Accrington on Rails - The Tramways: A Complete History - Robert Kenyon

though there was a much better attitude and purpose to making an improved job than in Baxenden. I visited this work and there were ten new granite setts 4½” deep laid whilst I was observing them, whilst the remainder was being done reusing old setts which had been taken up and put to one side. Several of these were in a very worn state, and concave on the surface. The method used for reworking them is by cutting off the edges so as to render them straight on top. I returned again at 16:45 and the work that had been completed in the interim period had been grouted up and so thickly covered in Rack so that I could not see what was underneath. There was also an area which had not been so covered. I called the attention of the Pavior to the width of the margins, which varied from 14 inches to 15 and even 15½ inches, and 16 inches in some places with only a few at 18 inches wide. Beside Dyke Nook the Pavior was relaying with setts previously lifted along with a few new setts, and there were about 8 cwts of new setts on the ground. I told the Pavior that in my opinion none of the old setts should be reused as they were unfit, being so worn and out of shape. He told me I ought to direct my complaints to the Tramway Office. He stated he had worked at a good many places and that this was the first occasion he had been accused of not giving satisfaction! I stated “A good Pavior you might be, but no-one could make a good job with the materials you are using.” I also requested that he did not cover up his work with Rack and ashes so that I could inspect any work that he had done in my absence. I asked, “How many new setts have been used in this work?” He answered, “Three loads.” I told him I had not seen anything like that quantity as I had been searching for them one each occasion I had visited the site. I also enquired of the Roadmen if they had noticed any new etts and they confirmed my suspicions. I estimated in total only about 22 cwt had come onto these works up to the present time. There was about 20 yards of paving completed and this was a good piece of work. There had been a large quantity of new setts used, laid principally next to the rails. No more work had been done as the Pavior had departed. Mr Jeffs was there, and he told me that “ Neither you or Mr Newton must interfere with my men !” I answered, “In no way have I interfered, as he put it, with his men, but I had merely pointed out the quality of the materials being used and I have done this in a ‘proper’ manner.” He also said, “ You must only report any problems to my office .” I retorted, “ I only carry out the instructions given to me by Mr Newton, the Borough Surveyor on these matters ”. He then stated, “ Then I shall write to Mr Newton about this ”. He also looked at some of the old setts that had been taken out, and he said some of them would be rejected. He chose one and asked my opinion of it. I pointed out it was not parallel in width, had broken corners and a narrow base on which to stand. He then said, “We have to make the best of what we can, for we cannot afford to discard setts similar to these”. Later a different Pavior was at work and a considerable length of paving had been done utilising these new setts, using about 3 cwts of them. These had been laid principally next to the lines. The other setts were the pick of the best referred to yesterday, and this Labourer was not a diligent as that working with the first Pavior, some parts of his margins being less than 18 inches wide. The margin on the right hand side of the road was completed along with some on the left-hand side had been taken up. Mr Jeffs was with the Pavior, and I informed him that the Pavior was not making the margins the correct width, and he told me, “ Do not comment about any work but put it down in writing ”. I reminded him he had already asked me not to speak to the workmen, and I stated I had not done so on the previous day, but I thought it was the proper thing to do to bring his attention to these omissions. He then remarked, “ I want nothing at all to do with you, and I will not have you or anybody else interfering with his workmen or any of their works .” A few minutes later a Labourer put in a new sett and Mr Jeffs turned to me and said, “ You see if you put in a deeper sett than that one, you would have to bed under ”. I replied seeing that previously he had stated his attitude towards me, I likewise now refused to have anything to do with him! Whereupon he stated, “ I do not care, and my opinion of you is that you are a ‘sneak ’. My response was, “ I am not by myself in that respect. When I first went to see the work in Baxenden I did not speak to the workmen. And then Mr Jeffs, I wrote to you that having

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