72 REMINISCENCES, ETC, 



vigorous and enterprising manner, opened many fresh 

 quarries, and extended those ah-eady in work, so that in the 

 space of thirty years they have quadrupled in extent. 

 There are now employed about 2,400 men and boys ; and 

 the amount expended monthly in wages and materials ex- 

 ceeds £9,000. 



"There are various descriptions of slates produced, 

 varying in quality, as best or fine slate, seconds or strong 

 slate ; and also in colour, as grey or light blue, dark blue or 

 purple, red, and also green ; the last named, however, being 

 found in but small quantities. The body of slate rock is of 

 very considerable extent. The present workings (May, 

 1859) cover a space of not less than one square mile ; the 

 highest elevation of the quarries now open is about 1,500 

 feet above the level of the Llanberris lakes, and about 1,800 

 feet above the level of the sea. The depth of the slate 

 rock has never been ascertained, but it is supposed to be 

 between 1,500 and 2,000 feet. The rock in these quarries 

 has been worked to the depth of 300 perpendicular feet. 

 The roofing slates are split and dressed in numerous sheds, 

 situated on the rubbish banks adjoining the quarries. The 

 slabs are manufactured at powerful steam and water mills 

 in the immediate neighbourhood. Convenient tramways, 

 about twenty-three miles in extent, are laid along the 

 various workings and quarry banks ; upon these small 

 waggons are run, into which the slates and slabs are loaded 

 and taken to the inclines, whence they are let down by 

 wire ropes to the railway terminus. The inclines are laid 

 up the precipitous side of the mountain, and are eighteen 

 in number, averaging 600 feet in length. At the railway 

 terminus adjoining the quarries, the small loaded waggons 

 are placed upon large trucks (each holding four), and are 

 then formed into trains, and drawn by locomotives to the 

 shipping port. From the quarries to the port, the railway, 

 called 'the Padarn Railway,' is rather more than seven 

 miles in length, and was constructed by the late Mr. 



