executed at Walkdcn-MoQir, 35 



;thc coals were difcharged by hand from the boats oil the 



higher level, and were let down the pits in tubs by an engine 

 and a break-wheel into thofe upon the lower. To convey 

 the boats themfelves fVom the danals of the higher level into 

 that of the lower_, was the intent of making this under-ground 

 inclined plane. By the help of this machinery, the whole 

 bufinefs is now done at once, without difcharging or damag- 

 ing the coal, and at one fourth of the expenfe : for the 

 boats of the higher level are bodily let down the inclined 

 plane, and are floated from the foot of it through nearly three 

 miles, in a ftraight line, of the lower level canal, into the 

 open navigation at Worfley : and, whereas they were before 

 obliged to be drawn up to the furface of the earth at great 

 inconvenience and expenfe, to be repaired at a work-iliop on 

 Walkden-Moor^ they now come of themfelves, in their 

 courfc of bufiutffs, to be repaired at the great dock-yard at 

 Worfley. 



The place where the inclined plane is confl:ru6led, is 

 adapted in a Angular 'way for the purpofe. There is a bed of 

 white rock, or grit, eight yards twelve inches deep, which 

 dips ^ne in four, lying exactly in the dlre6lion mofl: con- 

 vcnrfcnt for the communication between the two levels; 

 which bed of rock is hollowed into a tunnel, driven upon 

 the rife of the metals, by blafl:ing with gun-powder, and 

 working it down with wedges and hammers. In this tun- 

 nel, formed through a rock reaching from the lower to the 

 higher level^ the inclined plane is fixed ; and, by its being 

 in the heart of a rock, the whole workmanfliip can be 

 pinned, fecured, and compacted together at the top, bottom, 

 and fides, mod effe6lually : — an advantage which no in- 

 clined plane above-ground can have, and which renders 

 this a lingular production, no where perhaps to be imitated. 



The run of the inclined plane is one hundred and fifty-one 

 yards, befides eighteen yards, the length of the locks, at the 

 north or upper end : and the fall is one in four, correfpond-. 

 -ing with the dip of the rock. 



Of thefe one hundred and fifty-one yards,- about ninety- 

 four yards are formed into a double waggon-way, in order to 

 let two boats, namely, the empty and the loaded boat, pafs 



Vol. IX. K up 



