The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

CHAP. XXIX.] THE ENGLISH ENGINEER. 351
CHAPTER XXIX.
ME. STEPHENSON AND THE NEW SCHOOL OF PAST
BNGINEBKS.
The general demand for railways which sprang up shortly
after the successful opening of the Liverpool and Manchester
line, brought into existence a large number of engineers of great
ability, distinguished by their practical skill and their high stand-
ing as scientific men. In this country of free industrial com-
petition, no sooner does the demand for a particular class of talent
arise, than it is supplied as if by magic. The Imssezfaire course
of action adopted by the government with reference to railways,
though it led to much bungling and enormous expense, neverthe-
less gave full scope to the genius and enterprise of English en-
gineers. So long as the prospect of dividends ranging from 8 to
15 per cent, was held out, there was to be found a numerous
class of private capitalists ready to invest money in iron roads^
and to find capital for the construction of new lines. Much
rivalry thus arose, the engineers usually appearing as the leaders
of the battle on opposing sides, when two or more lines were
started between the same points. A considerable amount of
personal feeling was occasionally evoked in these engineering
contests, which were as often trials of individual ambition as of
professional skill. Aspiring juniors sought to supplant their
elder brethren at boards of directors, or to defeat their schemes
before parliamentary committees ;
and many new men laboured
to mature and bring out railway projects more striking and
original than any thing that had before been proposed.
Whilst continental governments, early recognizing the great
national advantages of railways, were appointing state engineers