Life of Robert Stevenson, Civil Engineer

INDEX.

• Aberbrothock Abbey, 238.
• Aberdeen Harbour, 130.
• Adam, Robert, architect, 78, 80, 97, 98.
• Adie, Alexander, optician, 51, 192.
• Admiralty Survey, appeal for, 199.
• —— Memoir of, 201.
• Airy, Sir G. B., 52.
• American Suspension Bridges, 163.
• Anderson, Dr., 5, 6.
• Anemometer, 257.
• Annan Bridge, 160.
• Ardrossan Harbour, 130.
• Argand lamps. See Lighthouse Illumination.
• Astronomical Institution of Edinburgh, origin of, 265.
• Backwater, value of, 131.
• Balance crane, 181, 182.
• Barclay, Dr. John, 119, 270.
• Barnbougle, foreshore, 241.
• Base line, measurement of, 196.
• Baxter, Mr., architect, 78.
• Beaufort, Sir F., 202.
• Bell Rock Lighthouse:—Dangers of the rock, 13, 15;
• ballad of Sir Ralph the Rover, 13, 274;
• “Account” of, 14;
• Mr. Stevenson’s design of 1800 for a stone tower, 16;
• improvements on Smeaton’s tower in design and arrangement of materials, 16–24;
• Bill of 1802–3 thrown out on financial grounds, 18;
• Mr. Telford and Mr. Rennie called in to support Mr. Stevenson’s design, 18;
• Act passed in 1806, 19;
• progress of the work, 25;
• attending boat breaks adrift, 27;
• life in the floating lightship, 31;
• boating between lightship and the rock, 37;
• Mr. Stevenson’s anxiety for the workmen, 39;
• Sunday work, 40;
• life in the barrack or beacon, 42;
• cranes invented for the work, 45, 181;
• bust of Engineer placed in the tower by the Lighthouse Board, 45;
• Sir Walter Scott’s visit to the tower, and lines inscribed in the album, 47;
• experiments on preservation of timber, 155;
• experiments on iron, 159;
• measurement of base line for ascertaining its distance from the shore, 196;
• cement rubble cofferdams used at, 252;
• observations on fog and fog signals, 254;
• Southey’s “Inchcape Rock,” 274.
• Benson, Mr. (Covent Garden Theatre), 61.
• Birkenhead Docks, 132–150.
• Blackwood, W., publisher, 3.
• Blair, Sir D. Hunter, 3.
• Blasting, 203.
• Bolts, unscrewing of, by the waves, 252.
• Bremonteuil, M., 246.
• Bridges:—Mr. Stevenson’s designs for Marykirk, Annan, Stirling, and Hutcheson stone bridges, 160;
• high level road bridge for Newcastle, 161;
• bridge of built planks, 162;
• new form of suspension bridge, 162–165;
• paper on suspension bridges, 162;
• provision for flood waters, 239.
• Buoyage system, Mr. Stevenson’s, 253.
• Burn, Mr., architect, 238, 239.
• Canals:—Mr. Stevenson’s Reports on, upon one level without lockage, 111;
• Strathmore, 111;
• Edinburgh and Glasgow, 111;
• ship canals, 125;
• canal between the Dee and Mersey, 132–150.
• Carr Rock Beacon:—Design for, and tide machine for ringing bell or sounding a whistle, 177.
• Cast iron rails. See Railways.
• Cast iron tracks. See Roads.
• Cathcart, Viscount, 247.
• Catoptric system. See Lighthouse Illumination.
• Cement. See Mortar.
• Clerk, John, of Eldin, 14, 15, 21, 22, 114.
• Coal light. See Isle of May.
• Cockburn, Lord, 76.
• Cofferdams, cement rubble, 252.
• Colby, Colonel, 62, 202.
• ‘Comet’ steamer, accident to, 258.
• Corran Ferry, 235.
• Covent Garden Theatre, 60.
• Cramond Suspension Bridge, 162, 165.
