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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND AKCIUTiCCT-S JOURNAL. 



[November, 



ENGIWEEHING -WORKS. 



OPENING OF THE BUTE DOCKS, AT CARDIFF. 



On Wednesday, tlie Otli ult., the day ai)]iointed for 0]icning tlic sjilciidid 

 docks and sliij) canal at CarditT, so nmniticently undertaken and eonipleled 

 at the cost of the Mariniis of Bute, the town of Carihtf presented a most ani- 

 mated appearance, tliere being a vast intlux of people from all the neigh- 

 bouring towns — from MerthjT and from the hills — all an\ious to unite in 

 one general tribute of respect to their common benefactor, and we were de- 

 lighted to witness the enthusiasm with which the name of the noble Lord 

 was receiverl by all classes ami persons of every shade of opinion. 



Tlie importance of this undertaking can only be duly estimated by con- 

 sidering the vast imi)rovements which have been made and are now daily 

 making in Bristol and throughout South Wales, new harbours being esta- 

 blished, villages rising into towns of importance, and fishing stations becom- 

 ing busy seajiorts. The improvements of machinery also will, by means of 

 these docks and the Bristol and Exeter railway, open a direct and sjieedy 

 comnnmication between Cardiff and London througli Bristol, as the iMstance 

 from Cardiff to Bristol, 12 miles by sea to U))hill, and thence 22 by railway, 

 mav be performed in something less than two hours, in addition to its being 

 always a certain passage practicable at all states of ti<le. 



Tlie construction of the docks was entrusted to Mr. Cubitt, of London, as 

 engineer in chief, and to Mr. Turnliull, as the resident engineer. 



We will endeavom- to give a few particulars of the construction of the 

 docks in our next number. 



]l'i/re Hnrhotir.— At the mouth of the harbour, nearly 800 men are em- 

 ployed, under the superintcivlenc- of Captain Dcnham, in cutting away a 

 small triangular point of sand, which at present narrows materially the im- 

 mediate chvanncl. a kind of strait, betwoen the sea and the main Ijody of the 

 water cnnstitufing the harlx.ur. In connectimi with tliis work, worlimen are 

 also employe;l in euttini;' off a connecting stream between a lower part of the 

 harbour and the sea — tjuis forcing the whole body of the water, and a por- 

 tion of the tidal water, to flow in one cinTent, which, if accomplished, will 

 answer the double purpose of scouring the channel from the mouth of the 

 harbiiur to the sea. and of acquiring an increased supply of water, constantly 

 available for vessels entering or going out of the harbour. If tliis point be 

 gained, it will add importantly to the utility and value uf tlie haven. The 

 directors have commenced tlie erection of a dredging vessel, for the purpose 

 of scouring the harbour when necessary, and of removing the small shoals of 

 sand which intercept, here and there, the free navigation. A number of 

 excellent punts are already made, and a steam tug is in conslant readiness 

 for towing vessels entering the harbour, when a tug is required, and also fur 

 assisting in the various improvements carrying forward for extending the 

 capabilities of the bay, as a port for large vcsse's. Sir Hcsketh Fleetwood 

 is giving indefatigable attention to the construction of the diti'erent works 

 comprised in the undertaking, and is sparing neither pains, labour, nor ex- 

 pense, in order to the successful accomplishment of the entire project. M'e 

 had the opportunity of visiting VIceiwood the other day. and were much 

 struck with the beauty and excellence of the plans laid down for the erection 

 of the intended town. If completed according to the present designs, it will, 

 beyond all doubt, be one of the most uniform, well built, and elegant towns 

 in the kingdom. .So far, however, as the existing plans extend.it will be, by 

 no means, an imporlant town as to size. M'lien we were down, there was a 

 vessel of between seven and eight Immlrcd (ons bnrlben floating in the har- 

 bour at low water. We had not the means of ascertaining whether the 

 harbour is capable of accommodating simultaneously several such vessels. — 

 Prpston Chrouich'. 



