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

CHAP, vm.] HOKSES AND RAILROADS. 75
hour." The plan, however, was a very crude one, and not even
a model of the machine seems to have been made.
Towards the end of the last century, the adoption of rail and
tram-roads, worked by horses, had become general in the col-
liery and mining districts. There could be no doubt as to the
great economy secured by this mode of moving heavy loads, as
compared with the ordinary method of haulage on common
roads. As trade and manufactures were extending with great
rapidity,—Watt's invention of the steam-engine having given an
immense impetus to industry in aU its branches,—it was pro-
posed to extend the application of railroads to the transit of
merchandise and goods from town to town, especially in those
districts where canals were not considered practicable. The
first suggestion to this effect was published by a Northumbrian
gentleman, who was daily familiar with the working of the ex-
tensive coal traflSc over the railways in the neighbourhood of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. On the 11th of February, 1800, Mr.
Thomas, of Denton, read a paper on the subject before the Lit-
erary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle, entitled, " Obser-
vations on the propriety of introducing Roads on the principle
of the Coal Wagon Ways, for the general carriage of Goods,
Merchandise, &c." *
In the course of the following year, the same idea was taken
up by Dr. James Anderson, of Edinburgh, who proposed, in
his " Recreations of Agriculture,'' the general adoption of rail-
ways, worked by horse-power, to be carried along the existing
turnpike roads. Dr. Anderson dilated upon his idea with glow-
ing enthusiasm. " Diminish carriage expense but one farthing,''
said he, "and you widen the circle of intercourse; you form, as
it were, a new creation, not only of stones and earth, and trees
and plants, but of men also, and, what is more, of industry, happiness,
and joy." The cost of all articles of human consump-
tion would, he alleged, be thus reduced, agriculture promoted,
distances diminished, the country brought nearer to the town,
and the town to the country. The number of horses required to
carry on the traffic of the kingdom would be greatly diminished,
* Minute Books of the Literary and PhUosophioal Society of Newcastle,
1800.