• Cranes:—Moveable jib and balance cranes invented by Mr. Stevenson, 45, 181.
• Creech, Mr., 3.
• Crichton, Mr., architect, 91, 92.
• Cubitt, Sir W., 265.
• Cumbrae Lighthouse, 2, 5.
• Cycloidal talus wall, 242.
• Davidson, Rev. Dr., 2.
• Dee, River (Cheshire), 130, 132–150.
• —— wasting effects of the sea at, 225.
• Dee, River (Aberdeenshire), density of salt and fresh water at, 229.
• Dioptric system. See Lighthouse Illumination.
• Double light, 58.
• Douglass, J. N., C.E., 47, 176.
• Dredging, 203.
• Duff, Sheriff, 238, 271, 274.
• Duncan, Sheriff, 190.
• Dundee Harbour, 130, 249, 251.
• Earl’s Palace, Kirkwall, 238.
• East Lothian Railway, 124.
• Eddystone Lighthouse, Mr. Stevenson’s inspection of, in 1813 and 1818, 46;
• fears as to its security, 46;
• to be rebuilt, 47.
• Edgeworth, R., 66.
• Edinburgh Astronomical Institution, origin of, 265.
• Edinburgh, Mr. Stevenson’s design for approaches from the east by Regent and London Roads, and opening up access to the Calton Hill, 74;
• sites for the new Jail, Court of Justiciary, and buildings in Waterloo Place, 77;
• Regent Bridge, 88;
• Feuing Plan for eastern district of Edinburgh, 90;
• improvement of accesses from the west and north and from Granton, 90;
• removal of Old Tolbooth Prison, 91;
• proposal to remove the University buildings, 95.
• Edinburgh Railway, 114.
• Edinburgh and Glasgow, canal between, 111.
• Elliot, A., architect, 76.
• Erne, River, 130.
• Erskine, Lord Advocate, 19, 271.
• Facet reflector, 49.
• Fenwick, Mr., 160.
• Ferries, 101;
• Ferry Engineering illustrated by Mr. Stevenson’s Report on the Tay Ferries, 102;
• Reports on various ferries, 108;
• Orkney and Shetland Ferry, 108.
• Fisheries:—Mr. Stevenson on the Scottish fisheries, 184;
• origin of the Shetland herring fishery, 189;
• sympiesometer suggested as a storm warning for fishing boats, 191;
• habits of fishes, 193;
• gases in air sacs of fishes, 194;
• Dr. Handyside’s remarks on, 194;
• Hon. B. F. Primrose on the slow progress of the Shetland fisheries, 195.
• Flashing light, invention of, by Mr. Stevenson, 57.
• Floating light lantern, 58, 59.
• Fog and fog signals, observations on, 254.
• Foreshores, protection of, 241.
• Forth, River, 130, 253.
• Foulerton, Captain, Trinity House, 259.
• Fowler, J., C.E., 131.
• Fraserburgh Harbour, 130.
• Fresnel, A., 62.
• German Ocean, the alveus or bed of, 204, 205.
• Graham, J. Gillespie, architect, 238.
• Granton Harbour, 90, 130.
• Gregory, Professor, 89.
• Haldane, J., architect, 15.
• Hamilton, T., architect, 76.
• Hamilton, Sheriff, 271, 272.
• Handyside, Dr. P. D., 194.
• Harbours, Mr. Stevenson’s Reports on various, 130;
• value of spending basins for, 130.
• Harris, Mr., 60.
• Henderson, Professor, 268.
• Highland and Agricultural Society, 127, 246.
• Hope, Lord President, 17, 18, 269.
• Hope, Professor, 7.
• Hutcheson Bridge, 160.
• Hydraulic mortar, 240.
• Hydrophore, Mr. Stevenson’s invention of, 231–235.
• Inglis, Colonel, 269.
• Intermittent light, invention of, by Mr. Stevenson, 57.
• Irish Channel, cause of heavy seas in, 247;
• sea routes across, 248.
