Failure of the first public Railways near London.--Want of improved communications in the Bishop Auckland Coal-district.--Various Projects devised.--A Railway projected at Darlington.--Edward Pease.--George Stephenson employed as Engineer.--Mr. Pease's Visit to Killingworth.--A Locomotive Factory begun at Newcastle.--The Stockton and Darlington Line constructed.--The public Opening.--The Coal-traffic.--The first Passenger-traffic by Railway.--The Town of Middlesborough-on-Tees created by the Railway. 216 CHAPTER IX. THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY PROJECTED. Insufficiency of the Communication between Liverpool and Manchester.--A Tram-road projected by Mr. Sandars.--The Line surveyed by William James.--The Survey a failure.--George Stephenson appointed Engineer.--A Company formed and a Railroad projected.--The first Prospectus issued.--Opposition to the Survey.--Speculations as to Railway Speed.--George Stephenson's Views thought extravagant.--Article in the "Quarterly". 247 CHAPTER X. PARLIAMENTARY CONTEST ON THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER BILL. The Bill before Parliament.--The Evidence.--George Stephenson in the Witness-box.--Examined as to Speed.--His Cross-examination.--Examined as to the possibility of constructing a Line on Chat Moss.--Mr. Harrison's Speech.--Mr. Giles's Evidence as to Chat Moss.--Mr. Alderson's Speech.--The Bill lost.--Stephenson's Vexation.--The Bill revived, with the Messrs. Rennie as Engineers.--Sir Isaac Coffin's prophecies of Disaster.--The Act passed. 265 CHAPTER XI. CHAT MOSS--CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY. George Stephenson again appointed Engineer of the Railway.--Chat Moss described.--The resident Engineers of the Line.--George Stephenson's Theory of a Floating Road on the Moss.--Operations begun.--The Tar-barrel Drains.--The Embankment sinks in the Moss.--Proposed Abandonment of the Works.--Stephenson's Perseverance.--The Obstacles conquered.--The Tunnel at Liverpool.--The Olive Mount Cutting.--The Sankey Viaduct.--Stephenson's great Labors.--His daily Life.--Evenings at Home. 281 CHAPTER XII. ROBERT STEPHENSON'S RESIDENCE IN COLOMBIA AND RETURN--THE "BATTLE OF THE LOCOMOTIVE."