CHAPTER III.
THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORKS UNDER THE CONTRACT.
Commencement of the works—1880Immediately after the signing of the contract, arrangements were made to commence building the new engine-houses and erect the large engines which had been purchased by the Company. It was estimated that it would take rather more than six months to complete the erection of these engines and of the pumps connected with them. The work to be done was the erection of an engine-house for the 75-inch engine, with a boiler-house containing six Cornish boilers; a separate engine-house for the 70-inch engine, with a boiler-house for seven Cornish boilers of rather smaller dimensions.
The engines and pumps were made by Messrs. Harvey and Co., of Hayle, in Cornwall, and they were not able to promise delivery of the machinery in less than four or five months. It was thought, therefore, that the works would continue in their then state of desolation up to midsummer, 1880, except for the work to be done in erecting these houses and the machinery.