Document 35, P 23
| 75 The Ground so far as to fix fast therein: and so close together that | ||||
| tho' the cases might not hold water, they might retain the Gravel | ||||
| from being washed out; thro' the Chinks from under the Piers had | ||||
| not the least doubt but to prevent any material damage ever | ||||
| being done to the Pile work by the aplication of the said Rubble to | ||||
| surround them. This Sentiment however tho' it dictated that | ||||
| part of his instructions "get the Bays of Sheet Piling at the West | ||||
| "end of the Piers down to ten feet if you can; if you cannot we must | ||||
| "be content with less" And also made Mr Smeaton contented with | ||||
| what was as above reported to him as the most imperfect part of the | ||||
| Performance; yet he never Communicated this opinion to Mr Pickernel | ||||
| or any other person; least the Workmen from hearing thereof might be | ||||
| induced to content themselves, with doing less that otherwise they | ||||
| might be capable off, in the way of getting them down in reality as far | ||||
| as the could. | ||||
| Whether Mr Smeaton's Opinion concerning the Security of Oakwood | ||||
| Banks Quarry Rubble, was well or ill founded, will be further Examined | ||||
| in the Sequel; but this is certain; that the driving of the Cases not being | ||||
| got completed before the middle of September, and being then very | ||||
| desirous to take advantage of the Security they afforded to get the Piers | ||||
| under sett if possible; or otherwise secured before the heavy winters | ||||
| Floods came on, he concluded that if the Experience of these Floods | ||||
| should shew a need for greater strength and defence, it might be added | ||||
| in the Course of the next Season. | ||||
| The Autumn of One thousand seven hundred and seventy eight | ||||
| in reality afforded the experience of a considerable number of Floods, | ||||
| amongst which the last which was of December the twelfth was a Capital | ||||
| one and the highest that then had been since the great inundation of | ||||
| One thousand seven hundred and seventy one and the water on the | ||||
| West or upstream side of the Bridge was within nine Inches of the top of | ||||
| 23 the | ||||
Note: Mr Smeaton's Memorial P 23
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| An entry outlined like this has a note which may be seen by hovering over it. |
Transcribed by CTW and KS