Evolution of the Railway 217 



There is reason to believe, although actual proof is lacking, 

 that the original design of continuing this tramway to Cardiff 

 was not carried out because of the opposition of the canal 

 company. Certain it is that the project for such a tramway 

 was revived in 1799. Under date February 18, in that year, 

 the " House of Commons Journals " record that William 

 Lewis (Alderley), William Taitt, Thomas Guest, Joseph 

 Cowles, and John Guest, being a firm of ironmasters in the 

 parish of Merthyr Tydvil, known as the Dowlais Iron Com- 

 pany ; Jeremiah Homfray, Samuel Homfray, Thomas Horn- 

 fray and William Forman, ironmasters, of Merthyr Tydvil, 

 known by the name of Jeremiah Homfray and Co. ; Richard 

 Hill and William Lewis (Pentyrch Works) petitioned the 

 House for leave to bring in a Bill for the construction of a 

 " dram road " from or near Carno Mill, in the parish of 

 Bedwelty and the county of Monmouth to Cardiff, with 

 branches to Merthyr and Aberdare. 1 



The petitioners declared that such dram-road would 

 " open an easy Communication with several considerable 

 Ironworks, Collieries, Limestone Quarries and extensive 

 Tracks of Land, abounding with Coal, Limestone and other 

 Minerals, whereby the Carriage and Conveyance of Iron, 

 Coal, Lime, Timber and all kinds of Merchandize to or from 

 the different Places bordering on the said intended Road 

 will be greatly facilitated and rendered less expensive than 

 at present, and will tend greatly to improve the Lands and 

 Estates near the said Road, and the said Undertaking will, 

 in other Respects, be of great Public Utility." 



The petition was referred to a Committee, who reported 

 favourably on March 8, and the Bill was presented and read a 



1 The length of the main line from Carno Mill to Cardiff was to be 

 26 miles, the branches increasing the total to 44 miles. The estimates of 

 expenditure put the cost of land and construction at 3 1,105, ex ' 

 elusive of ^894 IDS., for " obtaining the Act, etc." The items in respect 

 to the main line were as follows : 



Forming the road and laying the dram rails, s. d. 

 making the fences, etc., 220 per mile . . 5720 o o 

 Iron dram rails, 44 tons per mile, at 6 per ton . 6864 o o 

 Sleepers, 40 per mile ..... 1040 o o 

 Purchase of land, 26 miles at 75 per mile . . 1950 o o 

 Extra allowance, 100 per mile .... 2600 o o 



18,174 o o 



