2^6 [ pr0c - B.N.P.C., 



proposal, actually begun, was to have an underground channel 

 made from the collieries to Coalisland. Another project was the 

 making of a canal capable of giving passage to boats of ioo tons 

 capacity. This was actually begun at the Coalisland end, but 

 after the building of one lock, 125 feet long and 25 feet wide, 

 was abandoned. The next scheme was that of David Duckart, 

 who actually made the canal, probably about the year 1760, from 

 Coalisland to the collieries, a distance of about 3 miles. This 

 canal was 24 feet wide and four feet deep, and was desgined for 

 boats of small tonnage. About half a mile above the aqueduct 

 stands in a field an arch known as the " Dry Hurry." As to the 

 meaning of the name there are differences of opinion, but perhaps 

 all are agreed that "hurry" is a corruption for "wherry." Some 

 consider wherry to mean a small boat, such as was proposed to 

 use on this canal, while others contend that the word has 

 reference to the logs of wood laid down for the boats to slide upon. 

 The fall of this canal from the collieries to Coalisland is upwards 

 of 190 feet, and, as water was not abundant, it was intended to 

 dispense with locks and where possible float the boats, but at 

 intervals slide them down the declivities on wooden blocks. The 

 project was not a success, and local tradition asserts that only one 

 boat ever passed over the aqueduct. In 1774 the celebrated 

 engineer Smeaton was called in to advise. He recommended 

 that a railway such as was then in use between Newcastle and 

 Whitehaven should be made. On this the waggons would run 

 down by gravity and at the same time pull up the empty waggons. 

 However, by this time it was found that the quality of the coals 

 did not warrant the expenditure, and all the projects were 

 abandoned. In 1784 Parliament granted ^2,000 to John Staples 

 and James Caulfield for erecting an engine to pump out water from 

 the coalmines, and it is interesting to note that this was the first 

 steam engine erected in Ireland. We acknowledge our indebted- 

 to Mr. Glasgow, of the " Mid Ulster Mail," who was present with 

 the party, for much of above information. 



