He might have retorted more significantly by asking the directors what they meant to do; for Liverpool was tunnelled and Chat Moss railed before they could agree what kind of power to put on it. There were some who insisted upon using horse-power; but the majority thought that was out of the question. Meeting after meeting was held, debate followed debate, and the whole body became more and more puzzled as the road itself neared completion.
Some kind of machine; but what?—ah, that was the question. You would naturally have thought, "A locomotive, of course." But no; since Parliament opposition raged against it, steam had lost ground in the public estimation, and it was very slow in getting back to favour. Locomotives, or "travelling engines," as they were called, were hid in a cloud of doubts,—and more than ever since the Parliament debates. "They were dangerous, they were frightful, they could never go fast enough,—their utmost speed would not be ten miles an hour." Some of the most distinguished engineers would give no opinion of them at all. They had none. It was certainly hard to patronize them in spite of their indifference, and possibly their sneers. Certainly, if the poor locomotive depended on their verdict, its fate was sealed.
GOOD SERVICE.
One stanch friend remained. Stephenson stood faithfully by "Puffing Billy," puffing away in his far-off Northumberland home. He never flinched advocating its principles, and urged the directors to try one on the road. They at last ordered one to be built,—one that would be of service to the company, and no great nuisance to the public. It was built, and excellent service it did, drawing marl from the cuttings and excavations to fill up the bogs and hollows. Nevertheless, it settled nothing, and convinced nobody not already convinced.
Meanwhile the directors were deluged with projects, plans, and advice for running their road. Scheme upon scheme was let loose upon them;—some engines to go by water-power, some by gas, some by cog-wheels. All the engineering science in the kingdom was ready to engineer for them in its own way; but who among all could pronounce the best way, and upon the whole decide which was the right motive power?
A deputation was despatched to Darlington and Stockton to inspect the fixed and locomotive engines employed on that road; but the deputation came back differing so among themselves, that the directors were more puzzled than ever. Two professional engineers of high reputation were then sent, who, on their return, reported in favour of fixed engines—for safety, speed, economy, and convenience, fixed engines by all odds; reiterating again and again all the frightful stories of danger and annoyance charged upon steam. They proposed dividing the road into nineteen stages, of a mile and a half in length, and having twenty-one stationary engines at different points to push and draw the trains along. The plan was carefully matured.
Poor Stephenson! how did he feel? "Well," he said, with the calm earnestness of a man of faith, "one thing I know, that before many years railroads will become the great highways of the world."
Could the directors accept the project without consulting him? Again they met. What had he to say concerning it? Fight it he did. He dwelt upon its complicated nature, the liability of the ropes and tackling to get out of order, the failure of one engine retarding and damaging and stopping the whole line; a phase of the matter which did not fail to make an impression. The directors were moved. The rich Quaker, Cropper, however, headed the stationary-engine party, and insisted upon adopting it. "But," answered the others, "ought we to make such an outlay of money without first giving the locomotive a fair trial?" And Stephenson pleaded powerfully, as you may suppose, in its behalf. "Try it, try it," he urged; "for speed and safety there is nothing like it." And the words of a man with strong faith are strong words. "Besides," he said, "the locomotive is capable of great improvements. It is young yet; its capacities have never been thoroughly tested. When proper inducements are held out, a superior article will be offered to the public."
Never were directors in a greater strait. There was no withstanding Stephenson, for he knew what he was talking about. All the rest were schemers. At last one of the directors said, "Wait; let us offer a prize for a new locomotive, built to answer certain conditions, and see what sort of engine we can get."