CHAP. X. HARECASTLE TUNNEL. 421 



larger than a sewer, and admitted the passage of only 

 one narrow boat, seven feet wide, at a time, involving 

 very heavy labour on the part of the men who worked 

 it through. This was performed by what was called 

 kgging. The Leggers lay upon the deck of the vessel, 

 or upon a board slightly projecting from either side 

 of it, and, by thrusting their feet against the slimy 

 roof or sides of the tunnel walking horizontally as it 

 were they contrived to push it through. But it was 

 no tetter than horse- work ; and after " legging " Hare- 

 castle Tunnel, which is more than a mile and a half 

 long, the men were usually completely exhausted, and 

 as wet from perspiration as if they had been dragged 

 through the canal itself. The process occupied about 

 two hours, and by the time the passage of the tunnel 

 was made, there was usually a collection of boats at the 

 other end waiting their turn to pass." Thus much con- 

 tention and confusion took place amongst the boatmen 

 a very rough class of labourers, and many furious 

 battles were fought by the claimants for the first turn 

 "through." Eegulations were found of no avail to 

 settle these disputes, still less to accommodate the large 

 traffic which continued to keep flowing along the line 

 of the Grand Trunk, and steadily increased with the 

 advancing trade and manufactures of the country. Loud 

 complaints were made by the public, but they were dis- 

 regarded for many years ; and it was not until the pro- 

 prietors were threatened with rival canals and railroads 

 that* they determined on what they could no longer 

 avoid if they desired to retain the carrying trade of the 

 district the enlargement of the Harecastle Tunnel. 



Mr. Telford was requested to advise the Company what 

 course was most proper to be adopted in the matter, 

 and after examining the place, he recommended that an 

 entirely new tunnel should be constructed, nearly parallel 

 with the old one, but of much larger dimensions. The 

 work was begun in 1824, and completed in 1827, in 



