Document 35, P 27
| 77 | ||||
| must have a termination and wherever it terminates Experience shews | ||||
| a rapid Current will form a deep hole to twenty or even thirty feet deep and | ||||
| upwards and if the Gravel under the foundation gets loose the downfall | ||||
| of the whole is the Consequence. | ||||
| 2ndly Suppose we attempt to build it in an Excavation upon Piles encased | ||||
| as was done at Perth the same difficulty arises we cannot get out the | ||||
| water and if done as Rubble will not lay to defend it the Gravel Bed being | ||||
| Scooped out beyond all practicability of driving Piles the Piers being sapped | ||||
| the same unfortunate Circumstance must ensue. | ||||
| 3rdly Suppose we attempt it by Excavation with Ballast Lighters and drive | ||||
| down Piles even with the Bottom of the Excavation Pitt to found the Piers | ||||
| upon which may doubtless be done without taking off a drainage of the | ||||
| Water still if neither the Bed of Gravel itself nor Quarry Rubble are capable | ||||
| of resisting the violence of the Current when the Gravel is destroyed or | ||||
| deranged so as the Piles are laid bare, the Pillars will be sapped and | ||||
| destruction equally ensue, nay even suppose the Piles could be encased | ||||
| without taking of the water yet this is only giving the River a little more | ||||
| work to do for if Rubble is carried away as we find it must be it is no | ||||
| defence and we don't know the depth to which the Gravel can be Scouped | ||||
| out and Excavated by the Violence of the River. The foundations therefore | ||||
| however deep can be ultimately sapped and the same Ruin ensue. | ||||
| In short turn ouselves which way we will nothing seems certain | ||||
| in this Business but a very great Expence how Commensurate with the | ||||
| County's funds must be left to those to judge off who know them, but this | ||||
| Mr Smeaton will take upon himself to say that he sees no way of making | ||||
| foundations for a Bridge to stand upon for the whole sum in which Mr | ||||
| Errington stands obligated to the County that is likely to be attended | ||||
| with any certainty of permanency much less as to build a Bridge upon | ||||
| these foundations for the same sum. | ||||
| 27 | ||||
Note: Mr Smeaton's Memorial, p 27
Abbreviations are underlined like this Wm. and the expansion may be seen by moving the cursor over it.
| An entry outlined like this has a note which may be seen by hovering over it. |
Transcribed by CTW and KS