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

484 RAILWAY SYSTEM AND ITS EESULTS.
infancy, but becoming most rapidly developed. The wagons which
carry chalk from one county, return home laden with coals from an-
other. Large reductions are being effected in the price of this prime
necessary of life. Districts in which the peasantry only a few years
since, made their fires with a few scanty sticks gathered from a hedge
are now abundantly and cheaply supplied with the fuel which is so im-
portant to comfort and civilization. Eailways have been already pre-
sented to you as public educators ; here you have them as agents of
benevolence and ameliorators of the condition of the human race ;
it may be safely said that there is no contribution to the social comfort
of society equal to warmth Comfort, indeed, implies warmth ; and
warmth chemically considered, is an addition to the supply of food.
Before railways were brought into existence, the internal commu-
nication of this country was restricted by its physical circumstances.
Canals, apparently, allow an infinite series of boats to pass along them
but it must be borne in mind, that Nature opposes a practical limit to
that description of transit. Every canal-boat has to pass a summit
more or loss abundantly supplied with water. Without a steam-engine
at every lock, the extent of the traffic by this inland navigation must,
therefore, be dependent upon the supply of water which can be commanded
at the summits to be traversed. But, more than this, all
canals are subject to the vicissitudes of dry seasons, which may occur
at periods when the traffic is at a maximum, and to the frost of severe
seasons, during which Nature may compel a total cessation of traffic for
several weeks. In comparison with these difficulties, railway com-
munication has none ; and hitherto, whatever barriers Nature has
opposed. Science has entirely surmounted.
Before concluding this address, I am desirous of adding a few words
by way of practical application of the great subject we have been
considering.
I have directed attention to our railway system as it is. I have en-
deavoured to show you the importance of that system, as regards the
works which have been executed, the capital invested, and the multi-
tudes to whom it gives employment. I have endeavoured to point out
some of the defects of the system, and to indicate the causes from
which those defects arise. I have shown you the magnitude and im-
portance of the results attained, and that the system under which they
have been achieved must inevitably be progressive. There is, how-
ever, a great duty still unperformed, which devolves less upon myself
than upon you. It should be one of the most earnest efforts of
Civil Engineers to improve and perfect this vast and comprehensive
system.
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