186 Tlie Projected Mersey Tunnel and Raihcay. [April, 



All ordinary ci'acks iu the sandstone are roidily made water- 

 tight by the use of a "feather" wedge of timber tightly driven 

 into them. If a large crack were met with, containing water (a 

 most unUkely thing, as has been already shown), a lining of iron 

 would be put into the heading and pushed forward, as the excava- 

 tion proceeded, until the fault was passed. 



The heading will be circular, and 6 feet in diameter.* It will, 

 when completed, be available not only for draining the tunnels, but 

 for telegraphic purposes, and probably also for conveying water 

 from the Welsh lakes to Liveqjool, thus avoiding a lengthened 

 detour and most expensive works. 



The heading having been successfully driven, I am confident 

 that there will be no difficulty in letting a contract for a double 

 hne of raUway under the river Mersey for 100,000/., which would, 

 indeed, give a price of 111. per lineal yard of tunnel — the work 

 being through good hard sandstone and thoroughly drained by 

 means of the heading ; whereas 60?. a lineal yard is a large price 

 for tunnels, even through clay, where, of course, heavy lining, 

 including an invert, is required. 



The river tunnel being completed, the remaining works neces- 

 sary to bring the two towns of Liverpool and Birkenhead into com- 

 plete communication with each other will be of a very ordinary kind, 

 and free from any unusual contingency. 



Under the existing Parliamentary powers, the railway can be 

 completed in a direct line from Church Street, Liverpool, to Wood- 

 side, Birkenhead, with an intermediate station at the bottom of 

 James Street, and by its means, and by trains running every few 

 minutes, passengers will be conveyed between the termini in six 

 minutes. The authorized line runs entirely either under the river 

 or under streets, and not a single house will be taken for the 

 railway itself, and only one or two for station purposes. The rail- 

 way can be readily constructed without interference with the traffic 

 of the streets. The main line will be double, with extensive sidings 

 for goods, in direct communication with the dock hues on either side 

 of the river. 



Surveys have been completed of extensions, whereby the Mersey 

 Kailway can be made to form a dkcct connecting link between the 

 important railway systems on either side of the river, and this 

 at a moderate expense, and with the destruction of hardly any 

 property. 



The effect produced by the opening of this railway will be very 

 great. The docks of Liverpool and Birkenhead, now under the 

 same management, form the noblest emporium of trade in the 

 world, but their joint usefulness is much impaired by the want of 



* See Plato. It is uuuocoseary to give any detuilod dcacription of tlio riato 

 as it explains itself. 