Improvcvienis in U'oofivirh Burlnjard. — It has been found expedient to con- 

 struct an immense new dry dock tor steam and other vessels of war in this 

 Government )ard. the Admiralty having resolved upon filling np the former 

 intended new dry dock, which, from strong springs, it was found impossiljle 

 to make available, after an expenditure uf upw ards of 70,000?. Coflerdams 

 have been formed on the sunthern side of the magnificent basin, and an ex- 

 cavation commenced, wliich is proceeding very favourably, under the super- 

 intendence of an officer of the Royal .Sappers and Miners (Lieut. Dennison), 

 who is attached to the dockyard for the purpose of inspecting the new works. 

 The site of the new dry dock has already been excavated 20 feet, and as yet 

 there has not been any spring met with to arrest the progress of the under- 

 taking, which, when completed, will render the basin and docks of Woolwich 

 yard among the most commodious in the country. — Times. 



Tlie Mfnai Bridge is undergoing a complete repair, having suffered consi- 

 derable damage iii the storm last winter. Government has granted 8.000/., 

 but tliis is by no means sufficient. 



The waierx of tlie Fossriilte have been drained oil', and Mr. Ellison, in com- 

 pany with Mr. Stevenson the well-known civil-engineer, is understood to be 

 surveying the river preparatory to effecting such improvements as are needed 

 to adapt it to the existing demands of trade. We congratulate Mr. K. on his 

 taking this step, without pressing the extra toll of Gil. per ton ; to that mer- 

 . chants. &c., would never submit, and ISlr. E. must perceive that increase of 

 trade on the nsvigalion. when put into a Ihorougbly navigable state, would 

 quickly rejiay an outlay of a few thousand pounds. — Stam/nrd Mereiirij. 



Rihble Nnvigatimi [wpritveiiient. — The dredging li.as proceeded most auspi- 

 ciously. No machine ever answ ered the purpose of dredging more effectually 

 or more satisfactorily.. At Peg Hill the bar has been, to a considerable ex- 

 tent removed, and the channel through it will, at the end of this week, be 

 sufficient to admit the largest vessels w Inch comes into Ly tliam. The dredge 

 has cleared from its Ijed, lor this last three weeks, the average quantity of 

 tieo hundred mid si.rtif tojis per day . The merchants of Preston, in high spirits 



respecting the prospect of improved n.-ivigatiun. have already dclcrniinc-d to 

 bring their largest vessels up to Preston forth. vith; those vessels which 

 hitherto have been compelled to discharge their cargoes at liVtham. It was 

 deemed advisable to procure a steam-vessel, to be ajuilied, when occasion re- 

 quires, as a steam-tug. An inm vessel, called the " Lily." will, in all pro- 

 bability, proudly and graeefnlly make its bow to the shores of proud Preston, 

 next week. This vessel will be iised throughout the year for the conveyance 

 of gooils and \)assengers. The " Lily " is nearly a new vessel ; contains two 

 engines, each twelve horse-power, and only draws three feet six inches of 

 wa'cr. — a draft admirably suited for the present state of the river. M'hen 

 the large vessels begin to make Preston their port, the dues arising from the 

 river will be advanced to threefold their present proceeds, as they will have 

 to be paid for crossing three lines, flu se of Lytham, Freckleton, and 

 Heskelh Bank, instead of one only, as was formerly the case. — Maneliester 

 Chro/iiele. 



PROGRESS OF RAIIj^VAVS. 



Gliisr/ow and Paislcij Kuilieni/.—Thi-i railway is getting on very rapidly : 

 alreadv a great part of the line is in a forward s'ate. A number of houses 

 in Tradcston are at present taking down to make way for the depot, and 

 there are likewise several bridges'building across the streets. Tradeston is 

 in a complete stir, and w hen this line of railway is finished, it will materially 

 enhance the value of property both in Glasgow and Paisley. — Glasgow Chro- 

 nicle. 



Midland Connlie.-t Railieni/. — The fine w eather during the last fortnight has 

 enabled the work people employed in the various departments of this im- 

 portant undertaking to ni:ike censiderable progress along different parts of 

 the line. The embankment on the left of the'llumberstone Road appears to 

 have been proceedeil with more slowly than any other portion of the line, 

 but, according to present appearances, may be expected to unite with the 

 Thurmaston section earlv in the ensuing year. The tunnel under the Free- 

 men's common is getting on expeditiously. Half the distance has already 

 been accomplishecl, and as workmen are enga,ge[| night and daj- in the task, 

 the whole must be concluded by Christmas. Tlie two stations near the Lon- 

 don Road are also proceeding with activity, as is the bri Ige loading over the 

 railway to the union workhouse. The bridge leading from Regent Street to 

 the Occupation Koad is nearly finished, and preparations for another, in Gaol 

 Lane, have been made w itiiiii the last few days. — Leieester Chronicle. 



