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4
The stones within the rails vary, some are 3 in. wide
by 5 in. deep, some 4 in. wide and 5 in. deep, and some
3 in. wide and 6 in. deep.
The stones on the outside of the rails are 4 in. wide
and 9 in. deep.
The sleepers and stones inside the rails are laid on a
bed of Portland cement concrete 6 in. deep.
The works were commenced in December, but were
not completed, fit for the traffic of cars, until the 1st
of May.
There was much hard frost and bad weather in January
and February, and large portions of the work
performed during those months had to be taken up and
relaid.
The whole is now in excellent working order, and is,
I think, universally acknowledged to be one of the
greatest improvements in travelling introduced in
modern times.
For the information of those who may be unacquainted
with the construction of this Tramway, I
append a transverse section, shewing its construction.
By an arrangement made by the Highway Committee
with the contractors for the Tramway Company's works,
the Vestry acquired 787½ yards of pitching, 9 in. by
3 in. and 9 in. by 4 in., which had been laid, in various
crossings, by the Trustees of the turnpike road, previous
to the Mile End Road coming under the control
of the Vestry.
This pitching has been laid in improving the entrances
to the principal thoroughfares leading from the
Mile End Road, by abolishing the channel in the line
of the main road, and paving the whole space from the