Transcribed from the 1849? H. Hughes edition ,
THE
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD
RAILWAY
AND
ITS PROSPECTS.
BY
WILLIAM MORGAN,
A SHAREHOLDER.
LONDON:
H. HUGHES, BOOKSELLER, ST.MARTINS’-LE-GRAND.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Price 4d.
p. 3THECHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY.
Amongst the Railway enterprises in England, the above linemust be considered as possessing peculiar claims to ourattention. The stupendous character of the work—thedifficulties which had to be overcome, and the vast sum investedin the undertaking, place this line in the foremost rank amongstthe splendid achievements of our days; indeed, we may justlyconsider it the masterpiece of the human intellect, and thewonder of the 19th century. In its course, it divides broadestuaries, it penetrates the bowels of the loftiest p. 4hills, and thehardest rocks have succumbed to the irresistible energy of humanaction and scientific skill—it crosses the importantnavigable river of Conway, and the Menai Straits, by the means ofimmense iron tubes, at such an elevation as not to impede theprogress of the largest vessels. The practicability andsafety of the tubes over the Conway have been amply tested duringthe last six months, and the greatest difficulty attending theelevation of the tube into its position over the Menai, wassatisfactorily overcome on the 22nd of June, and in a short timewe shall have an uninterrupted journey between London andHolyhead, at a considerable saving of time and expense.
Whether we contemplate the magnitude of the undertaking, orthe vastness of the interests, which it is intended toaccommodate, it is hardly possible to exaggerate itsimportance. Indeed, we may safely affirm that there is nota line in England which links together interests of greaterimportance in a social, political, andcommercial p.5point of view, than the Chester and HolyheadRailway. To our vast American and West India trade thisline will prove itself a most valuable adjunct; and on thecompletion of the Irish Midland Great Western line, which willunite the important harbours of Dublin and Galway in the West ofIreland, the mails and passengers from the United States, Canada,Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, in fact, from everypart of the western world, will be conveyed to the shores ofEngland in about seven days, or three days earlier than by thepresent route, and by which means the most dangerous part of thevoyage will be avoided. It is well known that the voyagealong the north coasts of Ireland to Liverpool, has been attendedwith as many disasters as any in the annals of navigation.
The harbour of Galway is not only ample in its dimensions, buteasily accessible at all times; and the Midland Great Westernline will traverse the very centre of Ireland, forming as it werea vast p.6artery for the flowing of its produce into the markets ofEngland.
Our observations are peculiarly applicable to