• Iron, experiments on the durability of, 159.
• Isle of Man Lighthouses, 8.
• —— observations on fog at, 256.
• Isle of May Lighthouse, 3, 53, 58.
• Jameson, Professor, 7.
• Joseph, Samuel, R.A., 45.
• Kincaid, Mr., 246.
• Kinnairdhead Lighthouse, 5, 49, 196.
• Laing, S., 185, 195.
• Leach, Dr., 155.
• Leslie, Sir J., 51, 100.
• Lifeboats, 260.
• Lighthouse Illumination:—early modes of, 48;
• facet reflectors and lamps, 49;
• silvered copper reflectors and Argand lamps, 49;
• sliding lamp carriage, 51;
• coal lights, 53;
• distinctions among lights, 57;
• dioptric system, 62.
• Lightship lantern, Mr. Stevenson’s design for, 58, 59.
• Limnoria terebrans, ravages of, on timber, 155.
• Lipping of joints of masonry, 239.
• Loch Eil, 235.
• Locomotive engine, 124.
• Lockhart, J. G., 270.
• London and Edinburgh, railway between, 125.
• Low, Professor, 7.
• M’Adam, J. L., 66, 67, 70.
• Mackenzie, Murdoch, 138 et seq.
• Manby’s apparatus, 261, 262.
• Marine Surveying, 196;
• measurement of base line for Bell Rock, 196;
• fixing site of Kinnairdhead light, 196;
• appeal for Admiralty Survey, 199;
• history of Admiralty Survey, 201.
• Marjoribanks, Sir J., 89, 95.
• Marykirk Bridge, 69, 160, 239.
• Melville, Lord, 126, 168.
• —— Monument, Edinburgh, 238.
• Mersey, River: Reports on harbour and dock at Wallasey and the Dee, with connecting ship canal, 132–150;
• wasting effects of the sea at, 225.
• Montrose Bridge, 159, 240.
• —— church spire, 238.
• Mortar, hydraulic, 240.
• Moveable jib crane, 181, 182.
• Mowat, Mr., of Gardie, 190.
• Mullaghmore Harbour, 245.
• Neill, P., LL.D., 3, 7, 270.
• Netherlands, King of, 58.
• Newcastle, design for high level road bridge at, 161.
• New York Suspension Bridge, 167.
• Niagara Suspension Bridge, 167.
• Night signal lamps, 247.
• Nimmo, Alexander, C.E., 132, 135, 225, 265.
• North Berwick Harbour, 250.
• Northern Lighthouse Board, origin of, 4;
• Mr. Smith appointed Engineer, 4;
• first light exhibited by, 5;
• Mr. Stevenson appointed Engineer, 7;
• annual inspections and reports on the lighthouses, 7;
• send Mr. Stevenson on a visit to the English lights, 7;
• Bell Rock Lighthouse, 12;
• improvements in lighthouse illumination adopted by, 49;
• lighthouses designed by Mr. Stevenson, 56;
• Minute on the death of Mr. Stevenson, 273.
• Ordnance Survey, 202.
• Orkney and Shetland Ferries, 108.
• —— Fisheries, 185, 189, 195.
• Palmerston, Lord, 245.
• Pentland Skerries Lighthouse, 6.
• Peterhead Harbour, 130.
• Pinus maritima major, for checking sand drift, 245.
• Playfair, Mr., architect, 76.
• Playfair, Professor, 7, 15, 16, 96, 100, 252, 267.
• Population, prospective increase of, 250.
• Portpatrick Harbour, 130, 247, 248.
• Price, H., C.E., 131.
• Primrose, Hon. B. F., 195.
• Queensferry passage, signal lamps for, 247.
• Rae, Sir William, 77, 91, 114, 174, 238, 258, 259.
• Rails, cast and malleable iron, 122, 123, 128.
