[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 03 Feb 1816 - Local News (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 03 Feb 1816   (p. 3, col. 1-5)     [continued] 

 

THE NEW ROAD.—On Tuesday last, a meeting of the principal gentlemen of this city &c. took place at the Coffee-House, to consider the
subject of the New Road from Carlisle to Glasgow, adverted to in our last paper.—John HEYSHAM, Esq. in the chair. After some
discussion, and the reading of various documents, several resolutions were entered into, which will be found in the Advertisement,
front page.—Among the papers read, was a letter from Dr. HEYSHAM, to Kirkman FINLAY, Esq. M. P. of Glasgow, dated Nov. 22, 1815. In
this letter Doctor HEYSHAM informs Mr. FINLAY, that he had seen Mr. TELFORD's plan, at the office of the Clerk of the Peace, and
that he and some other Gentlemen were of opinion, from local knowledge of the country, that another line equally short, less
expensive, and in all other respects fully as eligible, might be discovered, at the commencement of the road from this city. But not
willing to trust to their own opinions alone, on the subject, they had requested Mr. NORMAN, an eminent surveyor of this
neighbourhood, to make a survey in which he was directed to combine as much as possible convenience and utility, with economy. 

 

[Mr. NORMAN's plan was transmitted with the letter.] 

 

The Doctor's letter then went on to observe that by adopting this plan, a considerable expence would be saved, a circumstance of no
little moment. But which ever line might be adopted, the present tolls from Carlisle to Longtown would be greatly diminished, and
the trustees would naturally require a compensation, particularly as the trust was already in debt. If Mr. NORMAN’s plan should be
adopted, and the new trust from Carlisle to Sark Bridge would undertake to keep the road in repair from Stanwix Bank to near Grimoor
Hill, it is probable that the trustees would consider such undertaking as nearly equivalent to the loss of the tolls. Mr. TELFORD’s
line intersected in a very inconvenient manner, three valuable fields the property of the Duke of Devonshire, and also several small
fields belonging the Earl of Lonsdale, in the manor of Etterby. If this intersection should not be agreeable to those Noblemen it
was evident how much their opposition in Parliaments to the measure would operate against its adoption. These considerations the
Doctor begged leave to submit to the very respectable Committee appointed at the general meeting holden at Glasgow, on the 21st of
Sept. Being much interested in the prosperity of this neighbourhood he had thought it his duty to make the above suggestions, not
from any motive of interference with Mr. TELFORD, of whose abilities he had the highest opinion, and he was sure had Mr. T. surveyed
the country between the Esk and the Eden himself, these observations would have been unnecessary. 

 

The suggestions were subsequently communicated to Mr. TELFORD, who, from a note dated Bush Inn, Carlisle, 17th Jan. 1916, received
them in the most frank and liberal manner, and arrangements are now making to introduce the same into the Bill, to be brought
forward in Parliament on the subject. 

 

On inspecting Mr. NORMAN’s plan, we find the following remarks:—“The advantages of the road by Grimoor hill, appear as follows:—By
the West Road, as at first proposed, the ground required is about 15½ acres, valued at from £20 to £200 per acre, averaging rather
above £70 per acre, and making £1112. Additional fencing, by this road, 76 roods at 5s. £19.—Additional road to make by ditto, 256
roods at £3, £768,—total £1899. 

 

“By the Grimoor hill road, the ground required, is about 8½ acres, valued from £46 to £120 per acre, average £74 per acre, £629,
making a difference in the two plans of £1270.—And the road by Grimoor hill is as level as the other, or rather more so, the ground
as sound, and only about sixty yards longer, (and in Mr. NORMAN’s opinion) much more eligible than the other.” 

 

What we have above collected from these documents, and the inspection of the plan, speaks so plainly for itself that few
observations from us, in the way of elucidation, are necessary. The advantages of having an old and well formed road for the length
of three miles are important, even if the expence and an unpleasant interference with valuable property were out of the question.
But the saving of £1270 of itself is an object, for there is not a more pleasing and honorable feature in a public work than
economy. This in many cases has been admitted as a substitute for ability—but in public undertakings, economy and ability should go
hand in hand—the public very naturally expect that such shall be the case. 

 

The town council of Glasgow has voted a loan of £5000, in aid of the projected improvements upon the great line of road from Glasgow
to Carlisle, and £5,275 have already been subscribed for the same object by individuals. Several committees of gentlemen have
undertaken the task of collecting subscriptions. 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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