Page:Inland Transit - Cundy - 1834.djvu/20

 in length, and may be considered almost tide level; and that part of the design may be easily executed, at a moderate expense. Both stone and iron, in abundance, is at hand; two of the chief materials for constructing railroads. This work, if executed, would confer a lasting benefit on the country. The engineer's estimated expense is 2,550,3001., and revenue about 747,752l. 11s.

5th. There are two projected lines from London to Brighton and Shoreham. The first line from London, Croydon, Mersham, St. Leonard's, to Shoreham and Brighton, is about fifty-four miles on the line of distance projected by Mr. Vingnolds, civil engineer, and designed to commence from the Elephant and Castle, Newington, and to run from thence to Norwood and Croydon. Merstham and St. Leonard's Forest, to Shoreham and Brighton. In the above line. Mr. Vingnolds has designed two tunnels; the first tunnel is intended to pass under the Beulah Spa, from Norwood to Croydon, about two miles and a half. The summit at Croydon will be 170 feet above the tide at London Bridge, and will rise from Croydon, about twenty feet per mile, to Merstham summit. Merstham summit will be 360 feet above the tide; and another tunnel to pass into the vale of the Mole, thence by the County Oak, to St. Breval's and St. Leonard's Forest and Bramber, to Shoreham and Brighton. There are three decided objections in constructing a railroad on this line: first, a railroad could be carried from London to Croydon, by Tooting and Mitcham Commons, on an easy inclined plane, without a tunnel; secondly, a tunnel under the Beulah Spa will drain away all the water in that district, and the same will happen at Merstham; and, thirdly, the high elevation of the two summits at Merstham and St. Breval's Forest, with the rapid falls