CHAP. XIII. DRAINAGE OF THE NORTH LEVEL. 471 



secured for an extensive district, embracing nearly a 

 hundred thousand acres of fertile land, which had before 

 been very ineffectually though expensively cleared of 

 the surplus water by means of windmills and steam- 

 engines. The productiveness of the soil was greatly 

 increased, and the health and comfort of the inhabitants 

 promoted to an extent that surpassed all previous ex- 

 pectation. The whole of the new cuts were easily 

 navigable, being from 140 to 200 feet wide at bottom, 

 whilst the old outlets had been variable and often 

 choked with shifting sand. The district was thus effec- 

 tually opened up for navigation, and a ready transit- 

 afforded for coals and other articles of consumption. 

 Wisbeach became readily accessible to vessels of much 

 larger burden, and in a few years after the construc- 

 tion of the Neiie Outfall the trade of that port had more 

 than doubled. Mr. Telford himself, towards the close of 

 his life, spoke with natural pride of the improvements 

 which he had thus been in so great a measure instru- 

 mental in carrying out, and which had so materially 

 promoted the comfort, prosperity, and welfare of a very 

 extensive district. 1 



We may mention, as a remarkable effect of the 

 opening of the new outfall, that in a few hours the 

 lowering of the waters was felt throughout the whole of 

 the Fen level. The sluggish and stagnant drains, cuts, 

 and learns in far distant places, began actually to flow ; 

 and the sensation created was such, that at Thorney, 



1 " The Nene Outfall channel," says | guished himself by his foresight and 



Mr. Tycho Wing, " was projected by judicious counsels at the most critical 



the late Mr. Rennie in 1814, and periods of that great measure, by his 



executed jointly by Mr. Telford and | unfailing confidence in its success, and 



the present Sir John Rennie. But by the boldness and sagacity which 



the scheme of the North Level drainage j prompted him to advise the making 



was eminently the work of Mr. Tel- 

 ford, and was undertaken upon his 

 advice and responsibility, when only 

 a few persons engaged in the Nene 

 Outfall believed that the latter could 

 be made, or if made, that it could 

 be maintained. Mr. Telford distin- 



of the North Level drainage, in full 

 expectation of the results for the sake 

 of which the Nene Outfall was under- 

 taken, and which are now realised 

 to the extent of the most sanguine 

 hopes." 



