these
extraordinary views as to the formation of a railway over Chat Moss, and
the impossibility of starting a locomotive engine in the face of a gale
of wind!

Evidence was called to show that the house property passed by the
proposed railway would be greatly deteriorated--in some places almost
destroyed; that the locomotive engines would be terrible nuisances, in
consequence of the fire and smoke vomited forth by them; and that the
value of land in the neighbourhood of Manchester alone would be
deteriorated by no less than 20,000 pounds! Evidence was also given at
great length showing the utter impossibility of forming a road of any
kind upon Chat Moss. A Manchester builder, who was examined, could not
imagine the feat possible, unless by arching it across in the manner of a
viaduct from one side to the other. It was the old story of "nothing
like leather." But the opposition mainly relied upon the evidence of the
leading engineers--not like Stephenson, self-taught men, but regular
professionals. One of these, Mr. Francis Giles, C.E., had been
twenty-two years an engineer, and could speak with some authority. His
testimony was mainly directed to the utter impossibility of forming a
railway over Chat Moss. "_No engineer in his senses_," said he, "would
go through Chat Moss if he wanted to make a railroad from Liverpool to
Manchester. . . . In my judgment _a railroad certainly cannot be safely
made over Chat Moss without going to the bottom __of the Moss_. The soil
ought all to be taken out, undoubtedly; in doing which, it will not be
practicable to approach each end of the cutting, as you make it, with the
carriages. No carriages would stand upon the Moss short of the bottom.
My estimate for the whole cutting and embankment over Chat Moss is
270,000 pounds nearly, at those quantities and those prices which are
decidedly correct . . . It will be necessary to take this Moss completely
out at the bottom, in order to make a solid road."

When the engineers had given their evidence, Mr. Alderson summed up in a
speech which extended over two days. He declared Mr. Stephenson's plan
to be "the most absurd scheme that ever entered into the head of man to
conceive. My learned friends," said he, "almost endeavoured to stop my
examination; they wished me to put in the plan, but I had rather have the
exhibition of Mr. Stephenson in that box. I say he never had a plan--I
believe he never had one--I do not believe he is