154 Improvement and Extension of Iron Rail-Ways. 
ticular purposes, and for the conveniency of private individuals, 
as is now the case, it is here proposed, through the medium or 
rail-ways, to open extensive communications—to branch them 
out from the metropolis of Scotland in various direetions, and 
to distant points—and thus to facilitate conveyance in general 
by an improved system of roads for heavy corriages. 
« The Highland Society of Scotland have, in a very patriotic 
rnanner, offered a premium of fifty guineas for the best essay on 
the means of attaining so desirable an object as the introduction 
of rail-ways for the purposes of general carriage. 
“ With a view to the establishment of the rail-way in question, 
for the conveyance of commodities to and from Edinburgh, and 
thereby to give a commencement to the system generally, a sub- 
scription for a survey has been opened, and plans by Mr. Steven- 
son, engineer, are in considerable forwardness. 
« Tt seems to be desirable, that rail-ways, for alternate car- 
riage and general uce, should procced on a continued level, or 
upon sirecessive levels: and a simple system of dockage (if it may 
be so called), by which loaded waggons may easily be elevated 
or depressed, from one level to another, would appear to be 
a desirable attainment. The edge rail-way is generally used and. 
preferred in Scotland, as causing less friction, and less expense 
of horse power; and it would tend to facilitate the general use of 
rail-ways, if, bysome simple change, the wheel usually employed 
for the road or street could be made also to suit the rail-way, 
or the rail-way wheel be made to suit the road or street, so that 
the cart or waggon which brings the commodity from the col- 
liery or stone quarry, the farm-yard, or the manufactory, to the 
rail-way, might travel along it to the termination of the rail-way, 
and proceed from thence through the streets of the town to the 
dwelling of the consumer, without unloading, or change of car- 
riage. 
“<The general use of rail-ways by iron-manufacturers, for their 
own peculiar objects, qualifies them in an eminent degree to af- 
ford valuable suggestions on the best means of perfecting the 
rail-way system; and from a desire to collect the general sense 
of enlightened and scientific men, we take the liberty of sub- 
mitting the annexed queries to your consideration, and to re- 
quest, if agreeable to you, that you will be pleased to favour us 
with any suggestions which may occur to you upon the subject. 
*¢ Nothing could give a stronger impulse to the iron-manufac- 
ture than the complete success of this scheme. It seems to 
claim the attention of the iron-manufacturers of Great Britain 
as a body, and to merit their individual and collective support, 
** Edinburgh, March 25, 1818,” , ee 
eastbaaiie ir ,, Queries, 