Manchester and Birmingham Railieni/. — Congletoii Viudnct. — The first stone 

 of tlie celebrated viaduct at Congleton, on "the line of the Manchester and 

 Birmingham Raihvav. was laid with much ceremony on M'ednesday the 26lh 

 Septenilier. Those of our readers w bo are interested in railway undertakings, 

 know the magnitude of this work; but bv those who do not, the following 

 particulars will be read with interest. The viaduct is intended to run in a 

 direction nearly north and south, and will cross the river Dane at a point 

 about three chains belo'.v the extensive silk mill of Mr. Samuel Pearson. It 

 will cross the Nencaslle-road at a point about a chain to the west of the 

 corner of Dane-street. In length, the viaduct will be 3078 feet, or nearly a 

 mile, 31 feet in width, and 27 feet between the parapets ; the span will be 60 

 feet, w ith 20 feet rise. There will be 42 arches, which are segments of circles. 

 The greatest height from the river to the rails will be 98 feet G inches. The 

 bases of the piers are intended to be of stone for about twelve feet in height 

 above the ground ; the imposts and parapets will also be of stone, and the 

 rest of the structure of brick. The viaduct will contain about 61.000 cubic 

 yards of brickwork, and about 586,000 cubic feet of stone work, and is ex- 

 pected to be completed in two years and a half The cntraelors are, Messrs. 

 John and Samuel Elakeley, of Manchester. The engineers in chief of the 

 railway are Robert Stephenson and George Watson Buck, Esqrs., and W. 

 Baker, Esq., a young gentleman of promising abilities, is the assistant en- 

 gineer of the Congletim length —Mr. Buck stated that the viaduct would be 

 the most gigantic .structure ever attempted in this country— in ibis kingdom 

 —or indeed In Europe, in modern times. It would be a thousand feet larger 

 than tlie largest bridge uf masonry in Europe, which was llie Pont da Saiiil 

 E.^prit, m'cr the Rhone. It would be more than three times the height uf 

 that bridge, and it would occupy six times its volume. 



Hull and Xelbi/ Railway. — The rapid progi-ess of the works at the Hull ter- 

 minus during the last month or six weeks cannot fail lo have arrested the 

 attention of the most casual observer. At the principal Inmt of llie Hull 

 station, on the West .side of the Humber Dock, the lofty warehouses of the 

 company, which are 270 feet in length by 4.5 feet in width, have received the 

 frame work of the roof, and are now being covered in. The stone front of 

 the company's offices has also attained the full height of the first story ; 

 H hen finished they w ill present an imposing appearance. The entire frontage 

 towards the duck, including the entrances to the lines of tram-road, which 

 will be placed on etieli side of the warehouses .and the offices, w ill be about 

 210 feet. The tram-roads will cross the street on a level with the pavement, 

 and extend (|uile up to the quay, where the waggons may be loaded, and the 

 goods conveyed by this and other connecting railways to Leeds, Manchester, 

 Liverpool, Birmingham, London, Stc. The works at the Kingston-street en- 

 trance, coachbuiklers', smiths', engineers', and turners' shops, offices of 

 works, (tc, tire akvo rapidlv assuming the appearance they are finally to 

 bear; the engine-house and 'lofty chimney of the stationary engine are com- 

 pleted, the boilers are set. and the engine is nearly ready for work ; it will 

 be first employed in sawing the immense piles of Baltic timber, landed by 

 Messrs. W. Beadle, Sykes, and Co., the agents to the contractors, an exten- 

 sive house at Riga ; of which nearly four thousand loads have already been 

 delivered. This timber is intended for the basisof a portion of tlie permanent 

 rails. The tanks for Kyaiiising the timber are upon the hydraulic principle 

 and ansii er the purpose extremely well, the wood being completely saturated 



