CHAP. XIX. THE MASONRY PROCEEDED WITH. 429 



unnecessary, and that the tubular bridge might be made 

 of such strength as to be entirely self-supporting. 1 



While these important discussions were in progress, 

 measures were taken to proceed with the masonry of the 

 bridges simultaneously at Conway and the Menai Strait. 

 The foundation-stone of the Britannia Bridge was laid 

 by Mr. Frank Forster, the resident engineer, on the 

 10th of April, 1846 ; and on the 12th of May following 

 that of the Con way Bridge was laid by Mr. A. M. Eoss, 

 resident engineer at that part of the works. Suit- 

 able platforms and workshops were also erected for 

 proceeding with the punching, fitting, and riveting of 

 the tubes ; and when these operations were in full pro- 

 gress, the neighbourhood of the Conway and Britannia 

 Bridges presented scenes of extraordinary bustle and 

 industry. On the llth of July, 1847, Mr. Clark in- 

 forms Mr. Stephenson that " the masonry gets on rapidly. 

 The abutments on the Anglesey side resemble the founda- 

 tions of a great city rather than of a single structure, and 

 nothing appears to stand still here." About 1500 men 

 were employed on the Britannia Bridge alone, and they 

 mostly lived upon the ground in wooden cottages erected 

 for the occasion. The iron plates were brought in ship- 

 loads from Liverpool, Anglesey marble from Penmon, 

 and red sandstone from Euncorn, in Cheshire, as wind 

 and tide, and shipping and convenience, might deter- 

 mine. There was an unremitting clank of hammers, 

 grinding of machinery, and blasting of rock, going 



1 In a letter of Mr. Fairbairn to Mr. adopt measures, calculated not only 



Stephenson, dated July 18th, 1846, to establish the principle as a triumph 



he says : " To get rid of the chains of art, but what is of infinitely more 



will be a desideratum ; and I have I importance to the shareholders, the 



made the tube of such strength, and i saving of a large sum of money, 



intend putting it together upon such a j nearly equal to half the cost of the 



principle, as will insure its carrying ! bridge ? I have been ably assisted by 



a dead weight, equally distributed : Mr. Clark in all these contrivances ; 



over its hollow surface, of 4000 tons, but in a matter of such importance 



With a bridge of such powers, what we must have your sanction and 



have we to fear? and why, in the support." Mr. Fairbairn 's ' Account,' 



name of truth and in the face of con- p. 93. 

 elusive facts, should we hesitate to 