• Railways on one level, 112;
• haulage on, 112;
• lines of railway in Scotland laid out by Mr. Stevenson, 112;
• Report on Edinburgh Railway, 114;
• cast iron and malleable iron rails, 122, 123, 128;
• locomotive, 124;
• Reports on various railway lines, 124, 125;
• uniform gauge, etc., proposed for, 126;
• notes on railways for the Highland and Agricultural Society, 127;
• description of permanent way of, 128;
• letter from George Stephenson, 128;
• article on, 203;
• signal lamps, 247.
• Reflectors. See Lighthouse Illumination.
• Rendel, J. M., 151.
• Rennie, George, 265.
• Rennie, John, 18, 20, 21, 22, 265.
• Ribble, River, 130.
• Ritchie, Professor, 7.
• Rivers, Mr. Stevenson’s Reports on, 130;
• value of backwater, 131;
• Tees navigation, 131;
• Reports by Telford, Stevenson, and Nimmo, on harbours and wet docks at Birkenhead and at the Dee with connecting ship canal, 132;
• improvement of the Tay navigation, 151;
• experiments on the density of fresh and salt water, 229.
• Roads:—Early roads and road making, 64;
• Edgeworth and M’Adam’s systems of road making, 66;
• Mr. Stevenson’s system of road making, 67–70;
• cast iron tracks, 68;
• stone tracks as a smooth and durable city road, 71;
• article on, 203.
• Robison, Professor, 3, 7, 15.
• Rosebery, Lord, 241.
• Salt water, density of, in estuaries and rivers, 229.
• Sand drift, checking of, by “bent” grass and planting Pinus maritima major, 245.
• Scotch Lighthouse Board. See Northern Lighthouse Board.
• Scott, Sir Walter, 25, 47, 94, 238, 270.
• Sectio planography, 205.
• Severn, River, 130.
• Shetland Ferries. See Ferries.
• Shetland Fisheries, 185;
• origin of herring fishery, 189.
• Ships, build of, 249.
• Shipwrecks, notes on, 260.
• Signal lamps, 247.
• Sinclair, Sir John, 125.
• Skerryvore Lighthouse, 271, 272.
• Smeaton, John, 21, 23, 24, 206, 236.
• Smith, Captain of the ‘Orestes,’ 168 et seq.
• Smith, Thomas: improvements in lighthouse illumination, 3, 4, 49;
• Engineer to the Scotch Lighthouse Board, 4;
• Cumbrae Lighthouse, 5;
• Pentland Skerries Lighthouse, 6.
• Smyth, Professor Piazzi, 265.
• Southey’s “Inchcape Rock,” 274.
• Spink, J., Bell Rock pilot, 30.
• St. Andrews Cathedral, 238.
• St. Magnus Cathedral, 238.
• Steamboats, 107;
• regulations for, 258;
• lights for, 259.
• Stephenson, George, 121, 124, 128.
• —— Robert, 161.
• Stevenson, Alan, 151, 271.
• Stevenson, Robert:—birth, 1;
• superintends erection of Cumbrae Light, 2, 5;
• resolves to be a Civil Engineer, 5;
• student at Andersonian Institution, Glasgow, and University of Edinburgh, 5–7;
• superintends Pentland Skerries Lighthouse works, 6;
• appointed Engineer to the Northern Lighthouse Board, 7;
• annual inspections and Reports on the Scotch Lighthouses, 7;
• inspection of and report on English lights, 10;
• is taken for a French spy, 10;
• Journals, 12;
• Reports, 12.
• Design for the Bell Rock Lighthouse, personal superintendence of the work during its execution, and incidents connected therewith, 13–47;
• “Account” of, 14.
• Lighthouse illumination, improvements in, 49;
• sliding lamp carriage, 51;
• lighthouses in Scotland designed by, 56;
• invents distinctions for lighthouses, viz., flashing, intermittent, and double lights, 57;
• design for floating light lantern, 59;
• Report on dioptric system of illumination, 62.
• System of road making, 67–70;
• cast iron tracks for roads, 68;
• stone tracks, 71.
