1825.] 
merely prove of local advantage, but 
give a most decided superiority to the 
commercial transactions carried (on 
there,,over those: places where canals 
and the ordinary roads remain the only 
means.of conveyance, 4 
After witnessing the wonderful power 
and economy of the steam-engine, which 
gives motion to the whole machinery 
in every room of a manufactory ; and 
the certainty, speed and safety with 
which steam-packets navigate the sea; 
the. man who can now hesitate to re- 
commend. steam-engines, instead of 
horse-power, must be pitied for his ig- 
norance, or despised for his obstinacy. 
Moreover, after the demonstration of 
their utility, daily proved by Mr. Blen- 
kinsop these fourteen years past, 
it will require some explanation where 
and how our engineers have been ex- 
hibiting their skill. 
There can be no doubt that Mr. 
Blenkinsop’s plan must be our guide, 
from its manifest superiority and eco- 
nomy over all those at Newcastle; and 
if we look at the very slow progress 
made in the improvement of steam-en- 
gines, perhaps a generation or two may 
pass away without any very material 
benefit arising from the various experi- 
ments now afloat. To create further 
improvements, every encouragement 
should be given to the practical appli- 
eation of those we do enjoy, by extend- 
ing them to the promotion of national 
prosperity. 
- It has been stated that the steam- 
carriages, at Newcastle, work solely by 
friction, or by the adhesion of the 
wheels:to the rails, and that Mr.Blenkin- 
sop’s rack-rail is quite unnecessary. This 
nonsense is, however, so completely 
exposed by the experimentalist himself 
who wrote it, that the “ Practical Trea- 
tise on Rail-Roads,” recently published, 
must be put forth with motives I cannot 
comprehend, 
My readers should, therefore, receive 
with great caution any information from 
ersons interested in the northern col- 
jeries: for as their trade will be se- 
riously affected by opening the London 
market to all the inland collieries, it is 
very natural to suppose that those in 
the north will do all in their power to 
decry my “ Observations on a General 
Tron Rail-way ;’* but, however much 
they may feel disposed to arrogate 
to themselves the right of giving in- 
_* The fifth edition of this work is trans- 
Jated into French. 
Monruty Mac. No, 417. 
Gray on Rail-Roads. 
417 
struction on this subject, I beg to re- 
mind the public that Mr. Blenkinsop’s 
plan is, hitherto, decidedly the most 
efficient steam-carridge rail-way; and 
that, as Mr. ‘Trevithick and he were 
the first to introduce this species of 
conveyance, any remarks. or improves 
ments, made by those who follow them, 
can only be considered as emanating 
from the example set by the above two 
gentlemen, to whom alone all credit 
is due. 
In confirmation of what is now ad- 
vanced, I invite my readers to compare 
the engines at Newcastle with those at 
Leeds, and then some idea may be: 
formed of the vast superiority of the 
latter, both in economy and power; it 
appears Mr. Blenkinsop’s, with less than 
half the power, do more than double the 
work of the others! How happens this? 
I leave it to the public, who are now in 
possession of the whole particulars, to 
decide. The pretended ignorance of 
the Newcastle writer of the superiority 
of Mr. Blenkinsop’s rail-way, will meet: 
with the contempt it deserves, and 
serve also to forewarn the public 
against his imbecile mis-statements and 
plausible calculations. I am. fearful 
lest the companies now establishing 
should be so far deluded, as to follow 
the plans adopted in the collieries, of 
having recourse to inclined planes, sta- 
tionary steam-engines, or the recipro- 
cating steam-engine: all which may be 
well enough in the coal districts; but 
on rail-ways, for national purposes, 
they ought.to .be avoided.as much 
as possible, for this plain reason, 
the multiplicity of machinery. The 
annual waste of capital, and the 
accidents which .would unavoidably 
occur from their general introduction 
on public lines of road, are quite suffi- 
cient to arrest the public attention, in 
order to consider well before they com- 
mence laying down the roads. A mul- 
tiplicity of machinery is the great evil 
to be avoided; and experience teaches 
us that the annual expense may be di- 
minished, in proportion as our power is 
simplified and concentrated. , 
On this account, I am anxious that a 
national Board be appointed, in order to 
introduce the most simple and general 
principle of uniform connexion, through- 
out the country. It is the interest of 
each company to promote this general 
system, as the returns will be in pro- 
portion to the facility of national com- 
munication ; for if the numerous com- 
panies do not strictly follow, in every 
3 particular, 
