
In applying, little more than twenty years ago,
for the act OF incorporation for the Liverpool and
Manchester Railway, George Stephenson dared not
tell the Commons house Of Parliament what he
knew could be accomplished by the use of railways
for the purpose of travelling. He dared not tell
them that he contemplated running trains at the
rate Of twenty miles per hour, lest he should be
considered an enthusiast, madmanl At the time
the act was obtained, and At the time Of the COM
pleton Of the line, the company had not definitely
settled upon the power TO be used for the transpor
tation ofthe cars. Stationary engines, with ropes
and horse power, had their respective advocates;
but the company wisely offered prize Of E500
sterling for locomotive which should draw
given weight given number of miles In a certain
time.
George Stephenson, who had superintcndcd the
erection Of the railway, set himself 70 work TO
build motor 10 travel upon IL, and in a short time
: the Rocket" was ready. In this engine dis
played for the fret time the method OF generating
steam and regulating the supply Of steam by the