CHAPTEE XVII. 



SEASON 1878-79. 

 CONSTRUCTION HOWIETOUN PONDS. 



THIS season was occupied in making the 300-feet ponds. The 

 ground was surveyed, and the cubic yards of excavation and of 

 banking calculated and balanced ; a small surplus was found, and 

 a fourth pond laid out, so that the surplus might be used to 

 form its banks. The size of the ponds made the old method of 

 nawying on a barrow road impossible. Light rails were bought, 

 and wagons, holding half a yard each, were made by the estate 

 carpenter. As the road got longer, it was found cheaper to run 

 the wagons by horse ; and an old animal was bought, who spent 

 the rest of his days on the tram. One very wet day, however, on 

 being led out after his noon feed, he slipped into the drain cut for 

 the pipe which empties the 300-feet ponds. We tried to get him 

 out, but the drain was some 12 feet deep at the place, and the 

 clay so slippery, he could not rise, and I could not get ropes under 

 him ; so at last I ordered le pauvre bete to be pole-axed. This is 

 the only accident which occurred at the works during the ten 

 years of construction. 



The bottoms of all the three 300-feet ponds were found to be 

 rock, and many hundred cubic yards had to be quarried. The 

 formation is sandstone, lying immediately above the coal, and some 

 large fossil plants were found. The rubble quarried was saved for 

 walks. The banks of the ponds were all dressed to 3 over 2, and 

 a seat 1 foot wide was cut, on which the turf rested. Turf is 



