Class B.—Estimates of Cost.
Mr. Robert Stephenson.—p. 102.
1. You are a civil engineer?
I am.
2. Have you examined this proposed line?
I have.
25. Have you considered the cost which would be necessary to effect this work?
I have.
111. Is the whole aggregate of (the) items (of expense) 2,205,352l.?
It is.
112. In works of this description, is it usual to put a considerable amount for contingencies?
Usually ten per cent.
113. Have you added to this a sum exceeding ten per cent.?
The amount of contingencies at ten per cent would be 205,000l.; I have put it at 294,648l.
114. Which makes the sum altogether 2,500,000l.?
It does.
115. Look at this paper, and tell me whether the estimate is correct?
It is.
| Estimate proved in the House of Commons. £ | |
|---|---|
| Excavations and Embankments | 779,000 |
| Tunnelling | 250,286 |
| Masonry.—This item is increased in consequence of an agreement with the Commissioners of the Metropolitan roads to add to some of our bridges in width and height, also an agreement with the trustees of the Radcliffe Library estates to increase the number of arches in the Wolverton Viaduct, and also an addition of two bridges over the Avon near Brandon to avoid the diversion of the river | 350,574 |
| Rails, chairs, keys, and pins | 212,940 |
| Blocks and sleepers | 102,960 |
| Ballasting and laying rails | 102,960 |
| Fencing at 740l. per mile | 76,032 |
| 1,874,752 | |
| Land | 250,000 |
| Six water stations at 500l. | 3,000 |
| Six intermediate pumps | 600 |
| Offices, &c. requisite at each end of the line, for convenience of passengers, &c., and walling for enclosing the space for depot | 16,000 |
| Forty locomotive engines, 1000l. | 40,000 |
| 300 waggons at 30l. | 9,000 |
| Sixty coaches at 200l. | 12,000 |
| 2,205,352 | |
| Contingencies | 294,648 |
| 2,500,000 |
388. Your estimate all the way through is made on two lines?
Yes, it is; except that every five miles there is a side-place or entrance.
389. From which any carriage may turn out and come in again?
Yes.
390. Do you conceive that in 112 miles, where you will not only carry passengers but sheep and pigs, and people are to be allowed to come on from all sorts of side-places, that two lines can be enough?
I am quite sure about that.
391. What makes you sure about it?
It is possible to carry more goods and do more business on two lines of Railroad than there is any probability of coming between London and Birmingham.