( HAP. XVI. RAILWAY EXTENSION'. 325 



CHAPTEE XVI. 



MANCHESTER AND LEEDS, AND MIDLAND KAILWAYS STEPHENSON'S 

 LIFE AT ALTON VISIT TO BELGIUM GENERAL EXTENSION 

 OF KAILWAYS AND THEIR KESULTS. 



WHILE the London and Birmingham Railway was 

 under construction, George Stephenson continued to 

 reside at Alton Grange. Though he took an active 

 interest in the progress of the works, and made frequent 

 visits of inspection at the more important points, he 

 left the practical part of the business in the hands of 

 his son. He was himself fully occupied in laying/ 

 out and constructing numerous lines in the north oil 

 England, for the purpose of opening up communications . 

 between the more important towns, as well as between : 

 them and the metropolis. 



The rapidity with which railways were carried out,^ 

 when the spirit of the country became roused, was indeed I 

 remarkable. This was doubtless in some measure owing/ 

 to the increased force of the current of speculation ax 

 the time, but chiefly to the desire which the public begap. 

 to entertain for the general extension of the system. rt 

 was even proposed to fill up the canals, and convert 

 them into railways. The new roads became the topic 

 of conversation in all circles ; they were felt to give a 

 new value to time ; their vast capabilities for " busi- 

 ness" peculiarly recommended them to the trading 

 classes ; whilst the friends of " progress " dilated on 

 the great benefits they would eventually confer upon 

 mankind at large. It began to be seen that Edward 

 Pease had not been exaggerating when he said, " Let 

 the country but make the railroads, and the railroads 