• Improvement of Edinburgh:—design for approaches from the east by Regent and London Roads, and opening up access to Calton Hill, 74;
• Report on sites for new Jail and Court of Justiciary and buildings in Waterloo Place, 77;
• building plan for eastern district of Edinburgh, 90;
• improvement of accesses from the north and west and from Granton, 90;
• visit to the jails of England, 91;
• Old Tolbooth Prison, 91;
• Report on removal of University buildings, 95.
• Ferries:—Reports on, illustrated by those of the Tay, 102;
• Reports on various ferries, 108.
• Report on canals on one level without lockage, 111;
• Reports on railways, 112;
• uniform gauge, etc., proposed for railways, 126;
• notes on railways for the Highland and Agricultural Society, 127;
• description of permanent way, 128.
• Harbours and Rivers:—Reports on, 130;
• Tees navigation, 131;
• Reports on harbour and wet docks at Birkenhead, and harbour at Helbre on the Dee with connecting ship canal, 132–150;
• Tay river improvements, 151.
• Preservation of timber:—experiments on, 154;
• preservation of iron, 159.
• Bridges:—designs for Marykirk, Annan, Stirling, and Hutcheson stone bridges, 160;
• design for high level road bridge at Newcastle, 161;
• bridge of built planks, 161;
• new form of suspension bridge, 162, 165.
• Design for Wolf Rock Lighthouse, 168.
• Design for Carr Rock Beacon, 177;
• proposal to use the tide for tolling a bell or sounding a whistle, 178.
• Invents the moveable jib and balance cranes, 181.
• Fisheries:—notes on the Scotch, 184;
• origin of the Shetland herring fishery, 189;
• suggestion for using the sympiesometer as a storm warning, 91;
• experiments on air sacs of fishes, 194.
• Marine survey, 196;
• measurement of base line, 196;
• mode of ascertaining positions of lighthouses, 196;
• appeal for Admiralty Survey and Sailing Directions, 199.
• Contributions to Encyclopædia Britannica and Edinburgh Encyclopædia, 203;
• alveus or bed of the German Ocean, 204, 205;
• sectio planography, 205;
• wasting effects of the sea on the estuaries of the Mersey and Dee, 225;
• discovery that the salt water flows up the beds of rivers in a stream distinct from the outflowing fresh water, 229;
• invents the hydrophore, 231.
• Wide range of subjects on which Mr. Stevenson gave advice, 236;
• architectural reports, 236;
• extracts from early Reports, 239.
• Retrospect of life, 264.
• Stewart, Professor Dugald, 7, 97.
• Stirling Bridge, 160.
• Stockton and Darlington Railway, 125.
• Stonehaven Harbour, 130.
• Stone tracks. See Roads.
• Strathmore Canal, 111.
• —— Railway, 124.
• Suspension Bridges. See Bridges.
• Sympiesometer, 191.
• Tay Ferries, 102.
• —— River, 130, 151, 251.
• Tees, River, 130, 131.
• Telford, Thomas, 18, 127, 132, 149, 265.
• Thames, River, 234.
• Thomas, Captain, Admiralty Survey, 140, 201.
• Tidal scour, 251.
• Timber:—experiments on durability of, 155;
• ravages of the Limnoria terebrans on, 157;
• charring, 158;
• creosoted 159.
• Tour de Cordouan, 49, 63.
• Trinity, cycloidal sea wall at, 242.
• Walker, James, C.E., 73, 176, 265.
• Water:—experiments on the density of fresh and salt water at the Dee, 229;
• Thames, Loch Eil, etc., 235;
• hydrophore for obtaining specimens of, 231.
• Watt, James, 125, 126, 167.
• Waves, action of, in unscrewing bolts, 252.
• Wear, River, 130.
• Wilson, Captain, 43.
• Winch Chain Bridge, 163.
• Wolf Rock Lighthouse:—design for, 168;
• Journal of visit to, 168–175;
• tower built in 1870, 175.