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

RESUME
RAILWAY SYSTEM AND ITS RESULTS.
By ROBERT STEPHENSON, Esq., M. P.
[As a fitting conclusion to the life of George Stephenson, we
append the following resume of the Railway system and its
results, as delivered by his distinguished son before the Institu-
tion of Civil Engineers, on taking the chair after his election as
their President, in January, 1856, and which we republish from
the Minutes of Proceedings of that Institution, by permission of
the Council, j
Our British Railways present a fertile theme for observation,
and in considering them, in their varied relations, my chief object
will be to suggest topics for communications and discussion at the
meetings over which I hope to have the honour of presiding.
The general extent and scheme of the network of railways stretch-
ing from beyond Aberdeen in the north, to Portsmouth in the south ;
and between Yarmouth and Milford Haven on the east and west of
the United Engdom, are well known to you. To these must be added
the Irish lines, now becoming very extensive, and exercising the most
beneficial influence on that portion of the Empire.
Let us look, in the first instance, to the length of these railways.